The Loss of Local Radio

The decline of local radio in Scotland is a story of community voices being slowly replaced by corporate broadcasts. Come January, commercial radio listeners in places like Dundee, Inverness, and Aberdeen will lose their local breakfast shows on MFR, Northsound 1, and Tay FM. Instead, Edinburgh-based Boogie in the Morning will take over, courtesy of Bauer Media Group’s plan to consolidate its morning programming. This move is part of a wider trend of centralisation that, for many listeners, feels like the erasure of local character and connection.

Local radio has long played an essential role in Scottish communities, acting as a bridge between neighbours, towns, and entire regions. It connects people to issues and events they might otherwise miss, especially in smaller, more rural areas. And in places like Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness, local voices on the radio don’t just report the news; they reflect the tone and spirit of their communities. Local DJs know the quirks of their audiences, so they’re naturally able to discuss what matters most to them in a way that feels authentic.

There’s a certain humour and relevance that centralised programming can’t match. Take, for example, the difference in how rising oil prices are received in Scotland: in Aberdeen, rising oil prices mean bonuses for workers, so people cheer; in Edinburgh, the same news prompts groans at the prospect of costlier petrol. This sort of local nuance makes a difference in how the news is received, and why local radio matters.

The shift from local to centralised programming is being driven by corporate media strategy rather than community needs. Bauer Media Group, a large German multinational, has decided that replacing local shows with a single Scotland-wide broadcast will be more efficient and cost-effective. And while Boogie in the Morning, hosted in Edinburgh, has been popular and even won awards, it simply won’t have the same resonance with audiences from Aberdeen or Inverness. Familiar local hosts like Jeff Diack, Lauren Mitchell, and Jodie McCluskey, who understand their communities in a way no outside broadcaster can, will be gone, taking with them the warmth and connection that only a local DJ can bring.

Victoria Easton-Riley, content director for Bauer’s Hits Radio portfolio in Scotland, praised Boogie and Arlene’s popularity, stating that this centralised programming will allow more listeners to enjoy the “best breakfast show” in the country. But “best” is a relative term, awards and popularity in one region don’t necessarily translate into authenticity and relevance for every community. A single voice cannot capture the particular needs, interests, and identities of listeners spread across different towns and cities. This isn’t simply about listening to the same music; it’s about recognising that local shows are about so much more than playlists.

This shift marks the end of an era for local radio in Scotland. Many of the stations affected, such as Northsound, Tay FM, and Moray Firth, were established in the 1970s and 80s as local sources of news, conversation, and entertainment. They were created precisely because Scotland’s various regions needed representation; they needed voices that could address them directly. Over time, however, the business of radio has changed. Networking, or “programme sharing,” has become increasingly common, where shows are shared across stations to cut costs and streamline content.

For Bauer, this change offers clear advantages: fewer unique broadcasts mean lower production costs, and centralised hosts mean a more standardised, recognisable brand. But for communities, it means losing a source of local news and connection. The 2023 change in broadcasting regulations made it easier for local stations to share programmes as long as they met local news quotas, and now these stations are facing the corporate reality of fewer truly local voices on air.

Local radio represents more than just an outlet for news; it’s a place for conversations and shared experiences unique to each area. For listeners in Dundee, Aberdeen, or Inverness, radio hosts aren’t just voices on the air, they’re neighbours and community members who understand their specific contexts. And these local stations are more than just music and morning talk; they are institutions where people’s lives and perspectives are reflected in real time. When local radio is replaced by centralised programming, people lose a vital connection to their communities.

In Aberdeen, for instance, the familiar voices of Northsound 1’s Jeff and Lauren in the Morning will be replaced by Boogie and Arlene’s broadcast from Edinburgh, a show geared towards Scotland’s central belt. Likewise, Dundee’s Tay FM will no longer offer its local morning show, and Inverness’s MFR will see Jodie McCluskey’s breakfast show replaced with Boogie in the Morning. These changes will make it harder for these communities to feel truly represented on their own radio dials.

Aberdeen’s Original 106 will soon be the only breakfast show broadcasting live from the Granite City, serving as one of the few remaining local morning shows. It’s a lone holdout in a sea of centralisation, a reminder that local voices still have a place in radio, though they are becoming rare.

The decline of local radio in Scotland is ultimately about the erosion of community, identity, and local connection. By opting for a Scotland-wide programme, Bauer Media is choosing efficiency over the regional authenticity that local radio provides. And while Boogie and Arlene’s show may bring laughs and good music, it’s unlikely to match the level of community understanding and relevance that local DJs offered. In a time when people are increasingly turning to media for connection and information, losing these voices is a disheartening loss.

As more voices go silent across Scotland’s airwaves, communities may need to look to new forms of local media or alternative platforms to fill the gaps left by the loss of local radio. In the meantime, the story of local radio’s decline stands as a reminder of what’s at stake when corporations place profit over the communities they’re meant to serve.