Sunny Govan Radio, also known as "Sunny G", is a community radio station based in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. It is run by the charity Sunny Govan Community Radio Group.
 | |
| Frequency | 103.5 MHz |
|---|---|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Sunny Govan Community Media Group |
| History | |
First air date | 1 August 1998 |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
History
editThe station's first FM broadcasts took place over two weeks in August 1998, in an effort to challenge negative stereotypes about the area.[1] Following positive reception and successful fundraising, this was followed by a second broadcast over three weeks in December 2001.[1] The station subsequently began broadcasting digitally, and was awarded a Community Radio license for full time FM broadcast in March 2007.[2]
Run by the charity Sunny Govan Community Radio Group, the station uses radio to provide training and development opportunities to local people.[3][4][5] Programming supports the local arts, culture and music scene, but has also featured high-profile interviewees such as Rebecca Adlington, Ken Dodd,[6] and Nicola Sturgeon, in her capacity as First Minister for Scotland, and MSP for Glasgow Southside.[7] The interview, which received mainstream media coverage,[8][9][10][11] was described by presenter Anne Hughes as a lifechanging moment.[12]
In 2004, the station was recognised by BT Group for "Innovative Use of Broadband Technology."[1] The station featured on The Secret Millionaire in 2012, and was awarded £15,000 by the episode's millionaire Gordon McAlpine.[13] In 2020 the station was voted a High Street Hero for Glasgow in a campaign run by The Herald newspaper.[14]
Notable presenters have included station co-founder and Scottish hip hop producer Steg G.[15]
Community
editThe station has a history of community involvement and support for the grassroots music scene in Glasgow. Presenters have included local artists and musicians, such as Sarah "Sindigo" Simpson.[16] The station offers training for those who wish to get involved in radio, and all presenters are volunteers.[17] In 2011, the station was involved in a community twinning project organised by Oxfam, which brought together people from South Uist and Govan.[18] In 2014 presenter Ross Tomlinson, at the age of 11, was considered to have been Scotland's youngest DJ.[6] Darren "Loki" McGarvey has called the station a "radio legend", and made guest appearances on the station early in his career.[19]
Closure
editThe station temporarily closed its premises in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17][20] In January 2021, the station announced that they were at risk of closure, due to the loss of regular income streams such as partnership programmes and live music fundraisers.[17][21] A crowdfunder was launched, and the campaign received public support from Darren McGarvey, MSP Annie Wells, and Councillor Mhairi Hunter.[22]
References
edit- ^ a b c "About | Sunny G Community Radio". Sunny G Community Ra. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ OFCOM (2010). "Communications Market Report: Scotland" (PDF). Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ Hendry, Steve (24 December 2017). "Real inspiration behind Rab C Nesbitt has finally been revealed". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Sunny Govan Radio". Glasgow's Golden Generation. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Sunny Govan Radio, Glasgow Community Radio Station". www.glasgowwestend.co.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Scotland's youngest DJ mixes with the best". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "I 'absolutely' suffer from imposter syndrome – Nicola Sturgeon". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Sturgeon admits to suffering 'imposter syndrome' in FM role". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Nicola Sturgeon says she 'absolutely' suffers from 'imposter syndrome'". The Independent. 15 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Green, Miranda (29 May 2019). "Don't look down, women suffering imposter syndrome are told". www.ft.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Archive, STV News. "Nicola Sturgeon: I suffer from 'imposter syndrome'". STV News Archive. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Anne Hughes: 10 things that changed my life". The National. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ English, Paul (18 November 2010). "Scots internet tycoon's plea to rich as he appears on TV's Secret Millionaire". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Was your favourite local business voted a High Street Hero? See the full list for every Scottish region here". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ ""It's a Dying Empire, Let's Get Shot of It" - How Scottish Rappers Are Encouraging People to Set Their Country Free". www.vice.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Passionate pro-indy poet and artist Sindigo - Sarah Simpson - was a power for positive change". The National. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "'We're going to fight': Sunny Govan Radio in battle for survival after pandemic devastates station". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Govan and South Uist in twinning improvement scheme". BBC News. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ McGarvey, Darren (5 February 2021). "Why it's time we all started the C-word in public again". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Sunny Govan: the community radio station fighting to survive". theferret.scot. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ Lennon, Holly (5 February 2021). "Sunny Govan Radio facing collapse as pandemic cuts vital income streams". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Sunny Govan emergency fund backed by community fighting to save local 'gem'". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 24 February 2021.