Full Description
Beginner-friendly advice on how to start and run a local FM station
There are approximately 2000 low power FM radio stations in the United States. That number will grow as more licenses are issued in the coming years. Low Power FM For Dummies walks you through the key steps you need to take to establish, manage, and help run one of these hyper-local broadcast operations. You'll get easy-to-follow help on everything from making all your gear work to financing your operation, managing your staff, and complying with rules and regulations.
Not sure where to begin? No worries! This book explains the process of getting a broadcast license and collecting all the necessary tools. It also provides insight on starting with a station that streams online only. Already got started? That's great too! You'll learn to refine your approach to low-power FM station management with the useful tips found within. Low Power FM For Dummies will also help you:
Serve your community at a hyper-local level with programming aimed directly at the people in your area
Manage the people, technology, processes, and systems that underlie a well-run low-power FM station
Guide the operations of a new or established station as a volunteer, board member, or creator
Low-power radio stations need well-informed and effective operators, technicians, board members, and volunteers to fulfil their potential. Low Power FM For Dummies can help you fill any of those roles, and more, in no time at all.
Contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Lighting the Fuse: Getting High Impact from Low Power 5
Chapter 1: Getting High Impact from Low Power 7
Chapter 2: Finding or Founding Your Nonprofit 19
Chapter 3: Getting Permission to Broadcast 39
Part 2: Countdown to Blastoff: Launching Your Broadcast 59
Chapter 4: Firing Up Your Frequency 61
Chapter 5: Weaving Your Webcast 75
Part 3: Staying in Orbit: Building a Station That Endures 89
Chapter 6: Where the Magic Happens: Building a Studio with a Spark! 91
Chapter 7: Cranking It Up: Developing Your Music Collection 111
Chapter 8: Going for the Gold: Developing Station Income 127
Chapter 9: Holding the Line: Managing Station Expenses 141
Part 4: Star Systems: (Low) Power to the People! 157
Chapter 10: Keeping It Legit: Broadcasting Rules and Responsibilities 159
Chapter 11: It's Showtime! Developing Programming and Taking It Live 175
Chapter 12: Forming the Band: Building Your Crew 197
Part 5: Riding the Waves: Ups and Downs in Community Broadcasting 209
Chapter 13: Understanding Murphy's Law of Radio 211
Chapter 14: Cultivating Community Connections 225
Chapter 15: Connecting with Listeners Locally and Worldwide 241
Part 6: The Part of Tens 255
Chapter 16: Ten Ways to Fill Dead Air (and Come Alive!) 257
Chapter 17: Ten Epic Radio Broadcasts 265
Chapter 18: Ten Inspiring Insights from Low Power FM Station Founders 275
Appendix A: Directory of Low Power FM Radio Stations 285
Appendix B: Glossary 293
Index 299
