Radio Capital

The station, which was based on the first two floors of the Euston Tower was originally named Capital Radio, and was launched by the then-chairman Richard Attenborough at 5:00 AM on Tuesday, 16 October 1973. Capital went on air just over a week after news station LBC, making it the second legal commercial radio station in the UK. The first song to be played on Capital was Bridge Over Troubled Water, by Simon and Garfunkel.

Broadcasting on FM and medium wave, it has used 95.8 MHz since its inception, while the medium wave frequency was originally 539 metres (557kHz). This happened to be the same frequency that the Dutch pirate radio station Radio Veronica was using, and the interference between the two meant that neither station could be heard clearly in parts of southern England or Belgium.

In 1975, Capital's medium wave frequency moved to 194 metres (1548 kHz) after Veronica had been closed by the Dutch anti-pirate legislation. As the British government encouraged an end to simulcasting as part of its plan to expand choice in UK radio, a separate service - Capital Gold - was set up in 1988 to broadcast on Capital's medium wave frequency. At the same time, the FM frequency station was relaunched under the name Capital FM.

Still the most popular independent radio station in London; in their words "London's number one hit music station." One of the first independent local radio stations in the UK - started broadcasting on 16 October 1973. Pop chart music, aimed primarily at a young audience with lots of disposable income. Comprehensive web site (link above). Sister station, Capital Gold is also based in London on 1548 kHz AM. The breakfast show is the most popular slot which was hosted by Chris Tarrant until 2004(?) when Johnny Vaughan and a team of helpers took over. The high-power high-energy feel of this station makes you feel weary after an hour or so, but if you want pace, current hits and a "being there" feeling, this is your place. In 1997 Capital moved their studios to Leicester Square. Flagship station of the huge and wealthy GCap Media plc, a merger of Capital Radio plc and GWR Group plc on 9 May 2005. Typical music - Razorlight, Beyonce, anything in the top 20 and anything that has charted recently.