[1] After a period of test transmissions, the station began life as "Radio Trent 945" at 6:00am on Tuesday 3 March 1987 on 102.8FM, also broadcasting on AM 945 kHz.

Andy Marriott launched the station with a recording of a message from His Grace the Duke of Devonshire.

In March 1994, the FM service was rebranded "Ram FM" by new owners GWR Group plc, and continued to broadcast from studios under the Assembly Rooms in Derby Market Place.

The station moved premises in 1999 to offices at Norwich Union House on nearby Iron Gate.

The new station officially began broadcasting at 10am on Monday 3 January 2011.