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{{Short description|Defunct UK internet radio station}} |
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'''Hitz Radio UK''' is an [[internet radio]] station based in [[Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]] founded by Ryan Dunlop in January 2006<ref>[http://www.hitzradiouk.com/station/about.html Hitz Radio UK "About" page]</ref>. The station has become infamous for the publicity it has gained in [[United Kingdom]] national newspapers, and for claims that it is fully licensed for internet broadcasting, that it has hundreds of thousands of listeners, and that it employs over 40 people. The station has also claimed that it has a projected turnover of £37,000,000. Many of Hitz Radio's claims have been disputed, and many of them have been proven wrong by a variety of media communities. |
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{{About|the UK-based internet radio|the Malaysian national radio station|Hitz (radio station)}} |
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[[Image:Hitz radio unsigned logo.png|thumb|right|Logo for Hitz Radio Unsigned, one of the Hitz Radio stations.]] |
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'''Hitz Radio''' is a defunct [[internet radio]] station. It was founded in 2006 by Ryan Dunlop in [[Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]]. Hitz Radio is owned and operated by Hitz Media Group Ltd. |
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Dunlop claimed his drivetime slot averaged 80,000 listeners,<ref name="times">{{cite news|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/culture/film_and_tv/tv/article60777.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809141620/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/culture/film_and_tv/tv/article60777.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 9, 2016 |title=Teen tycoon hits paydirt with shed radio station |date=2007-03-04 |publisher=[[The Sunday Times]] |accessdate=2007-06-14 | location=London | first=Robert | last=Booth}}</ref> and that he employs 40 staff.<ref name="dr15"/> These claims were disputed by various experts in the radio industry during 2007.<ref name="Radio Today 10 June"/> As of November 2007, Hitz Radio was investigated by [[Trading Standards]] over these claims, and questioned about operating without the licenses which radio stations require.<ref name="ic_tradings">{{cite web|publisher=[[Ayrshire Post]] |url=http://icayrshire.icnetwork.co.uk/ayrshirepost/news/tm_headline=dj-x2019-s-claims-out-of-tune%26method=full%26objectid=20174649%26siteid=73592-name_page.html |title=DJ's claims out of tune |date=2007-11-28 |first=Stuart |last=Wilson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224014357/http://icayrshire.icnetwork.co.uk/ayrshirepost/news/tm_headline%3Ddj-x2019-s-claims-out-of-tune%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D20174649%26siteid%3D73592-name_page.html |archive-date=24 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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Hitz Radio was launched as a single-stream, internet-only station by Ryan Dunlop on January 16th, 2006, branded as "Hitz Radio Unsigned". In order to launch the station, Dunlop used £20,000 of his father's money and a £250 grant from the [[Prince's Trust]]<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1466623.ece Sunday Times article on Hitz Radio UK]</ref>. Since the station's launch, numerous additional streams have been added, including Hitz Radio Glasgow, Hitz Radio London and Hitz Radio Xtra, the latter being an [[indie music|indie]] station, although most of the output on each stream is the same. |
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A video broadcast service, Hitz Television, made its debut in July 2007 by using video service, [[YouTube]], to broadcast<ref>[http://www.hitzradiouk.com/eastfortune2007/index.html Hitz TV First Coverage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911084530/http://www.hitzradiouk.com/eastfortune2007/index.html |date=2007-09-11 }}, Hitz TV now broadcasts 24 hours a day.</ref> |
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In February 2007, Hitz Radio begun to gain exposure in the national press, with the [[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] reporting on February 26th that Hitz Radio had become a radio empire "with five million fans"<ref>[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=5-million-listeners---and-radio-boss-ryan-is-only-15--&method=full&objectid=18675932&siteid=66633-name_page.html Daily Record article on Hitz Radio UK]</ref>. The following week the [[Sunday Times]] reported that Hitz Radio had roughly 250,000 unique listeners, and that the station had 40 employees<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1466623.ece Sunday Times article on Hitz Radio UK]</ref>. In the [[Scotsman]] newspaper, however, the station was reported to have "five million listeners at any one time"<ref>[http://www.scotsman.com Article in ''The Scotsman'' newspaper]</ref>Dunlop also appeared on [[BBC Scotland]], [[Scotland Today]] and [[BBC Radio 2]] to promote the station. |
