Anyone here work in radio/broadcasting?

[impetus]

I have recently been giving very serious consideration to an entrepreneurial venture, starting a rock radio station. I'm reading up on the various legal and practical aspects of this.

I'm planning on bringing in a new format, modern rock station. Wichita has a rock station (the formulaic stuff) and a couple of classic rock, but there's a huge niche market for modern emo, punk, hardcore, and metal. The stuff that's actually good. One dream I also have is to promote and play talented local music to a wider listening audience. I'd also like the station (website) to be a sort of hub for the local music scene.

My own experience is spotty. I have, obviously, a love for good tunes and a feel for the youth culture's tastes and perceptions, good business sense (both practical and formally schooled), a lot of practical communicative skills (humor, voice acting, web/computer). I also have some good "who you know" references: friends who are music store managers, video production engineer/business owner, a bank president (financier), and some others.

What I lack most is radio experience and legal knowledge (licensing, FCC, etc). Probably the most critical part of start-up will be securing financiers and advertisers (although I think the advertisers should be easy).

But I was wondering if any of you guys are in the field and had any advice or know of some good informative websites. I'm especially interested in government-sponsored sites with "how to" guides and start-up help.

[Tony]

my only advice is that once you succeed, sell it to clear channel. they got the mad skills to take it above and beyond.

[impetus]

hiya thanks for the response! Although I disagree. No offense Tony, but I think that's the LAST thing I'd ever do with it. I'd rather give it away to someone who really cares about good music and helping kids out than sell it to that soul-less behemoth. Kind of defeats the point of an independent station playing real music...

(I am saying this in light of the LOCAL Clear Channel, which in Wichita is utter, absolute crap. Not bad-mouthing the company in general which I don't know a whole lot about. Even so, I despise the politics, practices, and general lack of passion surrounding corporate broadcast groups who sell the soul of radio for their almighty dollar.)

[Toby Deemer]

I may indeed be wrong, but I'd bet that Tony was joking in a mildly cynical way about selling to Clear Channel.

And if not, I'm now a doofus.


(Had to make that edit- Sorry, Tony. Not "Tomy"... anyway.)

[Tony]

yeah, sorry, next time i'll lay the sarcasm on thicker.

[contentwithlosing]

check out www.thebeep.net


I know Mike Willaford and he knows quite a bit, but I'm not entirely sure if he would be able to help you as much as you'd like. For promotion and things of that nature, he should be your man.

[impetus]

Tony said:

yeah, sorry, next time i'll lay the sarcasm on thicker.

lol - I reallydidnt think you were being sarcastic, I even tried to look at it that way

I thought maybe you worked for them or something, 's why I was being so nice about it now i look like a doofus

but being a rock kid and all that, I dont care about how i look.... ..... .... right?