• countrypunk@slrpnk.netOP
      5·
      2 days ago

      Really depends on the station. Some of them (especially the bigger ones) will have ads quite frequently, but others will have a few every now and then and there are some that don’t have any at all.

  • Psythik@lemm.ee
    17·
    2 days ago

    Speaking of which, if anyone is interested, I’m (re-)starting a community radio station for Lemmy users, by Lemmy users. Launching this year:

    !radiolemmy@lemm.ee || https://radiolemmy.com/

    I’ll need DJs and curators to help me make programming blocks. If you have music you’d like to share or a podcast then you are needed! Check the community often; within the next few days I’ll make a post on how you can help contribute.

    Edit: Given the community we’re in, I feel like it’s my duty to mention that unless you so happen to live in my neck of the woods, this will be an internet-only station for the vast majority of listeners. The OTA component will come later next year, and will be extremely low power to avoid expensive licensing fees (the digital broadcast license is expensive enough as-is).

    Not as exciting—I know—but I’m still hoping that some of you will still check it out when I launch in Q3 this year.

      • Psythik@lemm.ee
        7·
        2 days ago

        Thanks for your interest! This is actually my second attempt at a radio station for Lemmy.

        The first go around did okay but the schedule was fairly empty most days. I did have a couple of dedicated DJs who would put on some amazing live shows, but for most of the day the station was just playing random music and the listener count would plummet as such.

        This time I have a game plan. Taking my time to make sure I don’t launch until I have a full schedule filled out.

        If you know anybody who wants to build a programming block or do a live show, please send them my way! There will be plenty of timeslots available, from 30 minutes in length up to 6 hours. You can make a prerecorded show, or do it live. Music or talk. Whatever you prefer.

      • Psythik@lemm.ee
        6·
        2 days ago

        Perfect! Thank you.

        I need prerecorded content as well as live DJs; a regular output of content is preferable so I can get you on the schedule, but anything and everything helps, even if it’s a single 30 minute performance.

        Check back on the community in a few days for instructions on how you can contribute (look for a pinned post). And thank you again.

  • countrypunk@slrpnk.netOP
    14·
    2 days ago

    I’m involved with a radio station in my area and it’s soooooo cool to sit in on shows. All of the stuff you hear is done by live humans. They go in and manually put CDs and curate the playlists and control the levels of everything. Sometimes they talk in between with some context for the song or random musings they have. Sometimes whoever is hosting will dedicate a particular song to somebody they know. It’s so endearing and human. Occasionally they’ll have a prerecorded show but most of them are live.

      • countrypunk@slrpnk.netOP
        4·
        2 days ago

        Over all a nice little radio. Only thing I’m not a fan of is that it’s only got a micro USB port for its power source. I don’t like micro USB cuz it tends to break. Other than that, it’s got decent sound quality and you can connect to it via Bluetooth and play music from it. It’s tiny and compact.

        • Cris@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          2 days ago

          I’ve seen some videos where folks have replaced micro or mini USB with type c, but it seems a little involved unless you’re already comfortable with electronics. Still a cute little radio though!

  • Sips'@slrpnk.net
    7·
    3 days ago

    Question: Do radio broadcasters have any indication/numbers on how many are listening in while on FM/AM?

    • scoobford@lemmy.zip
      6·
      2 days ago

      Not from broadcasting, but they can pay a ratings company like Nielsen to research certain samples of the population.

    • Psythik@lemm.ee
      5·
      2 days ago

      Only in internet radio.

      I have a theory that the reason why FM radio stations often hold contests is so that they can gauge how many people are listening. By counting the number of entries and calculating an estimate of what percentage of radio listeners enter their contests, you can get a rough estimate of how many people are tuning in.

      Kind of like how Nielsen operates. Send out a survey to a percentage of the American population, and from their answers you can figure out how many people watch a certain show.

  • Geodad@lemm.eeEnglish
    21·
    3 days ago

    My local radio stations suck. They’re all country or religious, and 1 NPR station.

    • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
      17·
      3 days ago

      Thankfully, most radio stations stream online as well, so even if your local options suck you can still find some great stuff online.

      This is CHSR, from Fredericton, NB.

      Things I’ve encountered when listening to this station:

      • Modern jazz
      • A regular segment dedicated to new music from female artists
      • Progressive news and politics from Rabble
      • Thrash metal
      • The latest chart hits
      • a selection of country and western that somehow didn’t suck???
      • Progressive news and politics from Democracy Now
      • Big band jazz
      • Discussions of intersectional feminism
      • Giblert and Sullivan
      • 1920s classics
      • Two guys talking about comic books and wrestling
      • Bluegrass hour
      • Just a whole episode of the Canadaland podcast
      • Irish rebel songs
      • A discussion of Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy and its effects on modern day Isreal
      • New East Coast bands
      • A podcast hosted by the Green Party
      • Prog Rock
      • Frank Sinatra
      • Celtic traditionals
      • Writing advice
      • French hip-hop
      • A history of electronic music which I tuned into just in time to catch the host going off about what a tit Grimes is
      • Classical music
      • and one entire day of nature sounds

      Basically, it’s the greatest radio station ever.

    • countrypunk@slrpnk.netOP
      5·
      2 days ago

      The cool thing is that most radio stations these days also stream on their websites, so if you haven’t got any good local stations you can stream other small community ones. Radio garden is a cool website where you can stream stations online from around the world.

  • misteloct@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    8·
    3 days ago

    Reddit ‘Wholesome’: Local inspirational 6th grader raises enough money in bake sale to pay off autistic classmate’s lunch bills.

    Lemmy Wholesome: Actually wholesome.

  • Psychadelligoat@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    20·
    3 days ago

    Dad once did radio DJ for a few years professionally, had to have a broadcast license and everything

    I’ve thought about getting on the airwaves myself for the fun of it but have no fuckin clue where to start lol

    • HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.org
      101·
      3 days ago

      Hamstudy.org is good to cram the license questions, and you can get a basic 2m/70cm band handheld transciever for less than $100 (well, you could pre Random Tarrif Gameshow Time)

  • oscillator@slrpnk.net
    8·
    3 days ago

    In Germany we quite a few really cool alternative radio stations. They all have their local frequencies, shows and so on, but also share a German-wide morning show. It’s mostly recoded by the bigger projects, like in Berlin, but otherwise it would just take too much resources from small volunteer run stations.

  • hobbsc@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    5·
    3 days ago

    we lost our local radio station last year as the owner aged out. I’m worried about who will acquire that slice of the spectrum.

    there is a college station still in a neighboring town at least.

  • Rolder@reddthat.com
    7·
    3 days ago

    I’ve got a nice little local radio station I like because they play a wide variety of stuff. Not just the same ol top 10 on repeat. Plus very few ads (unless it’s Membership Drive season)