There’s never been a more important time to support community radio.
The influence of community radio is often understated. More than just a vehicle for culture and opinion, community radio providers empower those who feel immobilised — those who have a right to speak up, but don’t feel always confident in doing so.
Across Melbourne, there’s a horde of generous not-for-profit community radio stations giving people a voice and an avenue for engagement. 3RRR, PBS and SYN have earnt their reputations as popular broadcasters across the airwaves but there are so many more — the likes of 3CR, 3ZZZ and Joy 94.9 are all equally pertinent in their fields of expertise.
For community radio to survive, the need for public support is unwavering. The costs of running these broadcasters is immense and it’s by the emulating good will of the public, that everyone can have access to a voice and opinion. If you’ve been meaning to get involved but are unsure how, here’s a rundown of eight easy ways to pledge your support.
Volunteer
The lifeblood of community radio is its volunteers. Without the goodwill of those capable of giving a little bit of their time, this medium wouldn’t have the personnel to survive. Volunteering in community radio can be as easy as applying online and responsibilities can vary from presenting to administration or content production.
Subscribe
Subscribing to community radio opens the door to an array of opportunity. As is the case with 3RRR and PBS, subscription opens the door for exclusive access to live in-studio performances as well as eligibility for sponsored deals. For most community stations, you can apply over the phone or online — 3RRR and PBS throw respective festivals throughout the year to encourage people to subscribe.
Buy from sponsored businesses
Another way community radio survives is through its sponsorships. Broadcasters can reach a large population through their widespread accessibility. Listen to some of the radio advertisements and you might catch wind of some sweet deals.
Listen
Sounds rudimentary, but by listening to community radio you are inherently supporting it. Broadcasters require active ears as much as they need active mouths, so next time you’re gridlocked in traffic, flick over to 102.7FM, 106.7FM or 90.7FM and enjoy the ride.
Buy records
As much as going to gigs supports community radio, buying music from radio-supported artists can be just as beneficial. A large proportion of Melbourne’s community radio airplay is of local music, so by supporting the artist, you’re supporting the station.
Go to gigs
This section blankets more than just live music. While music is a major part of community radio in Melbourne, broadcasters also support everything from theatre to comedy and film. So when you tune in next, be sure to hear for all the other great events going down — who knows, you might score some free ticks.
Sponsor
There are plenty of perks of getting your business involved in community radio. Not only does affiliating with community radio put your company in a higher regard but it also multiplies your reach. Radio airplay can reach locally, not least nationally, so you’re company will be suddenly be reaching a higher percentage of ears.
Learn the skills
Support radio by becoming a radio expert. Learning the tricks of the radio trade will open your mind to how the industry works and how you can more directly involved. The more people in the industry the more sustainable it is, plus you might get your voice projected across the airwaves, how cool is that?
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