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The Story of Wrekin Radio (Shropshire) and the Cosmos Radio Network
The original Wrekin Radio stopped broadcasting in 1992, bringing an end to an important chapter in local radio. Several years later, in 1998, an application was made for a local broadcasting licence covering the Telford area of Shropshire. Unfortunately, the application was unsuccessful, and the licence was instead awarded to a new station, Telford FM.
Following the closure of the original Wrekin Radio, many of the presenters and people associated with the station went their separate ways. Some went on to enjoy successful careers within the broadcasting industry, while others followed different paths. Nevertheless, the name Wrekin Radio remained a fond memory for those who remembered the station and the part it played in local broadcasting.

The Return of Wrekin Radio
In August 2020, I decided to revive the Wrekin Radio name and created Wrekin Radio (Shropshire), with one main goal in mind: to entertain listeners by bringing together popular music, specialist programmes and creative content for an online audience.
My name is Shaun, and radio has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I’ve been a radio fan since I was knee-high to a grasshopper — and, as I like to joke, I’m still knee-high to a grasshopper!
Over the years, I’ve listened to and supported all kinds of radio, from established legal broadcasters to the pirate radio stations that once filled the airwaves. There aren’t as many pirate stations around today as there were when I was younger, largely because the internet has completely changed the broadcasting landscape. Online radio, streaming services and digital technology have made it possible for almost anyone with the enthusiasm and determination to reach listeners around the world.
That changing world of broadcasting helped inspire me to bring Wrekin Radio (Shropshire) back to life.
Before reviving the name in 2020, I tried to make contact with people connected with the old station but was unsuccessful. Rather than allowing the name and its memories simply to disappear, I worked hard to find a way of keeping the spirit and legacy of Wrekin Radio alive in a new, modern form.
Since restarting Wrekin Radio (Shropshire) in August 2020, I have received a huge number of emails and messages from people asking about the station, its history and why I was using the Wrekin Radio name. The amount of interest showed me just how much the original station was still remembered.
For me, the revived station was never about pretending that it was still 1992. Radio had changed enormously, and so had its audience. The aim was to take some of the spirit associated with Wrekin Radio and introduce it to the world of internet broadcasting.

From Shropshire to an International Audience
The revived Wrekin Radio soon began to grow beyond its Shropshire roots.
One of the greatest advantages of internet radio is that there are no traditional geographical boundaries. A station based in Shropshire can have presenters in America and listeners almost anywhere in the world.
As the station developed, more DJs and presenters became involved, including broadcasters from the United States. Some were based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while others joined us from the Tampa Bay area of Florida. What had begun as the revival of a familiar Shropshire radio name was gradually developing into something much larger and more international.
Another major development came with the opportunity to take control of Philly Hott Radio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This gave me the chance to expand what we were doing and bring together broadcasters, programmes, music and listeners from both sides of the Atlantic.
It also made me think seriously about the future of Wrekin Radio (Shropshire).
Although I had worked hard to keep the Wrekin Radio legacy alive, I eventually reached the point where continuing to operate under that name was no longer the right direction for the station. The project had grown beyond what I originally imagined when I revived Wrekin Radio in August 2020.
The station was no longer simply about Shropshire. We now had DJs and programmes coming from different parts of the United States alongside our UK connections. Our audience was becoming increasingly international, and the name needed to reflect what the station had become rather than where the journey had started.

The Birth of Cosmos Radio Network
In July 2021, I therefore made the decision to move forward under a new name:
Cosmos Radio Network.
The change represented much more than simply replacing one station name with another. It marked the beginning of a new chapter and gave us the freedom to develop an international radio network with its own identity.
Wrekin Radio (Shropshire) will always remain an important part of that story because without its revival in August 2020, the journey towards Cosmos Radio Network may never have happened.
The experience demonstrated that radio doesn’t have to disappear simply because the technology changes. It can evolve.
From traditional broadcasting and pirate radio to FM, digital radio and worldwide internet streaming, the way people listen has changed dramatically over the decades. But the basic idea behind good radio remains remarkably similar: great music, interesting personalities, entertaining programmes and a connection between the people behind the microphone and those listening.
That is what continues to inspire me.
I started this journey because I have always loved radio and wanted to entertain people. What began with the revival of a Shropshire radio name has grown into something capable of bringing together presenters and listeners separated by thousands of miles.
Wrekin Radio (Shropshire) represented the rebirth of an idea.
Cosmos Radio Network represents where that idea goes next.

