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Rinse FM acquires Bristol’s SWU FM as it formally relaunches Kool FM
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 24 April 2023
Rinse FM has announced that it has acquired Bristol-based SWU FM, a community radio station which launched in October 2020, but was forced off air last September due to rising costs.
At the time, the team behind the Bristol station said: “SWU launched in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak and took heavy financial losses in this period. Against the odds we managed to survive various lockdowns, navigate restrictions and stabilise. However, recent rising costs and massive energy bill increases have made it impossible for us to continue”.
Commenting on that closure last year, Bristol’s Night Time Economy Advisor Carly Heath said on Twitter: “In SWU’s short life it was an essential hub for Bristol born dance music. SWU was a lifeline for the music community in Bristol. It brought so many people together from across the music spectrum”.
It’s not entirely clear how the relaunched SWU FM will compare to what was broadcast during its original two years on air, but Rinse FM has promised to publish more details about its plans in the next few months.
The acquisition of SWU FM was announced just before London-based Kool FM resumed operations, it having also been taken over by Rinse FM. That alliance was announced earlier this year after Kool FM’s co-founder Eastman announced he was stepping back from full-on management of the station.
At the time, Rinse FM founder Geeneus said: “Starting Rinse for me was based on the passion and love I had for Kool FM. It led me to dedicate my life to helping the underground, searching for talent and encouraging young creatives from our background to try”.