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According to Radio Today, Hitz Radio came under fire from some in the UK radio industry.<ref name="Radio Today 10 June">{{cite web |url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.2049 |publisher=Radio Today |date=10 June 2007 |quote=Ryan [Dunlop] came under fire recently within the industry. |title=Listen out for The Big Listen |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612113144/http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.2049 |archivedate=12 June 2007 }} (Registration required)</ref> |
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In May 2007, Ryan Dunlop was awarded the "Business Hero 2007" award by the Daily Record for his work on Hitz Radio, and is the Shell Livewire "Young enterpreneur of the year" finalist for the [[Dumfries]] and [[Galloway]] area, although allegations his claims may be fraudulent are currently being investigated by Shell Livewire.<ref>[http://www.shell-livewire.org/news/?catid=latest&artid=1179215248.857 Shell Livewire article on "Young enterpreneur of the year" award nominees]</ref> His eligibility for both awards is disputed due to his frequently changing his stated year of birth on both his personal website, and articles on other sites about him. The terms & conditions for entry to the Shell Livewire competition also includes the point that the business "must be legal". As of 24 May 2007 inquiries are ongoing into the names of the Company's Directors and the age of Mr Ryan Dunlop. Even if the company is found to be compliant with various legislation for private limited companies, it has been proved that the radio station has been operating illegally since, by breaching copyright from various sources. |
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On top of the radio station, the station has also claimed to be starting a [[record label]] and several [[television channel]]s via the [[Sky Digital]] and [[Freeview]] platforms<ref>[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=she-has-beaten-cancer--she-has-survived-kidney-swap---but-all-sonya-wants-to-do-is-help-others&method=full&objectid=19141779&siteid=66633-name_page.html Daily Record article from May 2007]</ref>. Statements by Dunlop have also indicated an intention to purchase an [[FM radio|FM-based station]] in order to expand Hitz Radio's portfolio in the future, to float Hitz Radio UK on the stock exchange, and to work on a news service, Hitz Radio News. The station has also noted that it plans to re-locate its offices to [[London, England|London]]<ref>[http://www.radiodaddy.com Hitz Radio UK advertisement on Radiodaddy.com's Jobs board]</ref>. |
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Hitz Radio launched on 16 January 2006.<ref name="about">{{cite web |url=http://www.hitzradiouk.com/station/about.html |title=About Hitz Radio Limited |publisher=Hitz Radio |accessdate=2007-06-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524123910/http://www.hitzradiouk.com/station/about.html |archivedate=2007-05-24 }}</ref> when Dunlop was age 14,<ref name="rdaboutme">{{Cite web |url=http://ryandunlop.com/aboutme.html |title=About me |publisher=Ryan Dunlop |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213011656/http://ryandunlop.com/about_me.html |archive-date=2011-02-13 |access-date=2007-06-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but the station was operating as a hobby since December 2004 or earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitzradio.co.uk/ |date=2004-12-14 |title=Archived copy of hitzradio.co.uk |publisher=[[Internet Archive]] |accessdate=2007-06-14 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20041214161336/http://www.hitzradio.co.uk/ |archivedate = 2004-12-14}}</ref> |
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Hitz Radio filed as a [[private limited company]] at [[Companies House]] on 2 October 2006,<ref name="ch">{{cite web|url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ |title=Hitz Radio Ltd (SC309461) |publisher=Companies House |accessdate=2007-06-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229053844/http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ |archivedate=2008-12-29 }}</ref> which is wholly owned by Ryan Dunlop.<ref name="ic">{{cite web|url=http://icayrshire.icnetwork.co.uk/othernews/ayrshirenews/tm_method=full%26objectid=19175982%26siteid=73592-name_page.html |title=Ayr's King of Spin |date=May 23, 2007 |first=Stuart |last=Wilson |publisher=[[icNetwork]] |accessdate=2007-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208084943/http://icayrshire.icnetwork.co.uk/othernews/ayrshirenews/tm_method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D19175982%26siteid%3D73592-name_page.html |archive-date=8 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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== Controversy == |
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Shortly following the publication of the article about Hitz Radio in the Daily Record, major UK media communities such as Media UK began to question Dunlop's claims about the station, particularly those that he had "250,000 listeners" and annual turnover of over one million pounds. The Media UK [[message board]] community in particular began to investigate the station, looking at its legality and whether the listener figures given were even possible in a thread started by radio presenter and producer [[Kevin Atkinson]]. |
