Bauer Media are today unveiling the next step in their digital audio innovation product strategy, launching seven new radio stations from existing brands; KISS, Kerrang! Radio and heat Radio, and a brand-new KISS topical podcast series.

Providing a deeper genre-specific listen or distinctive nostalgic focus, the new launches are aimed at listeners who crave more content from their favourite stations. KISS have launched three new online channels; KISS DNCE, KISS Garage and KISS Ibiza. Kerrang! Radio launches Klassic Kerrang! Radio and Kerrang! Radio Unleashed, and heat Radio have unveiled heat Radio School Disco and heat Radio Soundtracks.

KISS have also launched a new podcast in association with The Prince’s Trust entitled ‘KISS Life: Let’s Talk About’. This new series explores a number of issues that face young people today – from gangs to exam stress. With one episode released monthly over the next 5 months, the podcast will provide advice for young people that are affected by the issues covered, as well as being a chance to showcase ways in which The Prince’s Trust are empowering people to turn their lives around.

The first episode released this week focuses on knife crime, which is at a record high across England and Wales. KISS and presenter Tyler West investigate why so many young people are picking up blades – and explore the devastating consequences of using one. On the podcast they speak exclusively to the family of Jaden Moodie, the youngest person to lose his life to knife crime so far this year, and hear from a London surgeon who operates on two stabbing victims every day.

Dee Ford CBE, Group Managing Director for Bauer Radio said – “Anticipating consumer behaviour informs our content and distribution strategy. It’s exactly what has underpinned the roaring success of KISSTORY. The new digital station launches and KISS podcast provide even greater choice for our audiences who seek more from the brands they love. Creating an even deeper more tailored listening experience, they also provide exciting new opportunities for advertisers seeking highly engaged valuable audiences.”

The new stations live online, with listeners able to access them from the main brand mobile listen apps or website. Recent figures recorded that 36.3M of the UK listen to digital audio weekly with 56% of smart speaker usage for live radio (RAJAR Q2 2019).

Head to planetradio.co.uk to access the new stations and KISS podcast now.

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About the new stations

KISS DNCE – A new station from KISS that purely focuses on the latest dance bangers, with nothing but the freshest releases and the biggest club fillers out there.

KISS Garage – With over 20 years of history, the impact and influence of UK Garage is still felt today. As original pioneers, KISS bring you this dedicated station devoted to the sound and scene of UKG. You’ll hear everything from classic tracks and the sub-genres of 2step and funky, to the latest Garage-influenced drops from newer artists.

KISS Ibiza – Whether you’re re-living your Ibiza experience, or simply wanting those white isle vibes at home, we’ve got the biggest tunes from the best DJs 24/7. Brought to you by the station that started it all on the island, KISS Ibiza is your ultimate party soundtrack. 

Klassic Kerrang! Radio – This station celebrates classic tracks from the past 20 years of the alternative rock scene. A 24/7 hit of nostalgia for fans of pop punk, pop rock, nu metal and more, you’ll find seminal tracks such as Green Day’s “Basket Case”, Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’ and KoRn’s “Freak on a Leash”.  

Kerrang! Radio Unleashed – If you like it heavy you will love Kerrang! Radio’s Unleashed. Expect the darker side of Kerrang! unleashed every day with tracks from metal titans such as Metallica, Slipknot and Rammstein to new music from the likes of I Prevail, Venom Prison and Code Orange.

heat Radio School Disco – Home to all your favourite school disco anthems. Relive your holiday memories with Ibiza bangers, hear your Eurovision favourites, plus the biggest boy and girl bands on the planet. Vengaboys, Blue, Girls Aloud, Gina G are just some of the artists featured, and from time to time they’ll slow it down for the behind the bike shed smoochie songs.

heat Radio Soundtracks – Playing the songs from heat Radio’s favourite movies and TV show, including Frozen, Bridget Jones, Friends. This station is a place for Miley Cyrus when we knew her as Hannah and when Jessica Simpson was wearing her Daisy Dukes.

-ENDS- 

For further press information, please contact:

Cat Martin – Bauer Media Communications Director

T: 0207 432 3317 M: 07932 746 363

Amelia O’Shea – Bauer Media Communications Manager (Radio)

T: 0207 432 3417 M: 07718 489342

About Bauer Media UK:

Bauer Media UK reaches over 25 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire, Magic, Absolute Radio and the Hits Radio Network. These brands offer commercial partners access to highly engaged audiences, with creative solutions underpinned by insight and instinct. Bauer Media UK is part of the Bauer Media Group, one of the world’s largest privately owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.