Cool FM live
Northern Ireland's number 1 for music
Cool FM at a glance
Cool FM frequencies
Where to find Cool FM on FM, AM and DAB, from Ofcom’s records. Find what reaches your postcode →
Contains public sector information from Ofcom, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
About Cool FM
Cool FM is one of the biggest radio stations in Northern Ireland, playing the latest hits to listeners across Greater Belfast on 97.4 FM. For more than three decades it has been the soundtrack of the city, combining chart music with local news, entertainment and a strong connection to its community. On this page you can listen to Cool FM live online for free.
Born from Downtown Radio
Cool FM began broadcasting on 7 February 1990, when Downtown Radio, Northern Ireland's first commercial station, split its AM and FM frequencies into two separate services. Downtown continued on 1026 kHz AM and its FM frequencies outside Belfast, while Cool FM was created on 97.4 MHz to serve a younger audience in Greater Belfast with pop and chart music. Both stations are now owned by Bauer Media Audio UK, the group behind Hits Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, KISS and Absolute Radio, and they are available through the Rayo app.
What you will hear
Cool FM plays the biggest chart hits and new releases, alongside popular songs from recent years. Its breakfast show is one of the most listened-to programmes in Northern Ireland, with music, chat, celebrity guests and big competitions, and the rest of the day keeps the hits coming with local news and travel for Belfast. The station is also known for its charity work through Cash for Kids, which raises money for children across Northern Ireland, including the Mission Christmas appeal. Over the years Cool FM has launched the careers of several well-known Northern Irish broadcasters.
How to listen to Cool FM
In Greater Belfast, tune your FM radio to 97.4. Cool FM is also available on DAB digital radio, smart speakers and the Rayo app. The quickest way is to press play above, and the Cool FM live stream starts straight away on your phone, tablet or computer. If you like Cool FM, you may also enjoy Q Radio Belfast, Energy 106 Belfast and BBC Radio Ulster, all available on our site.
For the hottest hits and a real Belfast personality, Cool FM has been Northern Ireland's favourite since 1990.
- 100% free, no sign-up
- Live stream, 24 hours a day
- Listen from anywhere
- Works on phone and computer
How to listen to Cool FM live
In 3 simple steps, with nothing to install.
- 01Press play
Click the "Listen live" button at the top of this page.
- 02Wait a moment
The live stream starts loading within a few seconds.
- 03Enjoy
Cool FM plays right in your browser, with nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
Cool FM broadcasts on 97.4 FM in Greater Belfast, and is also on DAB digital radio and online.
Cool FM began broadcasting on 7 February 1990, when Downtown Radio split its AM and FM services.
Yes. Press play at the top of this page to listen to Cool FM live for free on any device.
Cool FM is owned by Bauer Media Audio UK, which also owns its sister station Downtown Radio.
Yes. You can listen to Cool FM live for free here on UK Radio Stations, 24 hours a day.
Yes. Cool FM plays in your phone’s browser on Android or iPhone — there is no app to install. Just open this page and press play.
Yes. Connect your phone to the car stereo by Bluetooth or cable, open Cool FM here on UK Radio Stations and enjoy the live stream on the road.
If the stream does not load, wait a few seconds and press play again — some streams take a moment to connect. You can also refresh the page or try another Adult Contemporary station meanwhile. UK Radio Stations checks every stream automatically.