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Absolute Radio Country is a British digital radio station, and is owned and operated by Bauer Radio. It is available via DAB across the UK, online, on Smart Speaker and via the Rayo as part of the Absolute Radio Network.

History

The station originally launched as Country Hits Radio on 5 April 2019 and was positioned as the UK's first national country music radio station. The station is focused on modern country music and is aimed at listeners of 25–44. RAJAR for Early 2020 puts the station on an average of 257k listeners per week. Absolute Radio Country is available on DAB in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, East Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Teesside, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Tayside, Inverness and Ayr. In 2021, it was also made available on digital radio in Bristol and Bournemouth.

In February 2021 Bauer revealed that the station would be renamed as Absolute Radio Country and made part of the Absolute Radio Network - the transition took place on 17 May 2021, in tandem with other changes to the availability of Absolute's digital stations. The first song to be played after the launch was "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, which was chosen by listeners via social media.

In June 2022, a sister station called Absolute Radio Classic Country was added to Bauer's Absolute Radio Premium subscription streaming package.

On 16 October 2023, Absolute Radio Country began broadcasting nationally on DAB+, broadcasting in stereo.

Programming

Absolute Radio Country programming primarily comes from their studios in London as part of the Absolute Radio Network. From Sunday - Thursday from 7pm - 10pm, the station takes programming from Nashville country station WKDF.

Country music artists have also been guest hosts on the station, including Maddie & Tae, Tenille Townes, Elvie Shane, Sam Palladio, Brothers Osborne & Charles Esten.

Presenters

• Dave Berry
• Ben Earle
• Baylen Leonard
• Lou Nash
• Jennie Longdon
• Hish
• Elaina D. Smith
• Andy Bush
• Richie Firth

See also

• Downtown Radio
• Absolute Radio
• Absolute Radio Network

References

1. Meechan, Simon (12 March 2019). "UK's first national country music radio station launches in April". nechronicle. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
2. "RAJAR Q1 2020: London and national brands roundup". 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
3. Forster, Lucy (29 March 2019). "New Country Hits Radio station launches". Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
4. "Country Hits Radio is rebranding to Absolute Radio Country". 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
5. "Results of the Country Hits Radio listeners' poll". Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
6. "Absolute Radio and KISS to launch premium subscription services". 27 May 2022.
7. "Absolute Radio and KISS to offer premium services for monthly fee". 27 May 2022.
8. Colothan, Scott (6 October 2023). "Absolute Radio Country and Absolute Classic Rock go national with DAB+".
9. "Absolute Radio Country welcomes Elaina D Smith to the evening show". Bauer Media. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
10. "Absolute Radio Country welcomes Brothers Osborne". Bauer Media. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
11. "Charles Esten to host Absolute Radio Country series". RadioToday. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.

External links

• Official website

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• Digital-only radio stations
• Absolute Radio
• Bauer Radio
• Radio stations established in 2019
• Country radio stations in the United Kingdom
• United Kingdom radio station stubs