A RADIO station launched out of a Tyldesley garage is set to celebrate its second anniversary this weekend after connecting to thousands of listeners every month.
The idea for Tyldesley's first radio station came about in early 2022, when a group of friends realised there was scope for a broadcast that focused on hyper-local issues, celebrated those in the community, and connected people through music.
Initially broadcasting out of a garage once a week, the 'Radio M29' project now pays all weekend, boasts more than 30 volunteers, and has between five and six thousand monthly listeners for their eclectic mix of shows.
After clocking in well over a thousand shows since its inception in March 2022, the volunteer-led project is celebrating its second birthday with a special broadcast this weekend.
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Speaking about the station, volunteer Tony King said: "We have been on an incredible journey over the last couple of years to get where we are today.
"The idea was first talked about in a cafe in Tyldesley and then launched out of a garage, so to get to have more than 30 volunteers and have five or six thousand monthly listeners is amazing.
"The station is all about the local area and local people bringing you stories from the community, all with an eclectic mix of music where we play all genres through the decades."
With the second birthday celebrations to take place from Friday, March 1 to Sunday, March 3, the station will broadcast another eclectic mix of shows that will play songs that were Number 1 on each of the volunteers' second birthdays.
The volunteers will also encourage listeners to send in the Number 1 from their second birthday as they intend to continue "doing what works" and building connections with listeners around Tyldesley - and even those who have moved away but like to keep updated on the area.
With a growing group of volunteers, the plan is to continue growing Radio M29, extend its programme schedule, and obtain a DAB licence which will allow even more listeners to tune in on their home or car radios.
There is also a desire for sponsorship from local businesses to secure the station's future, with listeners able to listen to Radio M29 live or on their 'Rewind' playbacks on the station's app, website, or smart speaker. For more information, you can visit the M29 website here.
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