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15/05/2008

Former Northsound Programme Director and presenter Luke McCullough is to return to the North-east’s number one radio station to take up the role of Managing Director.

 

With a wealth of experience in radio, Luke has enjoyed considerable success at Radio Forth in Edinburgh, where he has been in charge of programming since 2004, but is returning to Aberdeen to take over from departing Managing Director Ken Massie.

 

Luke was a presenter on the launch line-up of Northsound 2 in 1995 and fronted the station’s mid-morning show for six years from 1998, interviewing more than 3,000 guests.

 

He later became Head of Northsound 2 and then Northsound Radio’s Programme Director. 

 

As well as presenting, he also worked simultaneously for Moray Firth Radio’s Commercial Production team. 

 

A member of the Radio Academy’s Scotland branch, he became Programme Director of Edinburgh’s Radio Forth in December 2004.

 

Luke will start his new role at Northsound, which is owned by Bauer Radio Ltd, on Monday (May 19).

 

He replaces current Managing Director Ken Massie, who has decided to leave after two years at the station.

 

Ken said: “I’ve had a really interesting two years in media but have decided it’s time for me to move on.” He will continue to act as an advisor to the station for the next three months.

 

Luke said today: “I am delighted to be heading back to Northsound, with which I’ve been associated for 10 years.  “I went to Aberdeen University before moving into radio so I know the North-east well and am excited about heading up the team at Northsound 1 and Northsound 2, which were confirmed as the North-east’s undisputed number one radio stations in the latest RAJAR figures. “Northsound is an integral part of the community and having broadcast live many times from both Offshore Europe and Offshore Northern Seas in Stavanger, I also appreciate its vital place in the local business network and am looking forward to driving the station forward while continuing to provide a quality and entertaining service for the people of the North-east.” 

Big City Managing Director Travis Baxter said: “Luke is a hugely popular and well-known personality in the North East and we’re delighted he’s ‘coming home’.

 

“It’s a very exciting time for the award-winning Bauer stations and I’m sure that, with Luke at the helm, Northsound will continue to go from strength to strength. I’d also like to thank Ken Massie for his valuable contribution to Northsound and wish him all the best for the future.”

 

Luke also headed up the radio broadcasting teaching team at Aberdeen College and has worked with Aberdeen Airport and the University of Aberdeen.

 

Away from work, he is a trained singer and has trod the boards both professionally and in amateur productions with Aberdeen Opera Company, Lyric, Pro Arte and Attic Theatre companies and Deeside Musical Society in Aboyne. 

 

He also appeared in a number of the annual Student Shows at His Majesty’s Theatre, for which he was also musical director.

 

A member of Equity, Luke was also on the board of Directors of Castlegate Arts, looking after Aberdeen Arts Centre. 

 

He is married with three children.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by The BIG Partnership on behalf of Northsound Radio. For more information, please contact Shona Hendry on 01224 578173 or 07739 314158 or Dave Macdermid on 01224 650406 or 07710 580148.

 NOTES TO EDITORS  Northsound 1 is at 96.9FM (www.northsound1.com) and Northsound 2 at 1035MW (www.northsound2.com) ·         The latest RAJAR figures, which cover the first quarter of 2008, show that Northsound 1 and Northsound 2 are the North-east’s undisputed number one radio stations, with a huge 33.3% share of the market – the highest since 2004. ·         Northsound 1’s Greigsy at Breakfast is the top breakfast show in the North-east, while Northsound 2’s market share has overtaken Radio 1’s.  Northsound 1’s individual figures show an increased reach of 41% and 21.1% market share, with listeners tuning in for a total of 1,195,100 hours.

 

Northsound 2 claimed an increase to 12.2% of the market, an incredible 87.6% increase year on year, with a 20% reach and listening hours totalling 687,300.

 

The Bauer Publishing Group is a worldwide media empire operating businesses across 14 countries. Bauer Radio Ltd - part of the Bauer Publishing Group 2008 - is home to a growing network of no.1 commercial radio stations in all major markets in the UK.