WOW 105.5 was a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Stockholm, Sweden on 105.5 MHz between 1999 and 2002. The station was operated by CLT-UFA, part of the pan-European RTL Group, and was promoted as “Stockholms Moderna Hits”, positioning itself as Stockholm’s only Modern AC (Adult Contemporary) station.
WOW 105.5 launched on January 4, 1999, as part of RTL Group’s expansion in the Swedish radio market. The station was created to target adult listeners in urban areas who preferred a modern, music-focused sound. From its inception, WOW 105.5 aimed to set itself apart from other stations by playing a tightly curated mix of modern hits and select tracks from the 1980s.
The station featured a distinctive identity, avoiding what it described as “boring old songs” and “bubblegum techno.” Instead, it focused on artists like Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Lenny Kravitz, Eagle-Eye Cherry, U2, The Cardigans, R.E.M., and complemented them with 1980s staples such as The Police and Simple Minds. The station’s format emphasized long uninterrupted music sweeps, with promotional slogans like “Stockholm’s longest music sweep — 59 minutes of Modern Hits.”
At its peak, WOW 105.5 reached approximately 42,000 daily listeners in Stockholm.
Ownership
WOW 105.5 was owned by CLT-UFA, which at the time was part of the RTL Group — one of Europe’s largest media conglomerates. The company had a legacy dating back to the founding of Radio Luxembourg and operated numerous leading television and radio outlets across Europe, including in Germany, France, the Benelux countries, and Scandinavia.
Programming
The station’s programming was centered entirely around music, with minimal talk or news content. Its Modern AC format catered to adult listeners who wanted a contemporary sound with occasional nostalgic touches. The station maintained a consistent musical identity and avoided both older nostalgia-based playlists and youth-oriented dance music.
Closure and Acquisition
On February 6, 2002, WOW 105.5 ceased broadcasting after being acquired by Modern Times Group, which also took over its sister station, Lugna Favoriter. MTG, already operating RIX FM and Power Hit Radio, sought to consolidate its position in the Stockholm radio market through this acquisition. The combined audience of the four stations reached 371,000 daily listeners in Stockholm, effectively doubling MTG Radio’s reach in the region.
On the same day WOW 105.5 ended its broadcasts, its frequency was taken over by RIX FM, one of MTG’s flagship stations. This marked the end of WOW 105.5 as a brand and radio format.
Legacy
While WOW 105.5 had a relatively short run of just over three years, it played a notable role in shaping the sound of Stockholm’s commercial radio landscape at the turn of the millennium. It also represents a period of rapid media consolidation in Sweden, with international media giants like RTL Group and MTG reshaping local broadcasting through acquisitions and format transitions.