MusicMann 279

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MusicMann 279
Broadcast area	UK, Isle of Man, Ireland, parts of mainland Europe
Frequency	279 kHz
First air date	None
Format	Contemporary
Owner	Isle of Man International Broadcasting plc

MusicMann 279 was the 'working' name of a proposed longwave radio station broadcasting from the Isle of Man to the UK, Ireland, and parts of mainland Europe. The station has been mooted for many years, but due to a variety of technical and legal problems has been delayed several times, and now seems unlikely to ever launch.

The company involved in setting up the station (Isle of Man International Broadcasting plc) headed by Paul Rusling, said only that the station will be launching "as soon as possible", that an antenna system was complete and that the transmitter was close to completion. Rusling's radio career began as a DJ on Radio Caroline and he has since been involved in setting up Laser 558 and various stations in Yorkshire as well as national radio stations in five countries including Radio Tien, Sky Radio, Virgin Radio and Classic FM. However, Rusling left the company in January 2007, reportedly owing to a dispute with the other board members.

It was suggested that veteran presenters such as Emperor Rosko, Mike Read, Barry "Berlingo" Mung, "Ugli" Ray Teret and Mick Luvzit (both heard on Radio Caroline North in the 1960s), and at least one Manx Radio personality would be on the station from launch.

The crossed field antenna, some 20 m in height, was mooted to be situated on a custom-built platform, most likely a ship initially. The position will be close to Radio Caroline North's former anchorage in Ramsey Bay. However in November 2006 the Company announced it was trying to recover a deposit of £300,000 from Kabbary Antenna Technology after non-delivery problems with the crossed field antenna for the new station. The station has been referred to as the Long "Wait" Radio Station by the newspaper IOM Today.

In October 2007 the station's websites went offline, suggesting that the station will not now be launching and that the Company has finally ceased operations.