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Hitz Radio launched its services from Dunlop's bedroom [[personal computer|PC]],<ref name="dr15">{{cite web |
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From the investigations, it soon emerged that Dunlop's claims were false. The [[Shoutcast]] servers being ran by Dunlop, for example, had a maximum listener capacity of less than a thousand, making figures of 250,000 listeners at any one time impossible. Also, it emerged that Hitz Radio was not licensed by [[Phonographic Performance Limited]] (PPL) or [[MCPS-PRS Alliance|MCPS-PRS Alliance]], the two licensing bodies for internet stations based in the United Kingdom, from queries made to the two organisations. This essentially confirmed Dunlop as an illegal and fradulent broadcaster. |
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|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=5-million-listeners---and-radio-boss-ryan-is-only-15--&method=full&objectid=18675932&siteid=66633-name_page.html |
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|date=26 February 2007 |
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|title=5 Million Listeners.. and Radio Boss Ryan is only 15 |
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|first=Rod |
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|last=Mills |
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|publisher=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |
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|accessdate=2007-06-14 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711213410/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline%3D5-million-listeners---and-radio-boss-ryan-is-only-15--%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D18675932%26siteid%3D66633-name_page.html |
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|archive-date=11 July 2007 |
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|url-status=dead |
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}}</ref> before moving into the 'infamous' shed where it was reported in press and media during February and March 2007.<ref name="ic"/> |
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== Audience == |
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Ryan Dunlop's age has also been questioned, due to a variety of dates of birth being given on a variety of websites. For example, on a [[Wikia]] article created by Dunlop, his year of birth was given as 1993, making him 14 years of age. On the other hand his father, in an article on icAyrshire, claimed he was 16 and attending [[Prestwick Academy]]<ref>[http://icayrshire.icnetwork.co.uk/ayrshirepost/news/tm_headline=the-king-of-spin%26method=full%26objectid=19175982%26siteid=73592-name_page.html icAyrshire article on Ryan Dunlop's achievements]</ref>, and Dunlop's personal website claims he was born in March 1991<ref>[http://ryandunlop.com/aboutme.html Ryan Dunlop: The Enterpreneur website]</ref>. Many of the other newspaper articles have said he was 15, making him 16 after March 2007. This, in turn, resulted in individuals looking in to his real age, with most suggesting that he is in fact 17 years old. This is significant due to his nomination for awards for post-16s, and due to many of the newspaper and radio appearances being due to his age. |
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In common with most online radio stations, there were no independently verified figures on the audience of Hitz Radio. |
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In March 2007, Hitz Radio claimed 250,000 listeners, with the peak slot averaging 80,000 listeners.<ref name="times"/> In May 2007, Dunlop claimed Hitz Radio had "around five million people from all over the world visiting at any one time."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=she-has-beaten-cancer--she-has-survived-kidney-swap---but-all-sonya-wants-to-do-is-help-others&method=full&objectid=19141779&siteid=66633-name_page.html |title=Business Hero: Ryan Dunlop |publisher=The Daily Record |date=21 May 2007 |first=Lachlan |last=Mackinnon |accessdate=2007-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024523/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline%3Dshe-has-beaten-cancer--she-has-survived-kidney-swap---but-all-sonya-wants-to-do-is-help-others%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D19141779%26siteid%3D66633-name_page.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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Internet research has also shown that Dunlop has participated in illegal file-sharing of music by [[The Kooks]]<ref>[http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/03/08/fantasists-and-lazy-journalists James Cridland's blog article, "Fantasists, and lazy journalists"]</ref>, and has shown that Dunlop has in fact simulated various members of his "staff", as indicated by comparisons of [[IP address|IP addresses]]. This has raised questions about the suggestion that Hitz Radio "employs fourty people". Furthermore, the quality of Hitz Radio's output has also been questioned, and it has been suggested that his claims about turnover could cause Dunlop problems with [[HM Revenue and Customs]]<ref>[http://www.mediauk.com/discussions Media UK discussion board]</ref>. |
