UFM100.3

Early History

The station was founded as UFM 1003 on 3 October 2001 as a joint venture between SPH and NTUC Media.^[2] The 24-hour music station operated out of the Singapore Labour Foundation building, taking over the facilities, frequency and colors of NTUC Heart 100.3 FM. In 2001, the station mascot was also created and incorporated in the station logo.

Local veteran radio DJs Lin Anna, Huang Wenhong, and Yang Junwei were recruited from rival stations Capital 95.8 FM and YES 933, and new DJs were recruited from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.^[3] The station also broadcast Taiwanese syndicated radio programs by Matilda Tao and Mickey Huang.

Mandopop singer Jay Chou, sang a version of the station jingle which was adapted from his song Ninja. The station's other jingles were sung by Singaporean singers Juliet Pang and Corrinne May.

UFM 1003 also launched U Chart, which served as an alternative to YES 933's Top of the Pop charts. Singaporean mandopop singer Stefanie Sun topped the first-ever chart on 7 October 2001 with her hit Green Light.

In February 2002, UFM 1003 and its sister station WKRZ 91.3 were designated as official radio broadcasters of Chingay Parade. SPH MediaWorks was the official TV and Internet broadcaster for the annual street parade, and the official newspapers were Lianhe Zaobao and Streats.^[4]

In October 2002, UFM 1003 began a partnership with Taiwan's Broadcasting Corporation of China POP Network. The two stations would link over ISDN broadband, and listeners of both stations could tune in to an hourly program co-hosted by UFM 1003's DJ.^[5]

Post-media Merger

In 2004, SPH television operations SPH MediaWorks was taken over by MediaCorp. However, UnionWorks was not directly affected by the merger. Variety host Quan Yi Fong, and newscasters Helen Cheung (Zhang Haijie) and Wang Yanqing, who left SPH MediaWorks, became regular talkshow guests on UFM 1003's morning drive time show.

In an effort to synergize with SPH's other media platforms, UFM 1003 began to host news broadcasts, with daily broadcasts from Lianhe Zaobao, Lianhe Wanbao, Shin Min Daily News, The Straits Times and The New Paper.^[6]

In 2006, UnionWorks was renamed as SPH UnionWorks after SPH increased its stake in the subsidiary to 70%. UFM 1003 was renamed as Radio 1003, while WKRZ 91.3 was rebranded as Radio 91.3 with a new format.^[7]

In November, SPH UnionWorks moved into the SPH Headquarters at News Centre in Toa Payoh North,^[8] taking over the renovated space left behind by the defunct SPH MediaWorks' TV news studio.

In 2009, SPH launched the inaugural Singapore Entertainment Awards, organized by Lianhe Wanbao, Radio 1003, omy.sg and U-Weekly. The annual awards honored the best talents in the Singapore and Asian entertainment scene.

In 2010, Radio 1003 founded the Global Chinese Golden Chart, a global chart, which ranked Chinese radio stations around the world, including Taiwan's HIT FM, China's Music Radio, CITY FM, and Malaysia's My FM. The chart enabled the station to collaborate with record labels in the region to actively promote Chinese pop music and share music resources and content.^[9]

Rebranding to UFM100.3

Radio 1003's name was reverted to UFM100.3 in 2012, and programming was adjusted to cater to an older audience.^[10] In 2014, UFM100.3's parent company SPH UnionWorks was renamed SPH Radio, as SPH acquired the remaining 7.1% stake in NTUC Media.

In January 2015, SPH reorganized its newspaper divisions to include other media forms. Under this new organization, UFM100.3 was brought under the Chinese Media Group.^[1]

UFM100.3's Annual Music Countdown Chart Campaign

U1000 Music Countdown (U选1000) is UFM100.3’s annual music chart campaign that gives listeners the ability to determine the songs played on UFM100.3 by voting. The 1000 best mandarin songs as voted by listeners were then featured on the music countdown on UFM100.3. The campaign started in 2013 as "U500 Music Countdown" and featured the top 500 best mandarin songs, according to UFM100.3 listeners.

In 2014 the station doubled the list, compiling a list of 1000 mandarin songs. The 6th edition of U1000 Music Countdown ran from February 2018, with Jay Chou's "Confession Balloon" championing the chart for 2018.

Annual Music Countdown Chart Winners

2018 - Jay Chou "Confession Balloon" 周杰伦 《告白气球》

2017 - Hebe Tien "A Little Happiness" Hebe 田馥甄 《小幸运》(Champion for the 2nd consecutive year)

2016 - Hebe Tien "A Little Happiness" Hebe 田馥甄 《小幸运》

2015 - Kit Chan "Home" 陈洁仪 《家》

2014 - Tiger Huang "Not So Simple" 黄小琥 《没那么简单》

2013 - Faye Wong "Red Bean" 王菲 《红豆》

Former Notable DJs who crossed to other SPH Radio stations or other SPH departments

• Carine Ang 洪菁云 (left UFM100.3 as a host on 17 Nov 2017 to join SPH's new station 96.3 Hao FM but remains as the Senior Programme Director for both stations)
• Anna Lim 林安娜 (left UFM100.3 as a host on 17 Nov 2017 to join SPH's new station 96.3 Hao FM)
• Ken 刘永健 (moved to zaobao.sg)

Former Notable DJs who crossed to TV Production

• Pornsak (currently an artiste under Left Profile)
• Zhang Haijie 张海洁 (moved to Mediacorp Channel 8 as a news presenter)
• Quan Yi Fong 权怡风 (moved to Mediacorp as a television host)
• Vincent Lim 林良泉 (moved to Mediacorp Channel 8 as a Current Affairs Presenter)

Former Notable DJs who went to other Radio Stations

• Lin Lingzhi 林灵芝 (moved to Capital 95.8FM in the evenings)
• Kenneth Kong 江坚文 (moved to Mediacorp Channel 8 as a current affairs presenter and later to Love 97.2FM in the evenings)

Former Notable DJs who left the radio industry

• 万荣 (Daniel - DanieFoodDiary.com)
• Yeo Yann Yann 杨雁雁
• 王嬿青
• 林宝宝
• Danny Yeo 杨君伟
• 林为栋 (阿栋）
• 黄浩威（阿威）
• 邱政良
• 吐司 Toshi
• 胡珂宁
• 凯旋
• 谢家发 (Crossed over from 883JiaFM to this station then to Y.E.S. 933FM but left in 2017 Back to 883JiaFM in 2018)