Flex FM

Flex FM is a London-based community radio station, which originally started life as a pirate radio station. Flex broadcasts house, drum and bass, dubstep, UK garage, old skool hardcore, reggae and soul to London and surrounding areas on 101.4FM.

Flex FM
Broadcast areaLondon
Frequency101.4FM
Programming
FormatHouse, drum & bass, dubstep, UK garage, old skool hardcore, reggae, soul
History
First air date
  • Early 1990s (Pirate)
  • 1 July 2018 (2018-07-01) (Community Radio License)
Links
Webcastwww.flexfm.co.uk/on-air/
Websitewww.flexfm.co.uk

History

Flex was first established in 1992 as a breakaway station from Don FM and began broadcasting from Merton, South West London, on the frequency of 103.6FM. During that time, it followed the path of a number of other pirates in the capital of playing breakbeat hardcore, through jungle and drum and bass, onto UK garage, until it left the airwaves in 2003.[1] During this first period on-air, DJs, MCs and artists to have played on the station have included DJ Deekline (who scored a number 11 UK chart hit with "I Don't Smoke" in the summer of 2000),[2] MC Hyperactive, the Genius Cru (who had a Top 20 UK chart hit with "Boom Selection" in early 2001), Billy Whizz, Lady Sovereign, Ed Rush, DJ Gunshot, Optical, Funky T, Donna Dee, LS, DJ Wise, and Paul Strobe.

After a hiatus, Flex returned in 2009 on 99.7FM, playing dubstep, UK funky, house as well as across its staple music genres.[3] DJs, MCs and artists to have appeared on this return have included MC Sparks,[4] Outlaw, DJ Carloss, Tempo, DJ Twiz, Hands Free, Al-B, Heny G, G Double, Jay 5ive (Antisocial), Selecta Primetime, Smokey Bubblin B, and Andy Mills.[5]

In its latter days as a pirate station, Flex would feature in a special report on the BBC Newsnight programme, Inside the World of Pirate Radio, broadcast in August 2015.[6]

License bid

In October 2016, Flex applied for one of the forthcoming community licenses being advertised in London,[7] which would prove to be successful in its bid in May 2017.[8] In late 2017, it commenced fundraising for the building of new studios.[9]

Community station

Flex started broadcasting legally as a community station as of 1 July 2018,[10] with a roster of both original and new DJs and presenters.[11]

References
  1. "Flex FM History". Flexfm.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 October 2010.
  2. Alexis Petridis (22 November 2002). "Hold tight the massive". The Guardian.
  3. "Plank walk - Illegal broadcasting". The Economist. 7 June 2015.
  4. "MC Sparks dies: Tulisa Contostavlos and rapper Kano lead tributes to garage star". The Independent. 22 June 2014.
  5. "Flex FM - Live 24/7 - Schedule". Flexfm.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014.
  6. "Inside the world of pirate radio". BBC News. 27 August 2015.
  7. "21 groups apply for London radio licences". Radio Today. 21 November 2016.
  8. "Ofcom awards four new community radio licences". Ofcom. 12 May 2017.
  9. Mahalia Mayne (20 November 2017). "New Morden radio station Flex FM seeks to raise £10K in eight weeks". Wimbledon Guardian.
  10. "Flex FM London - International Radio Festival". International Radio Festival.
  11. "Artists - Flex FM 101.4FM". Flexfm.co.uk.

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