Heartland FM to close after 34 years

Perthshire community radio station Heartland FM has announced its closure after 34 years.

The Crieff-based station said it had made the “incredibly difficult decision” to cease broadcasting due to the current financial climate.

The station, which opened in 1992, has not yet announced when its final broadcast will be.

It is owned and run by the registered charity, the Heartland Radio Foundation.

In a statement on its website, the station said it shared the “difficult news” with “great sadness.”

It said: “After 34 years of serving our community, we have had to make the incredibly difficult decision for Heartland FM to cease broadcasting and close our doors.

“This decision comes after a long journey of trying to find a feasible business model for the station, but due to the current financial climate and the increasing challenge of maintaining a sustainable future for the station, we are no longer able to continue operating.”

The station scaled back its broadcast service in March 2023 due to financial issues.

The station moved from its previous base in Pitlochry after merging with Crieff-based Radio Earn in October 2023.

The statement continued: “Heartland FM has always been about more than just radio.

“It has been a community, a platform for local voices, a source of local news and information, and a place where friendships and connections have been built.

“None of this would have been possible without you—our loyal listeners.”