Timeline of Magic

A timeline of notable events relating to Magic Radio and Magic 105.4, a commercial radio station operated by Bauer Radio.

1990s

• 1990
  • 9 July – Melody Radio launches in London.
  • 17 July – Magic 828 launches as a MW oldies station in Leeds.

• 1997
  • February – Emap launches a network of Magic stations on its MW frequencies across the north of England. Playing soft adult contemporary music, they replace regional oldies stations Great North Radio and Great Yorkshire Gold. Magic 1161 and Magic AM launch on the 12th, followed one week later by the north east stations Magic 1152 and Magic 1170
  • 17 March – The Magic brand is rolled out across the north west.

• 1998
  • June – Emap purchases Melody 105.4 FM.
  • December – Melody Radio is renamed Magic 105.4 FM.

• 1999
  • No events.

2000s

• 2000
  • No events.

• 2001
  • 13 September – Magic launches a spin-off television channel.
  • December – EMAP decides that it is more economical for north of England Magic stations to share off-peak programmes and begins networking with the London station Magic 105.4 between 10am-2pm, and 7pm-6am, although there are local commercial breaks, and local news on the hour. During these hours the station is simply known as Magic.

• 2002
  • No events.

• 2003
  • January – Due to a sharp decline in listening, Emap ends the networking of London station Magic 105.4 on the north of England Magic stations and a regional northern network is created with programmes broadcast from Magic 1152 in Newcastle. During networked hours, local adverts are aired, as well as local news on the hour.
  • September –
    • Live evening programmes on Magic 105.4 are replaced by automated output.
    • Richard Skinner leaves. He had been mid-morning presenter for Magic, and its predecessor Melody Radio, since 1997.

• 2004
  • No events.

• 2005
  • 12 September – Neil Fox joins Magic 105.4 as the station's breakfast presenter.

• 2006
  • July –
    • More networking is introduced across the northern Magic network with only the 4 hour breakfast show presented from the local studios.
    • Dave Lee Travis joins to present shows on Magic Radio.

• 2007
  • September – After a year with the station, Graham Dene leaves Magic 105.4. He is replaced as drivetime host by Steve Priestley.

• 2008
  • 29 January – Bauer completes the purchase of EMAPs radio, television and consumer media businesses, purchasing the assets for £1.14bn.^[1]

• 2009
  • Steve Priestley leaves.

2010s

• 2010
  • No events.

• 2011
  • No events.

• 2012
  • 23 March – Tony Blackburn and Mike Read are signed to appear on Magic Radio.^[2]
  • April – The weekend breakfast show on the north of England Magic stations stops being a local show and is replaced by a networked programme. Consequently, only the weekday breakfast show remains locally produced.
  • 16 November – Magic Radio presenter Dave Lee Travis is taken off air with immediate effect after he was arrested as part of an investigation into sexual offences.^[3]

• 2013
  • 15 April – Bauer increases networking on its Yorkshire Magic stations with a networked breakfast show coming from Magic 828 in Leeds.^[4] The other local Magic breakfast shows become regional programmes at around the same time.^[5]
  • August – Richard Skinner rejoins to provide cover for holidaying presenters. He continues in this role throughout 2014.

• 2014
  • 30 September Neil Fox presents Magic 105.4's breakfast show for the final time.
  • 27 October – Richard Allinson joins Magic 105.4 to present the drivetime show.

• 2015
  • 5 January –
    • Magic Radio launches nationally on Digital One.
    • The north of England Magic Radio stations are rebranded as City Network 2.^[6]
  • January–March – Christine Bleakley presents an hour-long Sunday afternoon programme called Sunday Lunch^[7]

• 2016
  • 15 March – Mellow Magic begins broadcasting.
  • 28 March – Magic Chilled begins broadcasting.
  • 16 April – Mel Giedroyc joins to present the Saturday lunchtime show.
  • Spring – Magic broadcasts a temporary pop-up service called Magic ABBA, run as a commercial partnership with Mamma Mia!: the Musical
  • Following the ending of Magic Abba, ‘’Magic Summer Soul’’ is launched. Initially intended as another short-term pop-up, the station becomes permanent in the autumn and is renamed Magic Soul.
  • October – Tom Price joins to present the weekend afternoon show, replacing Martin Collins who leaves after seven years at Magic 105.4.

• 2017
  • September – Ronan Keating and Harriet Scott become co-presenters of the breakfast show.^[8] Other changes see Tom Price replaces Harriet as weekend breakfast presenter and Matt Brown take over weekend afternoons.

• 2018
  • No events.

References