Editing Real Radio (section)

==History==
[[File:Real radio.jpg|thumb|right|Real Radio logo, 2001–2012]]
Sir [[Bob Phillis|Robert Phillis]], the former GMG chief executive, enlisted [[John Myers (radio executive)|John Myers]] to establish [[GMG Radio]].<ref name="times">{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Andrews |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article3448631.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512014924/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article3448631.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2008 |title=John Myers tends Guardian Media's radio unit |work=The Times |date=28 February 2008 |access-date=2008-11-18 | location=London}}</ref> Myers became the company's managing director in 1999, and won GMG its first licence in South Wales in April 2000.<ref name=broadcast>[http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/gmg-radio-wins-yorkshire-radio-licence/1178681.article GMG Radio wins Yorkshire radio licence] Georgina Lipscomb, Broadcast, 18 July 2001</ref> [[Real Radio (Wales)]] launched on Tuesday 3 October 2000. Initially serving south and west Wales, the station expanded to north and mid Wales in January 2011, over two years after winning a second licence.<ref name="alookback">{{Cite web |date=2012-06-25 |title=GMG Radio sale: Look back at group's history |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/06/gmg-radio-sale-look-back-at-groups-history/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In June 2001, [[Scot FM]] was acquired from the [[Wireless Group]] for £25.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lorna Martin |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/real-radio-launches-big-bold-challenge-to-rivals-1.162513 |title=Real Radio launches big bold challenge to rivals | work = Sport &#124; SPL &#124; Aberdeen |publisher=Herald Scotland |date=2002-01-09 |access-date=2010-07-06}}</ref> Scot FM would become Real Radio's second station at 8{{nbsp}}am on Tuesday 8 January 2002.<ref>{{cite web|author=agnes stevenson |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/a-new-station-joins-the-air-wars-1.162663 |title=A new station joins the air wars | work = Sport &#124; SPL &#124; Aberdeen |publisher=Herald Scotland |date=2002-01-08 |access-date=2010-07-06}}</ref> A bid to expand the service to Aberdeenshire in 2006 proved unsuccessful, losing out to [[Original 106 (Scotland)|Original 106]].

[[Heart Yorkshire|Real Yorkshire]], the third station, launched on 25 March 2002 and broadcast to South & West Yorkshire.<ref>[http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/rau/newsroom/news-release/01/pr093.htm Radio Authority publishes assessment of South and West Yorkshire licence award] [[Ofcom]], 23 July 2001</ref>

In 2008, John Myers convinced the GMG board to invest £1 million in documentaries, a first for modern-day UK commercial radio which would lead to several industry awards.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cm07_3.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=13 April 2014 |archive-date=20 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220204756/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cm07_3.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="tel-nov2010">{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Andrews |date=28 Nov 2010 |title=BBC enlists commercial sector help to shake up radio |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8164936/BBC-enlists-commercial-sector-help-to-shake-up-radio.html |work=The Telegraph |access-date=2011-03-12}}</ref> Myers left GMG shortly afterwards.

[[Heart North East|Real North East]] and [[Heart North West|Real North West]] were introduced from the [[Century Network]] on 30 March 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com//realandcenturynetwork/rajar|title=This page has been removed|newspaper=The Guardian|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> Both stations were founded by GMG Radio chief executive John Myers, who acquired the two from [[GCap Media]] in October 2006.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/18/guardianmediagroup.gcapmedia?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 Guardian buys GCap radio stations] Julia Day, The Guardian, 18 October 2006</ref><ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/2006/10/gmg-radio-purchase-century-fm/ GMG Radio purchase Century FM] Radio Today, 18 October 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.realradionortheast.co.uk/about/frequently-asked-questions/about-real-radio-gmg-radio/who-are-real-radio/33320 Who are Real Radio?] Real Radio North East</ref><ref name="guard-day">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/18/guardianmediagroup.gcapmedia |title=Guardian buys GCap radio stations|first=Julia |last=Day |date=18 October 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2006-03-12}}</ref> The ''Discover the Real You'' strapline was introduced to all stations.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/31/real-radio-ad-campaign Real Radio launches £2m ad push] Mark Sweeney, [[The Guardian]], 31 March 2009</ref>

In July 2008, networked programming was introduced across all stations during evening and overnight timeslots,<ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/2008/06/galloway-to-replace-davis-for-real Galloway to replace Davis for Real], Radio Today, 27 June 2008</ref> and in November 2012 this was increased to daytime timeslots.<ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/10/real-radio-introduces-networked-daytimes/ Real Radio introduces networked daytimes] Radio Today 15 October 2012</ref> Most networked programming was broadcast from studios in [[Salford Quays]]. Notable presenters included [[Chris Tarrant]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/nissan-pays-tarrant1m-in-us-style-radio-deal/1684984.article|title=Nissan pays Tarrant£1m in US-style radio deal|first=Robert|last=Shepherd|date=2008-07-03|website=Broadcast}}</ref> and [[Ryan Seacrest]] who fronted a bespoke version of his syndicated US entertainment show ''[[On Air with Ryan Seacrest]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2011/07/ryan-seacrest-joins-real-radio-network/|title=Ryan Seacrest joins Real Radio network|date=7 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2013/01/ryan-seacrest-disappears-from-real-radio/|title=Ryan Seacrest disappears from Real Radio|date=6 January 2013}}</ref>

The most recognised strapline ''Real good, feel good radio'', was introduced in March 2012.<ref>[http://earshotcreative.com/2012/03/real-radio-has-a-real-rebrand/ Real Radio has a rebrand] Jonathan Jacob, Earshot Creative, 17 March 2012</ref>

In August 2012, the two former Century Network stations, in the North East and the North West, were gaining just half the listeners they once had.{{cn|date=October 2024}} Both saw a decline in Listening Share In TSA % when comparing Q2 period in 2011 and 2012, from 6.30% to 4.8%, and 3.9% to 3.0% respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php|title=RAJAR|website=www.rajar.co.uk}}</ref> Figures for Scotland also lowered whilst Wales and Yorkshire steadied.<ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/08/around-the-groups-and-brands-in-q2-2012-absolute-radio-capital-and-planet-rock-celebrating-rajar/ Around the groups and brands in Q2, 2012] Radio Today, 2 August 2012</ref>