​Rinse FM acquires previously shuttered Bristol radio station SWU.FM

London-based radio station Rinse FM has acquired beloved Bristol radio station SWU.FM six months after it ceased broadcast, citing financial issues.

The acquisition comes just a matter of months after Rinse FM’s buy-out of pirate radio station Kool FM in January. The station is set to return to the airwaves this weekend on Sunday, April 23.

SWU.FM was shuttered in September 2022 following financial issues during the cost of living crisis that meant the station was no longer able to run. The station cited huge energy bills, difficulty during COVID, and rising costs.

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Further details of SWU’s relaunch will come over the next few months, Rinse explained. It’s unclear as of yet whether the station will continue in its original form.

Kool FM - London’s longest running jungle and drum ‘n’ bass station - is due to relaunch this weekend as a legal station with 180+ new shows, broadcasting live from Rinse’s home in Hoxton, London, 24 hours a day.

New shows will bring in a huge selection of labels and artists including Metalheadz, Bou, Congo Natty, Nia Archives, Sully, Fabio & Grooverider, DJ Storm, and more.

“I’m over the moon that we are going legal. It's such a great achievement from the flats to now,” says DJ Brockie. “I’ve waited 31 years for this to happen, I have always stayed loyal. Kool means everything to me, that's why I never left and gave 31 years of my life. Here's to the future.”

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Kool FM has been off air since January 1, but will return for this first time legally after decades of operating as a pirate radio station. Kool’s long-running party series Jungle Fever will also be taken over by Rinse.

“Growing up in South West London with not great aerials I could never pick up Kool, but I knew how integral to our culture it was,” says DJ Flight. “Fast forward some years, I played 1 or 2 guest spots - once after Mampi Swift, which was seriously nerve wrecking.”

“Now, I’m honoured to join an iconic jungle & D&B institution, particularly at this pivotal moment. I haven’t presented a regular public show for a long time so I’m really looking forward to getting back to sharing the highest quality controlled beats.”

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter