How to make a FM radio station

issues to consider

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HOW TO MAKE A RADIO STATION - ISSUES TO LOOK OUT FOR

When you start to make a FM radio station you will realize it is a reasonably intensive process. The purpose of our service is to make this as straightforward as possible, particularly for people who do not have any previous experience in broadcasting.

With our many years experience, we have identified a number of problems and issues that can occur. The first of these is handpicking people you want to develop the station with. It is near impossible for one person to operate a station by themselves, unless of course it is an exceptionally small station. So it will be necessary for you to take on board people to assist in the process, both for the startup phase, and also staff to operate the station once you get on air.

One issue that we see occur time and time again when you start to make a radio station, are people hijacking your original station idea and changing the station format or style into something that you never envisaged, and indeed possibly don't approve of. For this reason it is very important to consider the people you surround yourself with at the outset. Certainly it is helpful to talk to all intended plans over with people and consider the feedback, but be very wary of people who invite themselves into the project, and then start to make wholesale changes of the station idea and format. Because of the nature of the industry, FM radio does attract its fair share of social misfits, so be alert to the possibility be that your station could be infiltrated by these people! Certainly they may mean well, but we have seen time and time again that they have a tendency to derail plans.

The other issue with how to make a FM radio station, is with station staff, namely DJs. DJs, by dint of the job they are in, enjoy the limelight, and generally enjoy drama. Speaking from experience, our best on air DJs - in terms of those to put together exceptionally good shows - are also the one that give the most trouble behind the scenes. Everything from failing to follow prescribed station policies, through to constantly pushing the limits while on the air. In these cases, it is exceptionally important to be very firm with the DJs, almost to the point of adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards transgressions. Failure to do so, will allow the DJs to continue pushing the limits to the point where, for instance, they could quite possibly start making defamatory statements on air, which could result in reasonably substantial fines against you, the station owner.

The fact of the matter is that DJs are dispensable. You will almost certainly need to have a shortage of people wanting to be a DJ on your FM radio station, indeed you will likely find that a great number of people will be willing to work as a DJ on a voluntary / unpaid basis, simply because for many people being a DJ is a dream job.

© HoganWest, 2008

This is an excerpt from Mulcher Broadcasting 'Guide to starting a FM radio station'. We provide this publication as part of our service which assists people with information and advice on how to make a FM radio station. For further information, please select your country / region from the list below:

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Mulcher Broadcasting
A division of HoganWest
5715 Will Clayton # 6369
Humble, TX 77338
United States

Email: radio@themulcher.com

Phone: 877-518-9898

© HoganWest, 2008