West Sound Radio is a radio network broadcasting to Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland and North Cumbria. It has three operational stations - West FM, West Sound (Ayrshire) and West Sound (Dumfries and Galloway) and is currently in the Bauer Radio Group.
The West Sound Radio network's roots can be traced back to 1973 when the then Independent Broadcasting Authority advertised the franchise of Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae. The shortlist of applicants was narrowed to two - Radio Clyde, the already successful station based in Greater Glasgow and West Sound Radio. West Sound won due to its demonstration to the IBA that it knew Ayrshire well.
Following the award of the license, West Sound purchased premises in Holmston Road in Ayr. The building (a former builder's offices) was transformed into studios and offices.
On 16 October 1981, West Sound went on air on 97.5 FM in Girvan and 96.2 FM and 1035 AM in the rest of Ayrshire. The first song played on the station was 'Arrival' by ABBA.
By 1990, the IBA had been replaced by the Radio Authority and when the Dumfries and Galloway franchise was advertised, West Sound once again applied and won the license. On 21 May of that year, South West Sound went on air from studios in Crichton Hospital, Dumfries on 97 FM. In 1998, South West Sound gained two new frequencies - 103 FM for Wigtownshire and 96.5 for Kirkcudbrightshire. June 2001 saw the station move to new property in the Loreburn Shopping Centre in Dumfries town centre. The station underwent many name changes including West Sound FM and South Westsound FM, before finally settling on 'West Sound' (although the registered name is still 'South West Sound Limited').
In 1997, West Sound's third station was born - West FM. This followed the decision to split AM and FM frequencies in Ayrshire. By this stage, the 96.2 frequency had changed to 96.7, which West FM inherited from West Sound in addition to the 97.5 relay. The station was aimed at a younger audience than the already established West Sound, targeted at 20–35-year-olds. In 2006, West FM received its third frequency - 106.7, serving Rothsay and Largs.
Today, West Sound Radio still run three stations - the original West Sound in Ayrshire, West Sound in Dumfries and Galloway (formerly South West Sound) and West FM in Ayrshire.
From 15 September 2008, West FM and West Sound (Dumfries) began sharing programming with Clyde 1 from 7:00 pm until 06:00 am, along with most of the other Scottish FM stations in the Bauer network.
A new programming schedule was introduced on 15 June 2009 on West Sound (Ayrshire), consisting mostly of programming simulcast with the other Scottish AM stations from the current network owener, Bauer. Programmes on air are simulcasts from Clyde 2 from Glasgow, Forth 2 from Edinburgh, Northsound 2 from Aberdeen and Tay AM from Dundee. West Sound local programming is now restricted to breakfast shows, early morning news bulletins and some specialist weekend programming.
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