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'THE SPIRIT OF 303' - CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF BEACON RADIO
BEACON RADIO 303 started broadcasting on Monday 12th April 1976 and quickly became a firm favourite within the West Midlands and beyond, despite extensive radio competition both locally and on a national basis from the BBC.
The ‘BEAUTIFUL MUSIC’ playlist policy in Beacon’s early days included a significant focus on the Billboard US chart rundowns and album tracks in particular - ensured a strong ‘mid-Atlantic’ feel to the station,
which was highly unconventional within British local radio in the 1970s.
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Beacon Radio had to change its on-air style in order to remain on-air.
However a mid-Atlantic feel to its music policy was still evident in the mid-1980s... albeit watered down.
Beacon was a pioneering station which inspired many of ‘Team Skylab’ and friends of the station. Without Beacon and its one-time stablemate - 'CHILL', Skylab Radio wouldn’t be here.
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Sadly, the name “Beacon” disappeared in a group-wide rebrand in March 2012.
The station is still broadcasting, but is now part of the wider ‘Hits Radio’ and ‘Greatest Hits Radio’ brands.
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In April 2026 - Local radio folk, along with former staff of 267 Tettenhall Road wished BEACON RADIO 303 a very Happy 50th Birthday.
We joined in with our own tribute to a legendary radio station.
​'THE SPIRIT OF 303’ - is Skylab's love letter to the power of radio and the ability to inspire listeners, many of whom became broadcasters themselves in some capacity.
We also play some of the songs Beacon made famous in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Join Skylab Radio Station Director - Paul Teague, along with Head of Programming - Katy Jay, Neal Bowden, Victoria Shotton-Oza, Rob Tovey and Pam Stratton from Stockport Community SSDAB for an affectionate look at Beacon and radio in general.
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'THE PRODUCER'S CUT' - features material which wasn't broadcast on Skylab Radio.
ALL MATERIAL is protected under Copyright the applicable producer and has been included in this file for archive and/or demonstration purposes only.
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Our sincere thanks go to Simon Prentice and Steve England at S2Blue, Jonathan Wolfert at JAM Creative Productions Inc, Linden Wade at Jingle Works, Muff Murfin and TM Studios.
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FURTHER LISTENING
BEACON RADIO / RADIO WABC / FREE RADIO (BC & SH) AIRCHECK PLAYLIST ON MIXCLOUD
THE BEACON RADIO YEARS - MIXCLOUD
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