About us
Westside 89.6FM is West London’s first radio station serving a multicultural and youth based audience. The station reaches out across West London and provides the best in urban music, general entertainment, discussions, advice, local news and even specialist shows broadcast in locally spoken languages.
After several years of operating under the restricted service license (RSL) scheme, the station was awarded a full-time community radio license in 2006, by OFCOM the UK regulator. The station was launched on 13th October 2007 by Mayor of London Boris Johnson and local MP Virendra Sharma.
What can I hear on Westside?
Westside 89.6FM provides the best in urban music, general entertainment, discussion, debate, news and local community programming. The vast majority of our programmes are broadcast in English but specific shows are targeted at migrant communities in their own language.
Much of the evening schedule is targeted at a younger audience with many shows presented by established DJ’s and presenters as well as young local talent. The public is encouraged to participate and interact in all of our shows via phone, text messaging and e-mails.
Our Aims
Our main aim is to provide the most deprived groups in society an opportunity to take control of their own lives through broadcast media. Over the past few years Westside FM has been instrumental in developing raw talent from the local area some of which has gone to big stations such as BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Asian Network, Kiss 100 and many more. The station is supported by local statutory and voluntary organisations in West London including local government, MET Police, NHS Choices, school, colleges and more.
Our Listeners
Westside 89.6FM is aimed at a diverse spectrum of listeners aged between 16 and 65. This represents over 500,000 potential listeners in greater West London. Youth programming is aimed at 16-25 year olds whilst community based programming is aimed at an audience up to the age of 60. Below is a breakdown of our target audience:
• 16 – 25 years (60%)
• 26 – 40 years (25%)
• 41 – 65 years (15%)
Our Community
West London is an area brimming with raw talent, entrepreneurship and hard working people, but for all its potential, the region is failing to respond to modern day pressures of a changing community. Anti-social behaviour, cultural disharmony, high unemployment, soaring crime rates and drug abuse are just some of the challenges we face today in West London. A severe lack of facilities for the young and increasing tensions between old and new migrant communities are beginning to create disillusionment and a real strain on everyday life. In a area where there is little to unite these local people, it is time to give something back to whole community and offer a sense of belonging for all.