shmuFM to Mark 18 Years With Marathon Broadcast
The thriving community radio project has trained and broadcast hundreds of voices across Aberdeen
When shmuFM takes to the airwaves for 18 straight hours on Monday, it won’t be polished professional presenters marking the station’s 18th birthday. Instead, volunteers past and present will fill the schedule, sharing stories from nearly two decades of community broadcasting in Aberdeen.
It’s a brilliant way to celebrate for a station that’s always put local voices first. Since launching on 99.8FM in 2007, shmuFM has trained hundreds of people to produce and present their own shows, giving airtime to communities and perspectives that rarely make it onto mainstream radio.
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How a pilot project became a permanent voice
SHMU’s origins go back even further than 2007. In 2003, a small pilot project produced four magazine shows for citywide broadcast, followed by programming for the Aberdeen International Youth Festival’s temporary radio station. The response was clear: people wanted more than occasional opportunities to be on air.
A group of local volunteers formed to push for a permanent community station, eventually securing a five-year licence from Ofcom in 2005. They found space in Woodside and built a studio that went online in July that year, broadcasting via the internet whilst working towards full FM transmission. Two years later, shmuFM launched properly on 99.8FM.
Murray Dawson, who founded shmu (Station House Media Unit, the organisation behind the station), sees the birthday as a chance to reflect on that early vision. “Eighteen years ago, shmuFM began with the vision of giving local people a voice on the airwaves,” he says. “Today, that vision has grown into a thriving community station, driven by volunteers and deeply connected to Aberdeen’s communities.”
Expanding reach while staying rooted
shmuFM took significant shift when they launched on community DAB digital radio, extending its reach across much of Aberdeen. The station is now encouraging other community broadcasters to join the platform, strengthening the city’s independent radio landscape rather than competing within it.
For many people who’ve passed through shmu’s doors over the years, the station has been more than a broadcasting outlet. It’s been a place to develop skills, find confidence, and connect with others. Some people have presented a few shows before moving on. Others have stayed involved for years, weaving the station into their weekly routines.
Monday’s 18-hour broadcast runs from 7am, featuring interviews with participants and staff from across shmuFM’s history. You can listen on 99.8FM if you’re in Aberdeen, via community DAB across the city, or online at shmu.org.uk.
