Bauer Media buys DAB station Planet Rock

Bauer Media has bought national digital station Planet Rock for an undisclosed sum, adding it to their national music brands portfolio.

The news ends weeks of speculation regarding the sale of the DAB station, which was bought by Malcolm Bluemel from GCap Media in 2008.

The station is currently located at Lisson Street in Camden, along with UBC Media. It’s not known at this stage if Bauer Media plans to move the station to their HQ at Mappin House with Magic 105.4 and Kiss.

Planet Rock will be managed by Steve Parkinson, Bauer Radio’s London Managing Director. The station joins seven other national music brands operated by Bauer Media, including Kiss, The Hits and Kerrang!

Steve said: “I’m looking forward to working with the talented Planet Rock team to develop the radio station further – and make it an even better experience for music fans and increase the appeal and value to advertisers as part of our national radio brand portfolio.”

Paul Keenan, Chief Executive, Bauer Media UK, said: “Radio is in growth in the UK and Planet Rock, through its passion for great music, offers listeners and commercial partners an engaging and relevant experience. Our brands, along with the music industry, are seeing a real resurgence in guitar-based music which makes this acquisition an exciting and timely addition to our portfolio of national radio brands and music magazines. Planet Rock has built an excellent reputation with listeners and the music industry. We are looking forward to the station becoming part of our global media company where we can offer significant resources across multiple brands and platforms to take it to even greater heights.”

Malcolm Bluemel says: “Planet Rock is going to a great home. Bauer is a business that really cares about building brands and music radio in particular. The station is in safe hands with the new owners and I’m looking forward to following its success going forward.”