In early 2008, German magazine publisher Bauer bought the radio division of British company Emap, which had been established as East Midland Allied Press in 1947.

and Magic, and local stations under the Big City Network brand in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

These included 22 local FM stations in Scotland which Emap had bought from Scottish Radio Holdings in 2005.

[4] In April 2013, Bauer announced it would merge its two North East England stations, Metro Radio and TFM.

The stations broadcast shared programming from Newcastle and Manchester while carrying separate branding, news bulletins and advertising.

[citation needed] On 6 May 2016, Bauer announced it had bought Midlands radio group Orion Media for an undisclosed amount, reportedly between £40 and £50 million.

[9][10] It was subsequently confirmed that Orion's stations Free Radio (West Midlands) and Gem (East Midlands) would become part of the Bauer City portfolio, with Gem introducing a version of the City sonic logo device to its presentation from August 2016.

[11] In February and March 2019, Bauer purchased Lincs FM Group,[12] Celador[13] and the local stations owned by Wireless Group,[14] and the following month Bauer purchased the ten FM stations owned by UKRD, together with UKRD's 50% share in First Radio Sales Limited.

[20] Current: Seasonal: Former: The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription: Bauer is a partner in one of the UK's national commercial multiplexes, operates twelve wholly owned local DAB multiplexes, and jointly owns a further three with Global Radio; the firm was also formerly a minority partner (of Wireless Group) for local services in three further areas.

Two diving journalists contacted Radio City 2's owner, Bauer Media Group, asking for the practice to be stopped.

[23] In March 2023, Bauer announced that all its radio stations and audio content across Europe would be available in one place, named Rayo.