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=== Awards === |
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Several paid positions have been advertised on radio industry websites. Some of the jobs have given John Lyndsay as a contact name<ref>[http://www.mediauk.com/radio/jobs/1305 John Lyndsay job posting]</ref><ref>[http://www.radiotalent.co.uk/ad_show.php?id=503 John Lyndsay head of Sales]</ref>. After checks it appears that a named director is John Lindsay Kerr Dunlop, who is presumably Ryan's father. There is also another name associated with the management called Lindsay Dunlop. Both are registered and named by Companies House in Edinburgh, along with Ryan. Running further checks through the Electoral Register, no Lindsay Dunlop can be traced, despite being registered to the same address. However further checks are being done on these names as of 24th May 2007. |
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Hitz Radio received an industry award in 2007, and was a regional winner for a second. The ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' awarded its 2007 Our Heroes Business Award to Ryan Dunlop and Hitz Radio,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM_lhSoUAgI Daily Record Our Heroes video]</ref> described in the award-winners list as having "5 million fans."<ref name="Our Heroes">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecordourheroes.co.uk/2007_winners.html |title=Our Heroes 2007 |publisher=The Daily Record |accessdate=2007-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911233611/http://www.dailyrecordourheroes.co.uk/2007_winners.html|archive-date=11 September 2009 }}</ref> Ryan Dunlop and Hitz Radio were also the regional winner for south west Scotland in the [[Shell Livewire]] 2007 Scottish Young Entrepreneur Awards.<ref name="Shell Livewire">{{cite web|url=http://www.shell-livewire.org/awards/main.php?catid=41&subcatid=&artid=1181554915.142&PHPSESSID=2f0de894e5bb5d0c2... |title=Shell Livewire Finalist (Scottish) |publisher=Shell Livewire |accessdate=2007-07-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020032821/http://www.shell-livewire.org/awards/main.php?catid=41 |archivedate=October 20, 2007 }}</ref> |
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== Investigation by Trading Standards == |
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Hitz Radio UK has also been reported by various individuals for plagiarism. Many news bulletins on the station and stories on the website have been lifted from sites such as [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC News]], with the wording changed minimally or not at all<ref>[http://www.mediauk.com/discussions Investigation on Media UK discussion board]</ref>. The station also aired [[Sky News Radio]] bulletins for several months, despite Sky News having no record of Hitz Radio UK being a subscribing station. This ultimately lead to the conclusion that the station was in breach of copyright for using such bulletins<ref>[http://www.talkshoutcast.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=062044ee169187b00d24d64204739c9f&topic=493.msg2646#msg2646 Ryan's Talkshoutcast.com forum admission to using Sky News Radio]</ref> <ref>[http://www.talkshoutcast.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=062044ee169187b00d24d64204739c9f&topic=493.msg2676#msg2676 Ryan's claim to be using Sky News Radio legally on Talkshoutcast.com]</ref> <ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=14005173&postcount=117 Digital Spy post on Sky News' terms and conditions]</ref>. |
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In November 2007, Hitz Radio was investigated by [[Trading Standards]], after they received complaints about the claims made about the companies operations.<ref name="ic_tradings"/> |
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Trading Standards also found that despite Dunlop's claims, Hitz Radio was in fact operating without licenses from the [[Phonographic Performance Limited]] or [[Mechanical Copyright Protection Society]], which are required to operate a radio station.<ref name="ic_tradings"/> |
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Furthermore, most of the site layouts used on Hitzradiouk.com have been taken from the [[Virgin Radio]] website, with some past designs even still mentioning Virgin Radio. The legal page has also been copied from elsewhere<ref>[http://hitzradiouk.com/station/legal.html Hitz Radio UK official website]</ref> <ref>[http://www.westfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=44226 West FM official website]</ref>, and the site has claimed to have "exclusive coverage of the [[V Festival]]", even though Virgin Radio hold the rights to such coverage. Artists such as [[David Bowie]] have been noted as being interviewed by Hitz Radio also, even though no proof of this appears to exist. The Hitz Radio UK logo is also a copyrighted [[Photoshop]] brush that can be downloaded<ref>[http://psbrushes.net Psbrushes.net, a Photoshop community]</ref>, and "Hitz", which Dunlop claims to have trademarked, is in fact trademarked by [[Kraft Foods]]. |
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== "The Final Countdown" == |
