Swansea Sound started broadcasting across South West Wales 50 years ago today on 30th September 1974. Chris Harper presented the first breakfast show and Love Is The Message by MFSB was the first song played.
At it’s launch, Swansea Sound was the first and only commercial radio station in Wales and the seventh in the UK. It was also the first independent local radio station to broadcast a bilingual service in both English and Welsh.
Originally, the station broadcast on 257 metres (1170 kHz) AM and 95.1 FM before moving 96.4 FM in the early 1980s. In 1995, Swansea Sound moved to AM only, whilst 96.4 FM became Soundwave, The Wave and now Hits Radio. Swansea Sound rebranded in 2020 to Greatest Hits Radio.
Presenters over the years have included Doreen Jenkins, Steve Dewitt, Paul Holmes, Chrispian St John, Dave Bowen, Bob McCord, Andy Lee, Steve Wiggins and many, many others.
Swansea Sound At 50 features some great mixes and demos of jingles produced by Emison, Sue Manning Music, Alfasound and more. Bonus material – below are some of the jingle demos and packages that 96.4 The Wave have aired across the years.
**All audio is downloadable – enjoy**
DISCLAIMER: All audio featured on this website remains the IP of the respective companies and is protected under copyright.
NEW: Emison Mini Mix #3 – Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’ (1974) (Custom)
NEW: Emison Mini Mix #3 – Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’ (1976) (Custom)
NEW: Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’ (1981) – Station Theme – Sue Manning Music
NEW: Sue Manning Mini Mix #2 – Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’ (1981) (Custom)
NEW: Sue Manning Mini Mix #8 – Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’ (1981) – The Presenters (Custom)
NEW: Alfasound Mini Mix #37 – Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’ (1986) (Custom)
NEW: The Original (Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’) (1995) – Demo – Alfasound
NEW: Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’ (2001) – Demo – Vibe Music & Audio Imaging
NEW: Music 4 Mini Mix #43 – Swansea Sound ‘South West Wales’ (2012) – Christmas (Capital Gold)
Bonus…….
NEW: AlfaWave (96.4 Sound Wave ‘South West Wales’) (1995) – Demo – ALFA
NEW: ALFA Mini Mix #22 – 96.4 Sound Wave ‘South West Wales’ (1995) (Custom)
NEW: 96.4 The Wave ‘South West Wales’ (June 2000) – Demo – Vibe Music & Audio Imaging
NEW: IQ Beats Mini Mix #60 – 96.4 The Wave ‘South West Wales’ (2008) (UTV Group 2008)
NEW: Music 4 Mini Mix #38 – 96.4 The Wave ‘South West Wales’ (2012) (One Network – Today’s Best Mix)
NEW: Wise Buddah Mini Mix #55 – 96.4 The Wave ‘South West Wales’ (2023) (Hits Radio Network 2023)