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Spark Sunderland

Broadcast area	Sunderland, United Kingdom Online via Radioplayer
Frequency	107.0 MHz
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	Community radio
Ownership
Owner	University of Sunderland
History
First air date	27 October 2009
Links
Website	www.sparksunderland.com

Spark (formerly 107 Spark FM and Spark FM) is a community radio station serving 15- to 30-year-olds in the Sunderland area. Spark carries a variety of content catering for both mainstream and niche musical audiences, specialising in chart hits and new music throughout the day, and specialist programming after 7 p.m. The radio station broadcasts on 107.0FM and online via the station's website. The official launch of Spark took place at the new £12 million CitySpace building in the centre of the city of Sunderland.

History

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The station began broadcasting in November 1997 as Radio Utopia a two-week short term broadcast under the (then) Radio Authority's Restricted Service Licence (RSL) scheme. The station was part of a regional arts festival called "Visions of Utopia" and the station reflected the scheme and carried various programmes tied-in with the scheme, such as "The Quakies" a programme produced by children from the former pit village of Quaking Houses in County Durham. Radio broadcasting predated this by several years, with student programming on the community radio station Wear FM, which closed in 1995 and is now the more commercial station Sun FM. The station was low powered but still proved valuable as a training ground for new broadcasters. Programmes were broadcast from studios in the Forster Building, formerly used by Wear FM, with a transmitter on the roof.

The station was rebranded the following November as "107 Utopia FM" and developed a more formatted sound and joined the "Student Broadcast Network" (SBN) bringing news, national programmes and a 24-hour service to the station. Utopia returned in September 1999 for the first ever freshers broadcast and again proved its value for students and volunteers. The station largely draws volunteers from the University's large undergraduate media courses but has also been part of wider community radio programmes with projects in County Durham, Washington and Sunderland.

During the following years Utopia broadcast more frequently, getting up to broadcasts twice a year. In 2002, Utopia began broadcasting on the 102.4FM frequency. In 2003, the station began to use new studios in the £11m Media Centre at the St. Peter's Campus, when media teaching moved there that year. The old studios have now been demolished and the building is now used to teach courses run by the University's School of Education and Lifelong Learning. The move also facilitated the recording of sessions in The Media Centre's new radio and television studios.

The station applied for a Community Radio Licence from OFCOM in the 2nd licensing round and was awarded a licence in 2007. The station took on the new name of Spark when it launched in 2009. The name is a reflection of the University logo, which they call a 'spark' in homage to the shipyards that were central to the growth of Sunderland.

Volunteers from the station have not only succeeded in gaining recognition in the annual student radio awards in the UK but also awards from the New York Festivals. Station alumni are now found working for BBC and Commercial stations across the UK.

Volunteers at the station are known internally and across the student radio network and media network as "Sparkies".

Community licence and rebrand

When the UK media regulator Ofcom announced a plan to issue Community Radio licences, work began at the station to apply for a Full Time licence. This application was made in early in 2007. In September 2007, Ofcom awarded Utopia FM a full-time 5 year Community Radio licence.

It was announced in June 2009 that Utopia FM would be changing its name to 107 Spark FM to signal the change in licence and the broadening of the audience.

In 2012, Spark was awarded 'Best North East Radio Station' in the Radio Academy's 'Nations & Regional Awards'.

In late 2013, the '107' branding was removed for the station and the station was simply known as 'Spark' or 'Spark FM'.

In 2015, the station was updated with a refreshed logo, a slogan change to 'Where Sunderland Lives', new on-air imaging provided by Reelworld and a brand new website.

As of 2016, the station is now referred to as 'Spark' only on air, dropping the 'fm' suffix.

Programming, music and output

The majority of Spark's programming is broadcast live from its studio at the David Puttnam Media Centre at St.Peters Campus of University of Sunderland. Spark broadcasts at least eight hours of original programming each weekday, while overnights are non-stop music. Daytime shows feature a mix of playlist music, interviews, discussions and news reporting.

Spark play a mix of hit music and emerging music. Genres range from Chart Hits, Indie/Alternative, Dance, Urban/R&B. During the evening, 7pm-11pm Spark have a number of specialist music shows, such as 'The Takedown', focusing on different genres.

The station airs hourly national IRN news updates during daytime hours.

Awards

Notable alumni

A number of Spark volunteers have graduated from the University of Sunderland and gone on to work for local, regional or national radio stations as well as TV stations and print media.

