How do I get more ears on my radio show?
June 20, 2018 12:55 PM Subscribe
I have an arts and music radio show on a local community radio station. People (even the ones I don't know!) think it's good. How do I get it on other stations so I can get more listeners?
My show features arts content (stories and poems) contributed by listeners and people on various subreddits, as well as genre hopping musical content, and a weekly chat with an art historian about specific artists or art movements. I really enjoy the interaction between listener and host, being a platform for the content people provide, the feedback, the suggestions, but in its current home there just aren't that many people in the catchment area. Because the show features music, I can't podcast it so I'd like to get it on more stations instead to widen the audience and hopefully build community around it.
That's where I'm stuck. How does I do this thing? Help?
My show features arts content (stories and poems) contributed by listeners and people on various subreddits, as well as genre hopping musical content, and a weekly chat with an art historian about specific artists or art movements. I really enjoy the interaction between listener and host, being a platform for the content people provide, the feedback, the suggestions, but in its current home there just aren't that many people in the catchment area. Because the show features music, I can't podcast it so I'd like to get it on more stations instead to widen the audience and hopefully build community around it.
That's where I'm stuck. How does I do this thing? Help?
Best answer: Have you tried sending a recording of one of your shows to various radio stations? There are still plenty left that are community-oriented and not all corporate iHeart stuff. Your profile says you're in Maine; I don't know what station you're on now, but WRFR in Rockland and WERU in Blue Hill certainly use tons of local content. Other stations I'm familiar with that might be interested are WCVR (country, but also interested in arts) in Randolph, VT and WSCS (classical) in New Hampshire.
posted by JanetLand at 3:43 PM on June 20, 2018
posted by JanetLand at 3:43 PM on June 20, 2018
Best answer: Because the show features music, I can't podcast it so
Mixcloud is a streaming service which only puts a few restrictions on music that you program. No more than four selections from a single artist in any mix, no more than three in a row. And I've never come across an artist that I couldn't play. And it's free.
I've got hundreds of my own shows posted there.
posted by philip-random at 5:34 PM on June 20, 2018
Mixcloud is a streaming service which only puts a few restrictions on music that you program. No more than four selections from a single artist in any mix, no more than three in a row. And I've never come across an artist that I couldn't play. And it's free.
I've got hundreds of my own shows posted there.
posted by philip-random at 5:34 PM on June 20, 2018
Best answer: You may not be able to podcast it, but there are rules allowing it to be made available for a period of time IIRC correctly.
When I helped build the station set up for the community radio station I helped found, we created a page where one could listen to the most recent show until the next one came out. I left 3 years ago and the place has gone to hell in a handbasket or I would point you to the page.
As for making it available for rebroadcast for another org (syndication?) the challenge for me was that we were asked to use the call letters etc, and we were mentioning local supporters. That would need to be edited out.
MeMail me if you have additional questions and I will try and help.
posted by terrapin at 9:12 AM on June 21, 2018
When I helped build the station set up for the community radio station I helped found, we created a page where one could listen to the most recent show until the next one came out. I left 3 years ago and the place has gone to hell in a handbasket or I would point you to the page.
As for making it available for rebroadcast for another org (syndication?) the challenge for me was that we were asked to use the call letters etc, and we were mentioning local supporters. That would need to be edited out.
MeMail me if you have additional questions and I will try and help.
posted by terrapin at 9:12 AM on June 21, 2018
Response by poster: Thanks all, some excellent ideas here.
The show's concept kind of relies on the juxtaposition of the music and the arts content to create serendipitous moments so I really want to keep the show intact.
I'll definitely send the show to other stations and see whether anyone bites.
I'll have a look at Mixcloud and see whether I have the time it takes to get content up there. (I have very limited time to dedicate to the show so anything that eats time regularly is a problem)
PRX sounds interesting, I see that the top 10 royalty earners make up to $500 a quarter so I'll plan the new wing on the house now. (To be clear this isn't a money making enterprise)
terrapin, I'll memail you separately about the archive idea. I can't find anything about it elsewhere.
Thanks all, best answers all round!
posted by merocet at 2:30 PM on June 22, 2018
The show's concept kind of relies on the juxtaposition of the music and the arts content to create serendipitous moments so I really want to keep the show intact.
I'll definitely send the show to other stations and see whether anyone bites.
I'll have a look at Mixcloud and see whether I have the time it takes to get content up there. (I have very limited time to dedicate to the show so anything that eats time regularly is a problem)
PRX sounds interesting, I see that the top 10 royalty earners make up to $500 a quarter so I'll plan the new wing on the house now. (To be clear this isn't a money making enterprise)
terrapin, I'll memail you separately about the archive idea. I can't find anything about it elsewhere.
Thanks all, best answers all round!
posted by merocet at 2:30 PM on June 22, 2018
When does it air? How might we-who-have-randomly-stumbled-upon-your-post-here go about hearing it?
posted by elgee at 7:41 AM on November 19, 2018
posted by elgee at 7:41 AM on November 19, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
Start a podcast version with episodes that you've edited to remove the music or that you've used only royalty-free music in?
posted by nicebookrack at 1:33 PM on June 20, 2018 [1 favorite]