Music News: New rock radio station for South Wales

An alternative rock guitar-led radio station is coming to South Wales.

The new XFM station also plans to be a big player in the local music scene, and has the Manic Street Preachers' Nicky Wire as chairman of its Advisory Board, says the website Radio Today.com.

The station beat seven other applicants and will cover Cardiff, Swansea , Bridgend, Neath, Llanelli and Port Talbot, on 106.8fm and 107.3fm.

In their application to Ofcom for the licence, XFM South Wales proposes that artists featured on the station will generally be "alternative", credible, youthful and committed to challenging the aesthetics of mainstream pop music, with an emphasis on quality of composition. Alternative genres will include Alternative Rock, Modern Alternative, Britpop and Pop Rock.

All aspects of XFM’s output will pominently feature artists from South Wales and the surrounding area.

Daytime programming will contain local listings for live music and other cultural events and music news. In addition, weekly output will include at least three "live" sessions (each at least 15 minutes of length) and at least three unsigned artists. XFM South Wales will also broadcast specialist comedy shows and seek to include comedy elements within general programming where appropriate.

GCap Media plan to co-locate the new XFM South Wales station with their existing Cardiff-based Red Dragon FM station in Cardiff Bay.

Ref: radiotoday