How to Start a Radio Station
You’d be surprised how many people still listen to radio these days. When you’re stuck in traffic, you desperately search for a radio station that streams your favorite musical genre. When you are on a road trip you don’t have the time and energy to grab a handful of CDs and play the DJ part while you’re driving.
So starting a radio station is still relevant these days, but it implies a lot of costs, risks and a lot of patience till it grows into something beautiful. But if you’re determined to strive, you will end up owning a popular radio station.
Get Ready to Invest
Starting, building and maintaining a radio station is one costly process. Be prepared to invest a lot of money into something that you don’t know for sure will work. So you have to embrace the thought that your radio station may not be as popular as you’d hoped it would be.
Applying for a Frequency
There aren’t many available frequencies left and there are many demands for the ones who are available. You can either send in an application for a frequency or buy one from an existing radio that wants to quit. Either way, it’s a long wait and it can get frustrating. Not to say that buying your frequency will cost a lot of money. But this is the first step you have to take.
Applying for a License
It’s not enough to get a frequency. You need to apply for a license otherwise you’re doing things the wrong way and you can face different charges. Applying for a license is like any formality that assures you stream music by being approved by the authorities. You need to fill out some forms and pay some taxes. And you will need a license to broadcast your music and the artists’ permission, too.
Sponsors: A Priority
You need funding because you will incur many costs when hosting a radio station. So you need to think of different sponsors. But in order to get sponsors’ attention, you need to have many listeners tuning in and that takes time.
Studio Space
Think of an affordable yet central studio space. You will invite artists over for interviews, talks and you will be promoting their music and latest albums and releases. Decorate the space in a minimalistic fashion, but make sure you surround the area with your radio’s logo.
Making the Radio Station Known to the World
This is the hardest and probably the most important part. Making the radio station known to the world. Intensive advertisements are the key. Use all that you’ve got in order to make your radio station popular. Use social media websites like Facebook to boost your traffic and target the right audience to listen to your music. You can also do things the old way by sharing flyers and banners all around town. It works. But you’ll see promising results in time so hang in there.
The Logo and Jingle
In order to promote your radio station, you need its own internet page where people can tune in, leave comments, participate in different contests you’ll be holding etc. You will need a logo and jingle for your radio station so that people will associate your radio with a brand, with an image and a particular song or catchy tune.