Absolute Radio Country

{{Multiple issues|{{Needs more references|date= February 2023}}

{{Original research|date= February 2023}}}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = Absolute Radio Country

| logo =

| logo_size = 200px

| area = United Kingdom

| frequency = {{ubl|DAB+: 11A Sound Digital (UK)|Online: Planet Radio}}

| airdate = 5 April 2019 (as Country Hits Radio)

17 May 2021 (as Absolute Radio Country)

| format = Country

| network = Absolute Radio Network

| owner = Bauer Radio

| sister_stations = Absolute Radio
Absolute Radio Classic Rock
Absolute Radio 60s
Absolute Radio 70s
Absolute Radio 80s
Absolute Radio 90s
Absolute Radio 00s
Absolute Radio 10s
Absolute Radio 20s

| webcast = [https://hellorayo.co.uk/absolute-radio-country/play/ Rayo]

| website = [https://hellorayo.co.uk/absolute-radio-country/ Absolute Radio Country]

}}

Absolute Radio Country is a British digital radio station, and is owned and operated by Bauer Radio. It is available via DAB across the UK, online, on Smart Speaker and via the Rayo as part of the Absolute Radio Network.{{Cn|date=February 2023}}

History

The station originally launched as Country Hits Radio on 5 April 2019 and was positioned as the UK's first national country music radio station.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/country-hits-station-music-launch-15959809|title=UK's first national country music radio station launches in April|first=Simon|last=Meechan|date=March 12, 2019|website=nechronicle|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325202855/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/country-hits-station-music-launch-15959809|url-status=live}} The station is focused on modern country music and is aimed at listeners of 25–44. RAJAR for Early 2020 puts the station on an average of 257k listeners per week.{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/05/rajar-q1-2020-london-and-national-brands-roundup/|title=RAJAR Q1 2020: London and national brands roundup|date=May 14, 2020|access-date=June 23, 2020|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626122159/https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/05/rajar-q1-2020-london-and-national-brands-roundup/|url-status=live}} Absolute Radio Country is available on DAB in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, East Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Teesside, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Tayside, Inverness and Ayr.{{Cite web|url=https://getdigitalradio.com/new-station-country-hits-radio-launches-this-coming-friday-5-april/|title=New Country Hits Radio station launches|first=Lucy|last=Forster|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325202901/https://getdigitalradio.com/new-station-country-hits-radio-launches-this-coming-friday-5-april|url-status=live}} In 2021, it was also made available on digital radio in Bristol and Bournemouth.{{Cn|date=February 2023}}

In February 2021 Bauer revealed that the station would be renamed as Absolute Radio Country and made part of the Absolute Radio Network - the transition took place on 17 May 2021, in tandem with other changes to the availability of Absolute's digital stations.{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/02/country-hits-radio-is-rebranding-to-absolute-radio-country/|title=Country Hits Radio is rebranding to Absolute Radio Country|date=February 10, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210150823/https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/02/country-hits-radio-is-rebranding-to-absolute-radio-country/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://planetradio.co.uk/country-hits/station/on-air/favourite-country-song-results/ |title=Results of the Country Hits Radio listeners' poll |access-date=2021-04-26 |archive-date=2021-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413180011/https://planetradio.co.uk/country-hits/station/on-air/favourite-country-song-results/ |url-status=dead }} The first song to be played after the launch was "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, which was chosen by listeners via social media.{{Cn|date=February 2023}}

In June 2022, a sister station called Absolute Radio Classic Country{{cite web | url=https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/news/absolute-radio-and-kiss-to-launch-premium-subscription-services | title=Absolute Radio and KISS to launch premium subscription services | date=27 May 2022 }} was added to Bauer's Absolute Radio Premium subscription streaming package.{{cite web | url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2022/05/absolute-radio-and-kiss-to-offer-premium-services-for-monthly-fee/ | title=Absolute Radio and KISS to offer premium services for monthly fee | date=27 May 2022 }}

On 16 October 2023, Absolute Radio Country began broadcasting nationally on DAB+, broadcasting in stereo.{{Cite web |last=Colothan |first=Scott |date=2023-10-06 |title=Absolute Radio Country and Absolute Classic Rock go national with DAB+ |url=https://planetradio.co.uk/absolute-radio/competitions/win/roberts-radio-competition-ar/}}

Programming

Absolute Radio Country programming primarily comes from their studios in London as part of the Absolute Radio Network.{{Cn|date=February 2023}} From Sunday - Thursday from 7pm - 10pm, the station takes programming from Nashville country station WKDF.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-14 |title=Absolute Radio Country welcomes Elaina D Smith to the evening show |url=https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/news/absolute-radio-country-welcomes-elaina-d-smith-to-the-evening-show/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Bauer Media |language=en-GB}}{{Better source needed|reason=Source does not specifically mention WKDF.|date=February 2023}}

Country music artists have also been guest hosts on the station, including Maddie & Tae, Tenille Townes, Elvie Shane, Sam Palladio, Brothers Osborne{{Cite web|title=Absolute Radio Country welcomes Brothers Osborne|url=https://www.bauermedia.co.uk//newsroom/press-releases/absolute-radio-country-welcomes-brothers-osborne|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Bauer Media|date=28 October 2021 |language=en|archive-date=2021-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028112733/https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/newsroom/press-releases/absolute-radio-country-welcomes-brothers-osborne|url-status=live}} & Charles Esten.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-23|title=Charles Esten to host Absolute Radio Country series|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/06/charles-esten-to-host-absolute-radio-country-series/|access-date=2021-12-08|website=RadioToday|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703055546/https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/06/charles-esten-to-host-absolute-radio-country-series/|url-status=live}}