From One Station to a Network of 15 Stations
What began as the revival of Wrekin Radio (Shropshire) in August 2020 has developed far beyond the original idea. Today, Cosmos Radio Network has grown to 15 stations broadcasting as part of the network, demonstrating just how far the project has come in a relatively short period of time.
The growth from a single online radio station into a network of 15 stations has been an exciting journey. Each station helps to give the Cosmos Radio Network its own character, bringing together different presenters, styles of music, specialist programmes and audiences.
The network has also become increasingly international. With DJs and presenters contributing from the United Kingdom and the United States, including Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Tampa Bay area of Florida, Cosmos Radio Network is no longer limited by geographical boundaries.
That is one of the things I have always loved about internet radio. A presenter can be broadcasting from one part of the world while somebody thousands of miles away can be listening almost instantly. The internet has transformed radio into a genuinely worldwide medium.
Having 15 stations now broadcasting is something I could hardly have imagined when I restarted Wrekin Radio (Shropshire) in 2020. What started as an attempt to keep a piece of radio history alive has gradually evolved into a much larger broadcasting project with an identity of its own.
The expansion has required a great deal of time, commitment and hard work, not only from me but also from the DJs, presenters and everyone else who has contributed to the stations along the way. Every person involved has helped the network continue to develop.
Despite that growth, the original reason for doing this hasn’t changed. My passion has always been radio and entertaining people.
Cosmos Radio Network is about giving presenters a platform, providing listeners with a wide variety of music and programmes, and keeping the independent spirit of radio alive in the internet age.
From the rebirth of Wrekin Radio (Shropshire), through the addition of Philly Hott Radio and the creation of the Cosmos Radio Network name, the project has continued to evolve.
Today, with 15 stations broadcasting across the network, we have reached another important milestone — but the story certainly doesn’t end here.
Radio has changed enormously since the days when I first became fascinated by it, but my enthusiasm for broadcasting remains as strong as ever.
One passion. Fifteen stations. A worldwide audience. Welcome to Cosmos Radio Network.

Phase5Records Global Group

About Phase5Records (UK) Ltd
Phase5Records (UK) Ltd is part of the Phase5Records Global Group and the sister company of the original Phase5Records in the USA.
Music has the ability to change your mood, capture experiences and colour memories that can last a lifetime. A single song can remind you of a particular person, place or moment, while a new artist can introduce you to a sound you never knew you were looking for.
At Phase5Records (UK) Ltd, we believe in the power of music and, most importantly, in the people who create it.
Established on 1 January 2021, Phase5Records (UK) Ltd was founded on the understanding that music means something different to everyone. There is no single sound, genre or style that defines great music. What matters is the connection between the artist, the music and the listener.
That belief has been at the heart of the company from the very beginning.
Supporting Musical Talent
Phase5Records (UK) Ltd was created with the goal of discovering, supporting and promoting musical talent while giving artists an opportunity to develop their music and reach new audiences.
Behind every recording is an artist with a story to tell. Some artists are already established, while others are taking their first steps into the music industry. We believe emerging and independent talent deserves the opportunity to be heard.
As part of the wider Phase5Records Global Group, our UK operation works alongside its American roots while developing its own presence within the British and international music scene.
Being the sister company of the original Phase5Records in the USA also reflects the international outlook behind the organisation. Music doesn’t stop at national borders, and neither should opportunities for talented artists.
Music Without Borders
The modern music industry has changed dramatically. Digital distribution, streaming, social media and internet radio have made it possible for an artist in one country to build an audience thousands of miles away.
For Phase5Records (UK) Ltd, that presents an exciting opportunity.
Our aim is to help connect artists, music and audiences while maintaining the independent spirit on which the company was founded. We want to support creativity, encourage originality and help talented people find an audience for their work.
We understand that every artist’s journey is different. There is no universal formula for creating memorable music, and there shouldn’t be. Artists need the freedom to develop their individual sound, personality and creative identity.
Building for the Future
Since our establishment in 2021, our ambition has been about more than simply releasing music. It has been about building relationships, developing opportunities and creating a platform capable of supporting artists as the music industry continues to evolve.
As part of the Phase5Records Global Group, Phase5Records (UK) Ltd combines its UK identity with an international outlook and a shared passion for discovering music worth hearing.
The technology may change. The way people discover music may change. The way artists communicate with their audiences may change.
But the importance of great music never changes.
Phase5Records (UK) Ltd was built around that simple idea, with the goal of supporting musical talent capable of creating the songs, sounds and memories that people won’t forget.
Phase5Records (UK) Ltd — supporting artists, sharing music and connecting talent with the world.