Fuse FM
Broadcast areaOnline
FrequencyOnline at www.fusefm.co.uk
Programming
FormatAlternative/Student
AffiliationsManchester Media Group, The Mancunion, Student Radio Association
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
15 February 2001
Former frequencies
106.2 FM
Links
Webcastwww.fusefm.co.uk/
Websitewww.fusefm.co.uk

Fuse FM is a student radio station broadcasting every day during term time from Manchester Students' Union at the University of Manchester.[1]

Fuse FM is run entirely by volunteers studying at the university, led by an elected Station Manager and Deputy Station Manager. In addition to broadcasting online, Fuse FM provide a platform for local DJs and bands. The station is a member of The Student Radio Association.[2]

Currently, the station managers are William Clark-Steel and Isabelle Hatton-Williams.[3]

History

The Student Union Executive accepted a proposal to create the station in July 2000 and work began on creating a base for the station, which was originally called Mint FM. The name was changed to Fuse FM in October 2000. Space in the Union basement was converted into a fully functioning broadcast studio and production suite. Fuse FM went on air for the first time on 15 February 2001 at 06:00, broadcasting on 106.2 FM as well as via internet streaming.[4]

Alex James Atkinson was elected as the first Station Manager for the station. Atkinson is now a presenter on the Sony Award nominated show In:Demand, which is broadcast from Hits Radio.[5]

The first song played was R.E.M. - The Great Beyond, and traditionally each broadcast ends with Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).[6]

On Monday 9 November 2009, Fuse FM welcomed comedian Jack Whitehall as a one-off presenter.[7] He was welcomed back once again on Wednesday 10 March 2010, taking the place of the station's regular premier show Craig & Jake's Afternoon Delight.

From 2003 to 2011, Fuse FM was broadcast for four weeks in each academic semester (September to October and February to March). However, since September 2011, the station has moved to broadcasting throughout the academic year, from September to June. The station also dispensed with FM broadcasting, with only online streaming via the website now available.[8]

On 29 April 2012, Fuse FM began broadcasting from new state of the art studios on the first floor of the Steve Biko building. With support from the BBC, the Your Manchester Fund and the University of Manchester Students' Union, Fuse FM now has some of the best student radio facilities in the country, including two sets of Studer OnAir 1500 digital sound desks.

On 26 April 2013, Fuse took part in the first ever Manchester Student Media Awards, which was organised by Station Manager Joe Kearney, taking place in Academy 2 in the Students' Union. Also awarded were the University's student paper, The Mancunion, and the student TV station, Fuse TV.[9] The evening was hosted by Adam Brown, host of weekend breakfast on Capital FM Manchester.[10] After all the awards were presented, there was a sound clash featuring DJs from both Fuse FM and The Hits Radio.

Commencing on 11 October 2016, 'Fuse Live' was introduced by Sophie Nebesniak, Ciaran Algar, Liam Armstrong, Temur Ahmed and Robin Loo. The first event at Academy 3 featured various acts, and a second one on 6 December 2016 included different performers. The third 'Fuse Live' on 16 March 2017, at Fallow Cafe in Fallowfield, sold out before headliners Howl performed, showcasing diverse artists.

In June 2023, Fuse FM worked alongside Manchester Media Group and the University of Manchester Students' Union to create Alive Festival, spotlighting local artists and DJs. This returned for a second iteration in October 2023, selling out at 1000 ticket sales.[11]

The station was rebranded in 2023 with a new logo and website.

Structure

Fuse FM broadcast daily from 9am to 10pm during term time, presenting a mix of music, DJ, talk, sport, and news shows. Currently, there are a total of 153 members of Fuse FM.

Awards

Fuse FM has a history of high quality student broadcasting, with its DJs having won many awards at the National Student Radio Awards. In 2023, Honor Mant, Head of Talk Shows, won Best Entertainment Programming at the annual Student Radio Awards in London. Fuse FM was won silver for Best Branding.

Student Radio Awards
Year Award Nominee Status
2023 Best Entertainment Programming Honor Mant Gold Prize
2023 Best Station Branding Fuse FM Nominated
2023 Best Newcomer Isabelle Hatton-Williams Nominated
2012 Female Presenter of the Year Hattie Pearson Gold Prize[12]
2010 Best Newcomer Chelsea Dickenson Gold Prize
2007 Female Presenter of the Year Becca Day-Preston Bronze Prize
2006 Male Presenter of the Year Andrew Jackson Gold Prize
2005 Female Presenter of the Year Minnie Stephenson Gold Prize

As part of her prize, Hattie covered an early morning breakfast slot on BBC Radio 1 on Friday 29 March 2013.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "About | Fuse FM". Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  2. ^ "The Student Radio Association - Members". Studentradio.org.uk. 15 February 2001. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  3. ^ Serena Jemmett[self-published source]
  4. ^ "History | Fuse FM". Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  5. ^ "In:Demand". Indemand.fm. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  6. ^ "History | Fuse FM". Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 2013-05-10. "History | Fuse FM". Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  7. ^ "Jack Whitehall on Fuse FM". YouTube. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  8. ^ "History | Fuse FM". Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  9. ^ "University of Manchester Students' Union". Manchesterstudentsunion.com. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Breakfast - Weekends". Capital FM. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  11. ^ Cooper, Alex (28 September 2023). "Alive Festival: All you need to know". The Mancunion. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Awards 2014". The Student Radio Awards. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  13. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Dev, Hattie Pearson sits in for Dev". Bbc.co.uk. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2014.

External links

University of Manchester
Student radio in the United Kingdom
Categories