UK music company plunges into administration - Radio 1 DJ launched part of it in 1999
Immedia Broadcast Limited, a specialist in sound recording, music publishing, and video production, was placed into administration last week.
A UK-based music and media firm, partly founded by former BBC Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes, has entered administration, casting doubt on its future operations and workforce. Immedia Broadcast Limited, a specialist in sound recording, music publishing, and video production, was placed into administration on February 20, 2026, according to a notice published in The Gazette.
Administrators Glen Carter and Gareth Harris of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP have been appointed to oversee the process at the company's registered office in Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh. The company, incorporated on November 8, 1999, as Tornado Radio Limited, quickly evolved under Brookes' leadership. Initially renamed Storm Radio Limited in 2000, it pioneered interactive internet radio with the launch of Storm Live in 1999 – hailed as the UK's first such station.
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Brookes, a Stoke-on-Trent native who rose to fame presenting the UK Top 40 on Radio 1 from 1986 to 1995, founded the venture after leaving the BBC. He aimed to blend his broadcasting expertise with emerging digital technologies, providing bespoke in-store radio and music strategies for retailers like HSBC, Ikea, and Topshop.
By 2003, the firm floated on the Alternative Investment Market as Immedia Group Plc, with Brookes serving as CEO until his resignation in May 2020. Under his stewardship, Immedia expanded into corporate communications, claiming to reach 37 million people weekly through in-store broadcasts. A key milestone came in 2016 when Immedia Group acquired AVC Media Enterprises out of administration for £200,000, renaming it AVC Immedia and bolstering its multimedia offerings.
In a twist, AVC Immedia's management team – including Ross Penney, John Trevorrow, Euan McMorrow, and Keith Robertson, alongside investor Mark Horrocks – bought Immedia Broadcast Limited from its parent in April 2022 for £2 million. The deal, a related-party transaction, allowed the parent to pivot to technology and fintech investments, renaming itself Immediate Acquisition Plc (later Fiinu Plc).
Post-acquisition, AVC Immedia positioned itself as a global communications agency, operating from bases in Aberdeen, Newbury, and Houston, Texas, serving clients in sectors like retail and energy across Europe, the Middle East, and the US.
Recent Companies House filings show turbulence, with director resignations including Robertson on January 26, 2026 and Trevorrow in August 2024. The administration filing in the High Court (case CR-2026-001068) on February 12, 2026, signals financial distress, though exact causes remain undisclosed.
Industry observers note the competitive pressures in digital media and in-store audio, exacerbated by post-pandemic shifts in retail. Immedia's SIC codes confirm its core in music and video, aligning with Brookes' vision of "experiential marketing."
Administrators are exploring options for restructuring or sale. With a history spanning over 25 years, the firm's fate could impact jobs in Newbury and Aberdeen. Brookes, now hosting shows on 45 Radio, has not commented publicly.
The latest development marks a challenging chapter for a company which began as a pioneering internet radio outfit under an iconic DJ's guidance.
Express.co.uk has contacted Immedia for comment.
