Radio Stations: How You Can Make Money on the Airwaves Radio stations don't seem like a very lucrative business to get into. Listeners pay no real money to tune in to their favorite radio station, and how in is radio now anyways? It turns out, if you build a loyal following, then your money can start rolling in, and in more ways than one! Selling Advertisements The simplest and most obvious way to make money off of your radio station is to sell ads. Check with local brands and businesses; name your price per ad (or per minute of air time!) and you can quickly begin to
bring in revenue to fund your station. It's key to first build your own brand first though; businesses might not want to pay as much (or at all) for an ad with a radio station that no one is tuning into. Promoting Products This takes advertising a little further. Businesses may want to give you a product to promote, from their local craft beer to a new shampoo, if your DJ promotes the product personally on the air, it is wonderful exposure for that product and is also a source of income for your station. Don't be wary about repping that new restaurant; go into it feet first and see how it can work for your station! Playing Local Bands Songs Local bands need exposure too, and they might just be willing to pay for it. Or if you feel rotten about charging them for airtime, just think: playing local bands music on your station will attract "local-minded" listeners who prefer repping indie bands versus well known groups. And these bands will become aware of your station too, likely leading them to promote the station and listen their own selves. Don't knock it! Try it! Partnering with Brands This is like promoting a product, but on a larger scale; you put their sticker on your van, or attach their logo to yours, constantly mentioning their partnership with you. They will likely pay for this service and keep you up and running as recompense. OR better, they will promote your
station right back. This way, you both get exposure, and your station gets more listeners! Listeners You need these. The more people that tune into your station, the more you can charge businesses for ads, promotions, or partnerships. So promote yourself. Make flyers, spread that word of mouth. Offer services for local bands. Anything to get your name up and in the air, so you soon will become a name to be reckoned with. So if you own a station, or are considering opening one, we recommend it! It can be very lucrative, you can vibe the music you approve of, and you ultimately can live off of what you love! I do believe that's what you call the definition of success. Josh Gruss is the Chairman, CEO and founder of Round Hill Music