This was held at Cathedral Gardens, with headlining bands Bad Company and Gun with support acts Salford Jets, Letz Zep and Mercury.

The station replicated the original 96.3 Rock Radio in Glasgow by featuring voiceover Nick Coady whose prerecorded humorous comments, considered controversial by some, were heard in between most music tracks.

[2] Chrysalis Radio's managing director expressed his surprise that the talk/rock hybrid won in preference to a dedicated talk or rock station, both of which had been offered by his group.

[8] In May 2017, XS moved from Salford to new studios at the XYZ building in the Spinningfields district of Manchester City Centre.

In December 2019, it was reported that Communicorp had sought permission from Ofcom to change the station format, which if approved would lead to the closure of XS, and Global’s Capital Xtra service being broadcast on 106.1FM in Manchester.

[10][11] The station's only remaining presenter-led shows are at breakfast (7am-11am) and Drivetime (4-8pm) on weekdays with automated non-stop music at all other times, including weekends.