 | |
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Frequencies |
|
| RDS | CAP XTRA |
| Programming | |
| Format | Grime/hip hop/R&B |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Global Radio |
| Capital XTRA Reloaded Capital FM Capital Dance Capital Chill | |
| History | |
First air date | 31 March 1990 (1990-03-31) (as Choice FM) 7 October 2013 (as Capital XTRA) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Global Player |
| Website | CapitalXtra.com/radio |
Capital XTRA (formerlyChoice FM) is a British digitalradio station owned and operated byGlobal. It broadcasts on 96.9 and 107.1FM inGreater London, and nationally onDAB, Global Player and television platforms. It specialises inhip hop,grime andR&B music, and is a commercial competitor toBBC Radio 1Xtra.
As of September 2024, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 1.7 million listeners, according toRAJAR.[1]
Choice 96.9 began as an independent company in March 1990, broadcasting from studios in Trinity Gardens,Brixton. It was Britain’s first 24-hour black music radio station with a licence, coveringSouth London. The group won a second licence (seeBuzz FM) in 1995, bringing a local version of their London offering toBirmingham, on 102.2 FM - in place ofBuzz FM.
The advent of digital radio in the UK saw Choice, which already had an active webstream, joining the new MXR consortium and launching aDAB service which anchored London output with news inserts produced by the consortium's news service DNN.
The Birmingham licence was sold toChrysalis Radio in 1999 and becameGalaxy Birmingham, but Choice expanded within the capital in May 2000 when a largely independentNorth London licence was awarded for Choice 107.1, with the intention of reaching a larger Afro-Caribbean audience outside the limited range of the coverage from Brixton. The station was now broadcasting fromBorough High Street,Borough, London.
Having previously been a minority shareholder, Capital Radio Group took full control of the station in February 2004 and moved the station's base from the target service area to the group's central studios in London'sLeicester Square. The move resulted in a community march from the coverage area and their studios. It was accused ofselling out as some of their DJs were removed and replaced by theirKiss counterparts who play some electronic music.[2]
By 12 October 2004, Capital had received and implemented a merger of their FM licences, operating a service across the capital on the two frequencies and cutting back on the North London-specific music requirements.[3][4]
Following their takeover of Choice, Capital Radio Group merged with GWR to formGCap Media in 2005. Choice was flagged up as one of the key brands of the new larger network, and the station was made available to digital TV viewers via its addition toSky (and later toVirgin Media).
GCap were subsequently taken over byGlobal Radio, who already owned theGalaxy Network of dance/urban music stations. Despite the separate music format and branding, Choice was marketed to advertisers as part of the Galaxy network for package advertising deals. In 2010 Global Radio announced[5] that the Galaxy network stations would be networked with95.8 Capital FM, leaving Choice as a standalone brand again.
On 3 October 2013, Global announced that Choice would be rebranded as Capital XTRA on 7 October, sister station to Capital and using a naming scheme in reference toBBC Radio 1 and its sister stationRadio 1Xtra
A number of high-profile signings were made, at launch including formerBBC Radio 1 and1Xtra DJTim Westwood,[6] and subsequentlyKiss FM DJ Jez Welham for the station's flagship show, Capital XTRA In The Morning.[7]
Initially, the station introduced dance music alongside the urban offering provided by Choice FM. However, ratings, particularly in London, suffered, leading to a move back towards the mixture of primarily black music genres that is now heard on the station, which proved successful between 2014 and 2020 in the UK radio listening measurement system,RAJAR.
Capital XTRA refreshed its weekend schedule at the start of 2018, hiringAfrobeats artist and DJ Afro B to host the Afrobeats show previously hosted by DJ Abrantee, and student radio winner Robert Bruce for a new UK-music led programme, 'Homegrown'.[8] In a coup for the station, legendary hip-hop presenterDJ Semtex moved fromBBC Radio 1Xtra to host the same slot on Capital XTRA in October 2018.[9]
In September 2019, a new weekday Breakfast show was launched, hosted by former evening presenter Yinka Bokinni, and Shayna-Marie Birch-Campbell.[10]
On 5 August 2022, Capital XTRA confirmed that Yinka Bokinni had quit the station. Evening show host Robert Bruce was subsequently confirmed to co-host the breakfast slot with incumbent presenter Shayna-Marie. Omah Howard replaced Robert Bruce on the evening Global player official capital xtra app
Capital extra song list 2025
1•must be 2•reclusive3•girl get up4•DPMO5•PAINT THE TOWN RED6•Snooze |
7•ME & YOU8•cops and robbers 9•shutdown10•mrs officer 11•victory lap| and so on ✓
BY [DJ OREO MACKIE]
A spin-off station,Capital XTRA Reloaded, was launched on 2 September 2019.[11] It featured former Galaxy Birmingham presenterSacha Brooks as host of the station's flagship show. Available nationally on DAB+, the station plays non-stop old skool hip-hop and R&B anthems.
Having launched with 850,000 listeners, Capital XTRA reached a peak of 1.9 million listeners across the UK in 2019. Following management changes in 2020, listenership dropped to an estimated 1.3 million people.[citation needed] As of 2025, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 2 million, according toRAJAR.[12]
At Capital XTRA's peak, thematic programming included 'Reloaded', a daily hour of uninterrupted old-skool Hip-Hop and R&B anthems, "Homegrown", a focus on emerging UK talent including interviews and guest mixes, and "Chilled", a slow-jamz segment on weeknights and Sunday mornings. Since listening figures began falling in 2021, the majority of such programming has been axed, with output favouring a hegemonic playlist.
Current presenters include:[13]
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Between 2016 and 2025, Capital XTRA hosted a number of events to complement its radio broadcasts, including:
51°30′36″N0°07′45″W / 51.51007°N 0.12929°W /51.51007; -0.12929
