Local radio station The Drop has pulled its local announcers and is no longer running as a commercial entity.

The station broadcasting on106.9 FM that launched in November last year has been forced to pull its day time announcers but manager Pat Spellman says they are continuing to play music.

Tauranga owned radio station The Drop still has music on the airwaves.

Pat says people can still tune in to the radio, online and via their mobile app.

'In terms of availability, we haven't dropped out at all – let's make that point crystal clear. We are still here, enjoying healthy numbers streaming and still receiving feedback from local listeners.

'If not having any local announcers on air during the day was a sign the ship is sinking, all but three stations in Tauranga would be sinking – which, to be fair is not far from the truth.”

Pat says the station pulled their announcers for a reason.

'The biggest being the suggestions they weren't resonating well with Drop FM listeners – myself included. We're ironing out kinks - that's all.”

The Drop is the brainchild of Tauranga businessman Jase McCarthy and Pat, from Moana Radio.

The pair had a loose agreement with a local radio station in Tauranga, to lease their frequency, but the agreement fell through once The Drop was launched.

A person who wishes not to be named says some of the stations equipment is for sale on Trade Me, but Spellman would not comment on that matter.

'Our sign written vehicle can still be seen on the streets of Tauranga, and we are still actively involved with promotion on Facebook, which runs parallel with what other local radio stations are doing.

'If you want to know if The Drop is still alive, flick your radio on 106.9 FM in the Mount, or jump online to the website. Even download the iPhone App and listen that way too.”