New country music radio station Trax FM 88.0 to launch in Bingara, Barraba and Warialda in 2022

Grafton local Ryan Bard has bought the licence for Trax FM 88.0 in Bingara, which is set to be launched on January 1, 2022.

Mr Bard said Barraba and Warialda's launch will follow soon after, with plans to expand to more country towns as the station gains momentum.

He said the station will bring today's hottest country tracks, as well as a few blasts from the past.

"We're hoping to bring country music to local country people because there's a lot of people out there that love country music," he said.

"I've always liked Australian country music. You've got to support local. The likes of Lee Kernaghan I've always been into.

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"My partner grew up on a farm so her family is all into country music and I did a bit of research and there's not many country music stations around - it's very underutilised."

Mr Bard worked for GEM FM in Inverell and Star FM in Coffs Harbour before stepping away for a while to open his own Jaycar electronics store.

But the opportunity to purchase a commercial radio licence in Bingara was one he couldn't pass up.

"I used to live in Inverell so I know the area well and wanted to start small," he said.

"Over the next six months hopefully we will be setting up in Barraba and Warialda as well. The idea is to expand from there."

He is also in the process of securing a radio licence in Goondiwindi.

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