Sunny Govan Radio
Frequency103.5 MHz
Ownership
OwnerSunny Govan Community Media Group
History
First air date
1 August 1998 (1998-08-01)
Links
Websitewww.sunnyg.org

Sunny Govan Radio, also known as "Sunny G", is a community radio station based in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. It is run by the charity Sunny Govan Community Radio Group.

History

The station's first FM broadcasts took place over two weeks in August 1998, in an effort to challenge negative stereotypes about the area.[1] Following positive reception and successful fundraising, this was followed by a second broadcast over three weeks in December 2001.[1] The station subsequently began broadcasting digitally, and was awarded a Community Radio license for full time FM broadcast in March 2007.[2]

Run by the charity Sunny Govan Community Radio Group, the station uses radio to provide training and development opportunities to local people.[3][4][5] Programming supports the local arts, culture and music scene, but has also featured high profile interviewees such as Rebecca Adlington, Ken Dodd,[6] and Nicola Sturgeon, in her capacity as First Minister for Scotland, and MSP for Glasgow Southside.[7] The interview, which received mainstream media coverage,[8][9][10][11] was described by presenter Anne Hughes as a lifechanging moment.[12]

In 2004 the station was recognised by BT Group for "Innovative Use of Broadband Technology."[1] The station featured on The Secret Millionaire in 2012, and was awarded £15,000 by the episode's millionaire Gordon McAlpine.[13] In 2020 the station was voted a High Street Hero for Glasgow in a campaign run by The Herald newspaper.[14]

Notable presenters have included station co-founder and Scottish hip hop producer Steg G.[15]

a band onstage
The Girobabies playing a Sunny G fundraiser in June 2018

Community

a4 sheet of paper showing set times
Set times & line up for Sunny G fundraiser on 23 June 2018

The station has a history of community involvement and support for the grassroots music scene in Glasgow. Presenters have included local artists and musicians, such as Sarah "Sindigo" Simpson.[16] The station offers training for those who wish to get involved in radio, and all presenters are volunteers.[17] In 2011 the station was involved in a community twinning project organised by Oxfam, which brought together people from South Uist and Govan.[18] In 2014 presenter Ross Tomlinson, at the age of 11, was considered to have been Scotland's youngest DJ.[6] Darren "Loki" McGarvey has called the station a "radio legend", and made guest appearances on the station early in his career.[19]

Closure

The station temporarily closed its premises in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17][20] In January 2021, the station announced that they were at risk of closure, due to the loss of regular income streams such as partnership programmes and live music fundraisers.[17][21] A crowdfunder was launched, and the campaign received public support from Darren McGarvey, MSP Annie Wells, and Councillor Mhairi Hunter.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c "About | Sunny G Community Radio". Sunny G Community Ra. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  2. ^ OFCOM (2010). "Communications Market Report: Scotland" (PDF). Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  3. ^ Hendry, Steve (24 December 2017). "Real inspiration behind Rab C Nesbitt has finally been revealed". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Sunny Govan Radio". Glasgow's Golden Generation. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Sunny Govan Radio, Glasgow Community Radio Station". www.glasgowwestend.co.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Scotland's youngest DJ mixes with the best". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  7. ^ "I 'absolutely' suffer from imposter syndrome – Nicola Sturgeon". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Sturgeon admits to suffering 'imposter syndrome' in FM role". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon says she 'absolutely' suffers from 'imposter syndrome'". The Independent. 15 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  10. ^ Green, Miranda (29 May 2019). "Don't look down, women suffering imposter syndrome are told". www.ft.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  11. ^ Archive, STV News. "Nicola Sturgeon: I suffer from 'imposter syndrome'". STV News Archive. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Anne Hughes: 10 things that changed my life". The National. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  13. ^ English, Paul (18 November 2010). "Scots internet tycoon's plea to rich as he appears on TV's Secret Millionaire". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Was your favourite local business voted a High Street Hero? See the full list for every Scottish region here". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  15. ^ ""It's a Dying Empire, Let's Get Shot of It" - How Scottish Rappers Are Encouraging People to Set Their Country Free". www.vice.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Passionate pro-indy poet and artist Sindigo - Sarah Simpson - was a power for positive change". The National. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "'We're going to fight': Sunny Govan Radio in battle for survival after pandemic devastates station". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Govan and South Uist in twinning improvement scheme". BBC News. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  19. ^ McGarvey, Darren (5 February 2021). "Why it's time we all started the C-word in public again". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Sunny Govan: the community radio station fighting to survive". theferret.scot. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  21. ^ Lennon, Holly (5 February 2021). "Sunny Govan Radio facing collapse as pandemic cuts vital income streams". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Sunny Govan emergency fund backed by community fighting to save local 'gem'". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

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