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Dunlop has also made several claims regarding Hitz Radio UK that are clearly not true. Amongst these are claims that Hitz Radio broadcasts on other platforms, even though they do not have an [[Ofcom]] license and no evidence of such other broadcasts exists. There have also been claims that Dunlop owns both FM and [[DAB]] stations. Claims that Dunlop has a Director of New Media, named Craig Harris, have also been proven untrue.<ref>[http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/03/08/fantasists-and-lazy-journalists James Cridland's blog article, "Fantasists, and lazy journalists"]</ref> |
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Hitz Radio ended online broadcasting on 2 June 2008 with a 2-hour show presented live by Dunlop entitled "The Final Countdown." It took the form of a music request show interspersed with highlights from HitzRadio's time on air. During it he courted controversy by calling people in the radio industry "tits"; and making claims that the station could possibly be moving to New York. He continually called Hitz Radio "the world's biggest / greatest radio station" during the broadcast. |
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Hitz Radio re-launched an online broadcast on 14 September 2008 in the form of its new music radio station Hitz Radio Xtra, again with no evidence of royalty fee being paid. |
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Media UK's owner [[James Cridland]] looked extensively in to the Hitz Radio situation in March 2007, posting a detailed report on his blog, which has since risen above Hitz Radio's website on the results page of searches for "Ryan Dunlop" on [[Google]]<ref>[http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22Ryan+Dunlop%22&meta= Google results for "Ryan Dunlop"]</ref>. Many of those who have given awards to or reported on Dunlop have also been contacted, with the Daily Record blaming the original story on a "freelance journalist"<ref>[http://www.mediauk.com/discussions Response to e-mail complaint to the Daily Record, which was posted on the Media UK discussion board]</ref>, the BBC defending their decision to allow him to appear on [[Chris Evans]]' BBC Radio 2 show, and others failing to reply. |
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== Proposal to strike off == |
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As of May 24, 2007, the licensing bodies for internet radio have failed to stop Hitz Radio from broadcasting, despite it being proven that the station is not licensed. It is not known whether those companies whom Dunlop has infringed the copyright of, such as Virgin Radio, the BBC , Sky TV and Kraft Foods have taken any legal action against him yet. |
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The "parent company" of Hitz Radio UK, which also claimed to operate a record label and a television production company amongst others, which is solely run by Ryan Dunlop has been proposed to be struck off the companies register after the non-filing of returns or accounts. The same situation is also in place for Hitz Radio Ltd, which is also under proposal to strike off for the same reasons.<ref name="Companies House">{{cite web|url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/a3ac020b124d7b8db5024d92ee35c79f/compdetails |title=Companies House |accessdate=2009-04-15}}</ref> They have since been dissolved.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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<references/> |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080918034055/http://hitzmediagroup.com/ Hitz Media Group Homepage] |
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* [http://www.hitzradiouk.com Hitz Radio UK official website] |
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* |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928072848/http://ryandunlop.com/ Ryan Dunlop's official website] |
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* [http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/03/08/fantasists-and-lazy-journalists The "Fantasists, and lazy journalists" exposé story on James Cridland's blog] |
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* [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=546304 Digital Spy Radio Forum Discussion 1] |
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* [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=579159 Digital Spy Radio Forum Discussion 2] |
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* [http://internet.wikia.com/wiki/Hitz_Radio_UK Wikia article about Hitz Radio UK] |
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* [http://www.mediauk.com/article/1 List of required licenses for internet radio broadcasters based in the United Kingdom] |
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[[Category:Internet radio]] |
[[Category:Internet radio stations in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:2006 establishments in Scotland]] |
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[[Category:Radio stations established in 2006]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:03, 17 July 2024
Hitz Radio is a defunct internet radio station. It was founded in 2006 by Ryan Dunlop in Ayrshire, Scotland. Hitz Radio is owned and operated by Hitz Media Group Ltd.
