Capital FM Birmingham plays today's biggest pop and urban hits at 102.2 FM, broadcasting live from Birmingham as part of the Capital Midlands network. Press play above and it streams instantly, free, with no account or app download required.
Built as a Black Music Station
The station launched on January 1, 1995 as Choice FM, taking over the broadcasting license previously held by Buzz FM. Its original license was unusually specific for UK commercial radio, requiring "a rhythmic-based music and information station primarily for listeners of African or Afro-Caribbean origin, but with cross over appeal to young white fans of urban contemporary black music," giving the station a distinct identity from day one rather than a generic local pop format.
From Choice to Galaxy to Capital
Chrysalis bought the station in 1999 and rebranded it Galaxy, a name it carried until Global Radio's merger of its Galaxy and Hit Music networks relaunched it as 102.2 Capital on January 3, 2011. A further merger on April 8, 2019 combined it with Capital East Midlands to create Capital Midlands, the structure the Birmingham stream still sits inside today.
A Launchpad for Big Name DJs
The station's history includes a run of notable presenters, among them Edith Bowman, Stephanie Hirst and Andi Durrant, alongside a guest credit for global trance star DJ Tiësto, a reminder that a regional UK commercial station can still cross paths with international dance music royalty.
Listen to Capital FM Birmingham Free on Radio Shuffle
Capital FM Birmingham streams around the clock, and Radio Shuffle carries the feed live with nothing to install and no subscription required. Press play for today's hit music from a station built to serve Birmingham's Black music scene first.