Bauer’s newest radio station, Country Hits Radio, has launched this morning at 10 with Chris Young’s Raised on Country.
Well known country music radio host Baylen Leonard kicked off proceedings and was joined by fellow station host Una Healy from The Saturdays.
The full schedule is below, and includes Jennie longdon on Breakfast and Lou Nash in the afternoons. Later today, Ty Bentli will be broadcasting his 5pm show from The Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Former Signal 1 Breakfast Show co-host Emma Jones is also hosting a weekly show, after quitting early mornings last week.
Film studio Entertainment One is sponsoring the station to promote upcoming movie Wild Rose: an uplifting story following one young woman’s dream to make it as a country singer from Glasgow to Nashville with Jessie Buckley, Julie Walters and Sophie Okonedo.
Simon Kilby, Chief Revenue Officer Bauer Media said: “Our insight has uncovered a clearly defined and valuable audience of contemporary country music lovers within the previously untapped Hits Radio Network. This launch partnership with Entertainment One’s Wild Rose is a brilliant fit for the modern demographic of 25-44 year olds immersing themselves in this exciting genre.”
“This bespoke creative campaign will capture our audience’s imagination celebrating this uplifting film with a soundtrack of the very best pop country music, and the artists bringing the UK’s fastest growing music genre into the mainstream.
The bespoke Country Hits Radio and Entertainment One campaign, which is brokered by Zenith, runs from 5th-14th April and encompasses branded content across radio and digital platforms with credits, live reads and spotlights.
Country Hits Radio schedule:
Weekdays
0700-0900 – Country Hits At Breakfast weekdays with Jennie Longdon
0900-1000 – Country Hits Throwback weekdays with Jennie Longdon and with Una Healy on Saturdays
1000-1300 – Baylen Leonard including Could Have Been Country and Country Champion
1300-1700 – Lou Nash
1700 – 2000 – The Ty Bentli Show from Nashville
2000-0000 – Country Hits Evenings
Weekends highlights:
Fri 2000-0000 Emma Jones
Saturdays
09:00 -13:00 – Una Healy
13:00 -17:00 – Naomi Kent
17:00 – 21:00 – Scarlett Howard
21:00 – 00:00 – Emma Jones
Sundays
13:00 -16:00 – The Front Porch with Baylen Leonard
16:00 – 20:00 – Emma Jones – Country Hits Weekend
20:00 – 23:00 – Matt Spracklen
I think Bauer forget that Chris Country was really the UK’s first digital country music station and has a strong following
Never heard of it so it can’t be that strong!
It’s a brand new station that’s why. And a format that’s long overdue as radio on the UK. British Country music has been brewing for years with hands like The Shires. So finally, it’s arrived!
I’ve heard of Chris Country. The more. Country stations though, the better
I love that some people’s own awareness is the yardstick by which they measure success or failure.
If only we weren’t aware of you.
I’d like to hear Randell Lee Rose on Drive, David Allan midmorning, and if they were still alive. Wally Whyton in the evening , and Bob Powell. Trevor Harrison has country DJ experience too, he stood in for Wally once, who is Trevor Harrison?, Eddie Grundy of course. My friend Ronnie Cannon from You Tube stardom” Ronnie Cannon Sings” is looking forward to tuning in.
and Lord Reith reading the news?
What multiplex is this station on?
SDL Sound Digital, listened to it earlier in the day, great country music, however, since around 2pm, on DAB in Central Scotland it says on my DAB radio. “Station off Air” ?
It isn’t on SDL, it’s on various local multiplexes which Bauer own (or partly own). These are mainly in Scotland & northern England plus Birmingham and London.
Sorry about that mistake Mb23, I was thinking of Scala Radio
Try a ull rescan. They changed short DAB name from Country to CountryH which caused my radio to loose the preset.
How on earth do I get country hits?
What time is Bob Kingsley on with ” The American Country Countdown” . I hope they play Simon Crum, ( Stand up , sit Down) Grandpa Jones, Minnie Pearl, Ben Colder,( Don’t go near the Eskimo,s”) and Nervous Norvious, and his country classic ” Transfusion.” There is lot of great country comedy, like Jeff Foxworthy” You might be a redneck if …….”( If you unblock your sink with a shotgun)
The American country countdown with Bob Kingsley is on Chris country from 8 a.m. Saturday
Brilliant news. Big country fan for over forty years please play lots of Chris young, Chase Rice, Hunter Tynan Davis, Matt Austin and tanner Stephens please. And the oldies too. Thank you and bless ya all ??
country hits radio not on dab in Swindon not working on laptop and ipad
How many stations come out of 1 Golden Square now? Surprised there’s room for another in there
If it is anything like Bauer’s other radio stations, all they will have is “That’s What I Call Country” which will be on random shuffle for 24 hours a day.
Country Hits is based at the Castlequay studios in Manchester.
What frequency can I find Country Hits Radio on? I’m in West Yorkshire. Is it available on digital as well as analogue.
Just found it on digital. Happy now!
Where is the American Country Singles chart show? There are plenty in the US, Lon Helton’s Country Countdown USA, Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 and Kix Brooks with American Country Countdown, so what will Country Hits Radio broadcast and when?
The Bob Kingsley top 40 chart just consider the official chart in the United States
Over the moon… have tried to listen to Chris Country but the signal is always extremely poor or non existent in Lancashire…. country hits has been brilliant today!!
Hi, is it nationwide and how do I find it?
Unable to get in Southampton, have tried reset but no luck.
good lord counldnt think of a worser station, ugh country music nah thanks whatever next motown geez what rubbish,
indie is best, ill stick to my radio x thank you very much
For all West Midlands country music lovers – there’s a country party happening on April 16 in Birmingham. After a film screening of “Wild Rose” (a story of a Glasgow mother and ex-convict on a quest to become a country music star) there will be a country music live DJ set and signature cocktails – https://ticketing.eu.veezi.com/purchase/2963?siteToken=etrhh0m2xpra010jp0khfs56mw