Dunlop claimed his drivetime slot averaged 80,000 listeners,[1] and that he employs 40 staff.[2] These claims were disputed by various experts in the radio industry during 2007.[3] As of November 2007, Hitz Radio was investigated by Trading Standards over these claims, and questioned about operating without the licenses which radio stations require.[4]
A video broadcast service, Hitz Television, made its debut in July 2007 by using video service, YouTube, to broadcast[5]
According to Radio Today, Hitz Radio came under fire from some in the UK radio industry.[3]
Origins
[edit]Hitz Radio launched on 16 January 2006.[6] when Dunlop was age 14,[7] but the station was operating as a hobby since December 2004 or earlier.[8]
Hitz Radio filed as a private limited company at Companies House on 2 October 2006,[9] which is wholly owned by Ryan Dunlop.[10]
Hitz Radio launched its services from Dunlop's bedroom PC,[2] before moving into the 'infamous' shed where it was reported in press and media during February and March 2007.[10]
Audience
[edit]In common with most online radio stations, there were no independently verified figures on the audience of Hitz Radio.
In March 2007, Hitz Radio claimed 250,000 listeners, with the peak slot averaging 80,000 listeners.[1] In May 2007, Dunlop claimed Hitz Radio had "around five million people from all over the world visiting at any one time."[11]
Awards
[edit]Hitz Radio received an industry award in 2007, and was a regional winner for a second. The Daily Record awarded its 2007 Our Heroes Business Award to Ryan Dunlop and Hitz Radio,[12] described in the award-winners list as having "5 million fans."[13] Ryan Dunlop and Hitz Radio were also the regional winner for south west Scotland in the Shell Livewire 2007 Scottish Young Entrepreneur Awards.[14]
Investigation by Trading Standards
[edit]In November 2007, Hitz Radio was investigated by Trading Standards, after they received complaints about the claims made about the companies operations.[4]
Trading Standards also found that despite Dunlop's claims, Hitz Radio was in fact operating without licenses from the Phonographic Performance Limited or Mechanical Copyright Protection Society, which are required to operate a radio station.[4]
"The Final Countdown"
[edit]Hitz Radio ended online broadcasting on 2 June 2008 with a 2-hour show presented live by Dunlop entitled "The Final Countdown." It took the form of a music request show interspersed with highlights from HitzRadio's time on air. During it he courted controversy by calling people in the radio industry "tits"; and making claims that the station could possibly be moving to New York. He continually called Hitz Radio "the world's biggest / greatest radio station" during the broadcast.
Hitz Radio re-launched an online broadcast on 14 September 2008 in the form of its new music radio station Hitz Radio Xtra, again with no evidence of royalty fee being paid.
Proposal to strike off
[edit]The "parent company" of Hitz Radio UK, which also claimed to operate a record label and a television production company amongst others, which is solely run by Ryan Dunlop has been proposed to be struck off the companies register after the non-filing of returns or accounts. The same situation is also in place for Hitz Radio Ltd, which is also under proposal to strike off for the same reasons.[15] They have since been dissolved.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Booth, Robert (2007-03-04). "Teen tycoon hits paydirt with shed radio station". London: The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ a b Mills, Rod (26 February 2007). "5 Million Listeners.. and Radio Boss Ryan is only 15". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ a b "Listen out for The Big Listen". Radio Today. 10 June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007.
Ryan [Dunlop] came under fire recently within the industry.
(Registration required) - ^ a b c Wilson, Stuart (2007-11-28). "DJ's claims out of tune". Ayrshire Post. Archived from the original on 24 February 2008.
- ^ Hitz TV First Coverage Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine, Hitz TV now broadcasts 24 hours a day.
- ^ "About Hitz Radio Limited". Hitz Radio. Archived from the original on 2007-05-24. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ "About me". Ryan Dunlop. Archived from the original on 2011-02-13. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ "Archived copy of hitzradio.co.uk". Internet Archive. 2004-12-14. Archived from the original on 2004-12-14. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ "Hitz Radio Ltd (SC309461)". Companies House. Archived from the original on 2008-12-29. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ a b Wilson, Stuart (May 23, 2007). "Ayr's King of Spin". icNetwork. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ Mackinnon, Lachlan (21 May 2007). "Business Hero: Ryan Dunlop". The Daily Record. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ^ Daily Record Our Heroes video
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