• Jordan North (2009–2011): Capital Breakfast on Capital (via Capital Manchester, Rock FM & BBC Radio 1)

References

1. "Applications for community radio licences 2007 - North and North-East England (Incl. North Yorkshire) | Ofcom". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
2. "Ofcom licence awards September 2007". Archived from the original on 20 October 2007.
3. McGerty, Scott. "About Spark – Spark Sunderland".
4. ^ "107 Spark FM Win Nations & Regions Award for the North East » Spark Sunderland". Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
5. ^ "Key Commitments, Licence number: CR000143BA" (PDF). Ofcom. July 2020.
6. ^ "Schedule – Spark Sunderland". Archived from the original on 22 March 2017.
7. "2010 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
8. "2011 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
9. "New York Festivals - 2012 World's Best Radio Programs™ Winners". 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
10. "2014 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
11. "2015 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
12. bridiepjones (9 November 2015). "Student Radio Awards 2015: A review". Kettle Mag. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
13. "2016 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
14. martin (11 September 2016). "Stations and volunteers recognised at first ever Community Radio Awards". Community Radio Awards. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
15. martin (24 September 2017). "2017 Community Radio Awards Results". Community Radio Awards. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
16. "Student Radio Awards 2017 – all the winners". RadioToday. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
17. "2018 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
18. Smith, Christopher (17 September 2018). "Recipients announced for the 2018 Community Radio Awards". Community Radio Awards. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
19. "Student Radio Awards 2018 – winners list". RadioToday. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
20. "2019 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
21. Smith, Christopher (26 October 2019). "Recipients announced for the 2019 Community Radio Awards". Community Radio Awards. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
22. "All the winners from the Student Radio Awards 2019". RadioToday. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
23. "2020 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
24. "Winners Gallery - New York Festivals". radio.newyorkfestivals.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
25. martin (12 December 2020). "Virtual 2020 Community Radio Awards crowns winners". Community Radio Awards. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
26. "Student Radio Awards – all the winners for 2020". RadioToday. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
27. "2021 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
28. martin (25 October 2021). "2021 Community Radio Awards recognise the best of the nation". Community Radio Awards. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
29. "All the winners from the Student Radio Awards 2021". RadioToday. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
30. "2022 Winners". Charles Parker Archive Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
31. "Winners Gallery - New York Festivals". radio.newyorkfestivals.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
32. martin (24 November 2022). "Winners of the 2022 Community Radio Awards". Community Radio Awards. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
33. "Student Radio Awards 2022 – full winners list". RadioToday. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
34. "Winners Gallery - New York Festivals". radio.newyorkfestivals.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
35. "Amplify Awards winners announced at SRA Conference". RadioToday. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
36. "https://twitter.com/carolinereith/status/1651472994450001927". Twitter. Retrieved 27 April 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)

External links

• Official website

v t e City of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Settlements	Sunderland Washington Houghton-le-Spring Hetton-le-Hole Springwell Village
Education	Academy 360 Argyle House School Biddick Academy Castle View Enterprise Academy Christ's College Farringdon Community Academy Hetton Academy Kepier School Monkwearmouth Academy Oxclose Community Academy Red House Academy St Aidan's Catholic Academy St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy St Robert of Newminster Catholic School Sandhill View Academy Southmoor Academy Sunderland College Thornhill Academy University of Sunderland Venerable Bede Church of England Academy Washington Academy
Places of interest	Barnes Park Donnison School City Hall Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens Stadium of Light Penshaw Monument Herrington Country Park Mowbray Park National Glass Centre Roker Park Sunderland Empire Theatre St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth Sunderland International Airshow Washington Old Hall Monkwearmouth Station Sunderland Aquatic Centre The Bridges WWT Washington Keel Square Northern Spire Bridge Beacon of Light
Economy	Doxford International Business Park Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK The Bridges Sunniside The Galleries Vaux Site
Local media	Sunderland Echo Sun FM Spark Sunderland Sunderland Global Media
Twinned places	Essen Saint-Nazaire Washington, D.C. Harbin
Sport	Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland A.F.C. Women

v t e Student radio in the United Kingdom
Radio in the United Kingdom
Stations	Air3 Radio Bailrigg FM Blast 1386AM Blast Radio BurnFM.com Burst Radio Cam FM CSR 97.4FM Demon FM Forge Radio FreshAir.org.uk Fresh FM (Petroc) Fuse FM Hub Radio Imperial College Radio Insanity Radio 103.2FM Kube Radio Leeds Student Radio Livewire Nerve Radio OSCAR Radio Oxide Radio Pulse! Radio Pure FM Purple Radio Queen's Radio Radio LaB RamAir Rare FM RAW 1251AM RED Radio Siren FM Smoke Radio Source Radio Spark Sunderland Stag Radio Subcity Radio Surge Radio UKC Radio University Radio Bath University Radio Essex University Radio Nottingham University Radio York Xpression FM
Organisations	Student Radio Association Radio Academy Student Broadcast Network The Student Radio Awards
Category

• City of Sunderland
• Community radio stations in the United Kingdom
• Radio stations established in 1997
• Radio stations in North East England
• Student radio in the United Kingdom
• University of Sunderland