This article is about the radio station launched in 2020. For the similarly-named radio station operating from 2000 to 2008, see Virgin Radio Groove (2000).
Virgin Radio Groove was a digital radio station in the UK, broadcasting on DAB and online and is a sister station to Virgin Radio UK.
History
The original Virgin Radio Groove operated between 2000 and 2008, playing motown, soul and disco music. At the end of 2019, Wireless Group, which had taken up the Virgin Radio brand in the UK from 2016, revived the Virgin Radio Groove name as a new digital station, broadcasting upbeat music to London in DAB+ and central Scotland as a stereo standard DAB. The station replaced regional variants of TalkSport on the Switchdigital multiplexes owned by Wireless. Like the existing Virgin Radio UK spin-offs – Virgin Radio Chilled and Virgin Radio Anthems – the station simulcasts the Chris Evans Breakfast Show, with its own programming at other times.[1] Virgin Radio Groove officially began on 21 January 2020,[2] with a 'takeover' stunt on the main station, the date chosen as it was the first anniversary of the launch of the Chris Evans Breakfast Show.
The last day on air for the station was 1 June 2022.
References
^Martin, Roy (30 December 2019). "Wireless brings back Virgin Radio Groove on DAB+". Radio Today. Retrieved 11 May 2020. The original Virgin Radio Groove operated from 2000 to 2008 under previous owners although it was known simply as The Groove until 2004. The resurrection of the name comes 12 months after the launch of both Virgin Radio Anthems and Virgin Radio Chilled, which started life in December 2018.
^Hanley, James (21 January 2020). "Virgin Radio Groove officially launches". Music Week. London: Future. ISSN0265-1548. Retrieved 11 May 2020. Targeted at 30-45 year olds, Virgin Radio Groove is a presenter-led channel focused on rhythmic pop, beginning at 6.30am with the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky, followed by Chris Brooks (10am-2pm), Steve Denyer (2pm-6pm) and Bam (6pm-10pm).
