Capital XTRA (formerly Choice FM) is a British digital radio station owned and operated by Global. It broadcasts on 96.9 and 107.1 FM in Greater London, and nationally on DAB, Global Player and television platforms. It specialises in hip hop, grime and R&B music, and is a commercial competitor to BBC Radio 1Xtra.
 | |
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Frequency |
|
| RDS | CAP XTRA |
| Programming | |
| Format | Hip hop, grime, R&B |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Global Radio |
| Capital XTRA Reloaded Capital FM Capital Dance Capital Chill | |
| History | |
First air date | 31 March 1990 (as Choice FM) 7 October 2013 (as Capital XTRA) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Global Player |
| Website | CapitalXtra.com/radio |
As of September 2024, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 1.7 million listeners, according to RAJAR.[1]
History
edit
Choice 96.9
editChoice 96.9 began as an independent company in March 1990, broadcasting from studios in Trinity Gardens, Brixton. It was Britain’s first 24-hour black music radio station with a licence, covering South London. The group won a second licence (see Buzz FM) in 1995, bringing a local version of their London offering to Birmingham, on 102.2 FM - in place of Buzz FM.
The advent of digital radio in the UK saw Choice, which already had an active webstream, joining the new MXR consortium and launching a DAB service which anchored London output with news inserts produced by the consortium's news service DNN.
The Birmingham licence was sold to Chrysalis Radio in 1999 and became Galaxy Birmingham, but Choice expanded within the capital in May 2000 when a largely independent North London licence was awarded for Choice 107.1, with the intention of reaching a larger Afro-Caribbean audience outside the limited range of the coverage from Brixton. The station was now broadcasting from Borough High Street, Borough, London.
Having previously been a minority shareholder, Capital Radio Group took full control of the station in February 2004 and moved the station's base from the target service area to the group's central studios in London's Leicester Square. The move resulted in a community march from the coverage area and their studios. It was accused of selling out as some of their DJs were removed and replaced by their Kiss counterparts who play some electronic music.[2]
By 12 October 2004, Capital had received and implemented a merger of their FM licences, operating a service across the capital on the two frequencies and cutting back on the North London-specific music requirements.[3]
The DAB service also became a simulcast of the London station, with the demise of local drop-ins.
Following their takeover of Choice, Capital Radio Group merged with GWR to form GCap Media in 2005. Choice was flagged up as one of the key brands of the new larger network, and the station was made available to digital TV viewers via its addition to Sky (and later to Virgin Media).
GCap were subsequently taken over by Global Radio, who already owned the Galaxy Network of dance/urban music stations. Despite the separate music format and branding, Choice was marketed to advertisers as part of the Galaxy network for package advertising deals. In 2010 Global Radio announced[4] that the Galaxy network stations would be networked with 95.8 Capital FM, leaving Choice as a standalone brand again.
Capital XTRA
edit
On 3 October 2013, Global announced that Choice would be rebranded as Capital XTRA on 7 October, sister station to Capital and using a naming scheme in reference to BBC Radio 1 and its sister station Radio 1Xtra[5][6]
A number of high-profile signings were made, at launch including former BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJ Tim Westwood,[7] and subsequently Kiss FM DJ Jez Welham for the station's flagship show, Capital XTRA In The Morning.[8]
Initially, the station introduced dance music alongside the urban offering provided by Choice FM. However, ratings, particularly in London, suffered, leading to a move back towards the mixture of primarily black music genres that is now heard on the station, which proved successful between 2014 and 2020 in the UK radio listening measurement system, RAJAR.
Capital XTRA refreshed its weekend schedule at the start of 2018, hiring Afrobeats artist and DJ Afro B to host the Afrobeats show previously hosted by DJ Abrantee, and student radio winner Robert Bruce for a new UK-music led programme, 'Homegrown'.[9] In a coup for the station, legendary hip-hop presenter DJ Semtex moved from BBC Radio 1Xtra to host the same slot on Capital XTRA in October 2018.[10]
In September 2019, a new weekday Breakfast show was launched, hosted by former evening presenter Yinka Bokinni, and Shayna-Marie Birch-Campbell.[11]
On 5 August 2022, Capital XTRA confirmed that Yinka Bokinni had quit the station. Evening show host Robert Bruce was subsequently confirmed to co-host the breakfast slot with incumbent presenter Shayna-Marie. Omah Howard replaced Robert Bruce on the evening show.
On 1 September 2023, Manny Norte announced he would step down his mid morning weekday show to focus on his weekend shows with immediate effect. He presented the weekday slot for over 10 years.
On 2 September 2023, Remel London announced she would leave the station. A replacement is to be announced.
Capital XTRA Reloaded
editA spin-off station, Capital XTRA Reloaded, was launched on 2 September 2019.[12] It featured former Galaxy Birmingham presenter Sacha Brooks as host of the station's flagship show. Available nationally on DAB+, the station plays non-stop old skool hip-hop and R&B anthems.
Listening figures
editHaving launched with 850,000 listeners, Capital XTRA reached a peak of 1.9 million listeners across the UK in 2019. Following management changes in 2020, listenership dropped to an estimated 1.3 million people.[citation needed] As of June 2023, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 1.4 million, according to RAJAR.[13]
Programming
editAt Capital XTRA's peak, thematic programming included 'Reloaded', a daily hour of uninterrupted old-skool Hip-Hop and R&B anthems, "Homegrown", a focus on emerging UK talent including interviews and guest mixes, and "Chilled", a slow-jamz segment on weeknights and Sunday mornings. Since listening figures began falling in 2021, the majority of such programming has been axed, with output favouring a hegemonic playlist.
Current presenters
editCurrent presenters include:[14]
Weekdays
editWeekends
editEvents
editBetween 2016 and 2020, Capital XTRA hosted a number of events to complement its radio broadcasts, including:
- Homegrown Live; an artist-led event which featured performances from UK talent at Koko, Camden. Previous performers include AJ Tracey, Aitch, Dappy, Hardy Caprio, Stefflon Don and WSTRN.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "RAJAR". www.rajar.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Choice FM is dead" (PDF). New Nation. 2 June 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
- ^ Day, Julia (12 October 2004). "Capital gets go-ahead for London licence merger". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "Capital FM to replace Galaxy". Radio Today. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Global to change Choice to Capital XTRA". Radio Today. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Dee, Boya (4 October 2013). "RIP Choice FM – the station that best championed music of black origin". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Tim Westwood hosts last Radio 1 show, joins Choice FM". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Jez Welham to host Capital XTRA Breakfast". Radio Today. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "DJ TiiNY, Afro B & Robert Bruce Host Brand New Weekend Schedule On Capital XTRA!". Capital Xtra. 18 January 2018. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "1 Xtra's DJ Semtex resurfaces at Capital XTRA". Radio Today. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Yinka and Shayna Marie to take over Capital XTRA Breakfast". RadioToday. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Global to launch Capital XTRA Reloaded across the UK". RadioToday. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Quarterly Listening". RAJAR.
- ^ "Capital XTRA". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Capital XTRA". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
