Editing Phoenix FM (section)

==History==
The station was formed in 1996 and has been broadcasting full-time on FM since 23 March 2007, having completed twelve 28-day restricted service licence broadcasts on [[frequency modulation|FM]] between 1996 and 2006.

On 16 February 2006, [[Ofcom]] announced that Phoenix FM, after ten years of campaigning, had been awarded a full-time Community Radio licence.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ofcom awards 21 community radio licences | publisher = Ofcom | date = February 16, 2006 | url = http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/02/nr20060216 | access-date = 2008-02-22 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080322033029/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/02/nr20060216 | archive-date = March 22, 2008 }}</ref>

Having previously set up studios in Ongar Road, The Hermitage and Hutton Poplars Lodge, Phoenix FM moved its base of operations to the Baytree Centre in early 2007 and started broadcasting full-time on 98.0&nbsp;FM at 7p.m. on Friday 23 March 2007.  The station moved to its current base at the Brentwood Centre in February 2012.

The station's broadcasts have provided a valuable platform for local bands looking to gain airtime. [[Inme]], who were then known under the name of Drowned, were one band whose first radio play and interviews were on the station.

The station's Creative Sessions have given studio recording time to unknown and young local bands as well as featuring established recording artists such as [[Republica]],  [[Imogen Heap]], [[Turin Brakes]], [[Salad (band)|Salad]], [[Echobelly]], [[Midway Still]], [[Chris T-T]] and [[MJ Hibbett]].

Phoenix FM was also the first community radio station in the UK to provide a [[streaming media|streaming internet]] service, in 2001.