Unit 45 Radio Commercial

Describe 3 types of radio station

1. Internet radio / podcasts – Some stations broadcast 24/7, others are accessible more like podcasts Getting sets on such stations or even shows is reasonably easy by comparison to some of the other formats: Just listen in, spot a gap, and ask. It is perfectly possible to set up your own station or podcast too, and indeed this is how many people get started in broadcasting nowadays
2. College/non-profit radio – Generally these are independent small concerns, where the DJs pick their own playlists entirely – great if you fancy yourself as a tastemaker DJ and want somewhere to flex your musical muscles. Reliability is key here – prove you’ll turn up for your show regularly and get things done without a fuss and you’ll win friends. Make sure to develop personal relationships with the other DJs and the owners before asking
3. Community radio – Related to the above, community stations tend to be intensely local in flavour, and have a wide mix of programming apart from just music. Again, having a name for yourself in your community helps (a club night locally is ideal) and living in the vicinity obviously qualifies you more than an out-of-towner when you’re pitching for a show
4. Satellite radio – Multiplexes like Sirius and XM in the States work similarly to cable TV, in that there are many different stations with their own unique programming. The chances of bagging a show on one of these specialist channels is low unless you’ve got a track record (typically from 1 to 3 above) to wave in front of their noses, and even then is going to take persistence. But if there’s a specialist show you like, you could try and befriend the presenter and land a “guest mix” to get your foot in the door
5. Commercial/national radio – The big stations on your radio dial and increasingly on digital multiplexes. Apart for the unique BBC in the UK, these are owned by media conglomerates and subject to imposed playlist restrictions and other commercial-focuses directives. A show on one of these is a career, not a whim, and takes years of work to attain. However, the night/weekend programming can be specialist, in which case the rules from 4 above may just get you a mix – if you’re very, very lucky