UKRD Group

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The UKRD Group Ltd is a British media company which owns the license to 13 commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.

Formed on August 22nd 1990 as a company to invest in commercial stations following the relaxation of station ownership laws, its first investment was a stake in Cornwall's Pirate FM 102 which was designed and launched by former County Sound boss Mike Powell who, after leaving County Sound, had formed Infinity Radio. Shortly after the launch, Infinity Radio merged with UK Radio Developments and Powell became CEO of the embryo UKRD Group. Under Powell's leadership UKRD became one of the fastest growing private radio group's in the UK, rapidly adding Star FM in Slough and winning the Guildford radio franchise which gave birth to 96.4 The Eagle; the new County Sound (a recreation of the original Guildford commercial station of the same name) and Delta Radio. Since then it has acquired several more stations, and launched further stations on the issue of new local licenses.

UKRD acquired a significant minority share holding in Kiss Manchester and Yorkshire owned by Faze FM. The stations had a branding deal with EMAP's Kiss FM, London. UKRD sold its interests in the Kiss stations in 1997 to the Chrysalis Group who added them to its Galaxy Network.

Since 2001, the head of the organisation has been William Rogers, one time leader of Penwith District Council, in Cornwall.

UKRD Group's head office is within the Carn Brea Studios of Pirate FM 102 in Redruth, Cornwall, England. It also has offices in Guildford and Bristol.