Vinyl FM is stopped after 32 years – anger
Nöje / Richard Herrey.

Updated May 29, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Published May 29, 2026 at 11:53 AM
The channel must stop broadcasting at the end of July.

– Disrespectful and frivolous, says Richard Herrey, one of the channel's profiles. The radio industry is in turmoil. There is a limited number of analog broadcasting licenses – previously they have gone to the highest bidder.

Now the Swedish Media Authority is instead choosing who gets the licenses, based on certain criteria.

– We will ensure that the licenses are used for radio channels that broadcast varied content, Ola Vigström, a lawyer at the Swedish Media Authority, told Expressen.

This means that several channels will be stopped on July 31. Expressen has previously been able to report that NRJ lost its national broadcasting license and risked being shut down. The channel was later saved through 20 regional broadcasting licenses.

“It’s about people”
That’s not how it will be for Vinyl FM. Since 1994, the channel has broadcast classic rock, pop and soul from the 60s and 70s. But now it’s over – the channel will not receive any permits.

In Stockholm, the Swedish Media Authority justifies the decision by saying that Bauer will receive a permit for Mix Megapol and that Vinyl FM has lower listenership figures.

One of Vinyl’s profiles is Richard Herrey, a former artist and politician, who hosted the channel’s morning program for seven years.

– Employees who have worked for 20 years and broadcast thousands of hours are suddenly out of a job, he says.

He is particularly upset that the announcement comes so close.

– Disrespectful and frivolous of both politics and the Swedish Media Authority. It’s about people. People who are losing their jobs, he says.

The Authority's response
Ola Vigström, a lawyer at the Swedish Media Authority, says:

- We understand that listeners are disappointed that a permit has not been granted for their favorite channel. Given the limited supply of permits, the Swedish Media Authority was unfortunately forced to reject most of the application