It was renamed Radio 1 in 1982; it offered a full service format until 1998, when news programming was relocated to the new NewsRadio 93.8, and 90.5 relaunched as an oldies station.

Broadcasting began on 1 March 1937, roughly two months after the expiry of the previous radio station in Singapore, ZHI.

Over time, its language-based programmes diffused into separate stations serving specific language groups, leaving ZHL as the English-language service of Radio Singapore.

[6] On 28 October 1989, Radio 1 began airing "mellow, middle-of-the-road music" on weekday afternoons through a seven-hour programme block.

[7] One FM became Gold 90.5 on 2 July 1998, playing music from the 1970s, golden oldies and country, with plans to include contemporary jazz and Latin American pop.