Amazing Radio will continue broadcasting on the national Digital One multiplex, and move in to Century Radio's old studio complex in Gateshead.
Founder Paul Campbell announced the news on-air at midday today, just 12 hours before their six month DAB trial was due to expire.
Amazing Radio said on Friday an announcement would reveal the fate of the station, and we now know the team are expanding the online streams offered, hiring more staff and introducing presenters at certain times of the day.
New stations, launching soon, include Amazing Rock, Amazing Classical and Amazing Indie.
The Newcastle-based station caused a furore when it launched unexpectedly on June 1st this year, replacing the 24-hour Birdsong channel.
Critics said the station would not last, as it launched in a recession, has an unconventional business model and doesn’t take advertising. Earlier this month, it caused a stir by a complaint to the BBC Trust about BBC Introducing, which it saidduplicated its concept and provided unfair, publicly-funded competition.
Paul Campbell said ‘The reaction has been astounding. It’s obvious the publicreally ‘get’ what we’re doing and want it to succeed. But we never underestimated the difficulties of launching an innovative national radio station in the teeth of a recession – and there is unfortunately deep cynicism among some people that our ethical and innovativeapproach can be made to work’.
Amazing plays 100 per cent new music from the associated ethical website amazingtunes.com, which has over 21,000 songs uploaded from unsigned artists all over the world.
Meanwhile, tonight at 23:59:59 we'll hear the launch of two radio stations on Digital One – Panjab Radio and UCB UK.