Real FM

Real FM

After getting sick and tired of the fact that there is no student radio station in dublin, yet limerick, cork and galway can do it, something needed to be done. Since the early summer (2006) the idea of Real FM has been generating, and now we have an active team of 7 working on setting up the station, ideally for September. The BCI will start us on a temp licence but we aim to achieve a community license furthr down the line.
We are currently starting to look for funding and have started to approach the obvious agencies. However, as you guys have an in-depth knowledge of the irish radio industry i was wondering if any of you knew any other agencies that have funded community radio stations recently.
Furthermore anyone who wants any involvement please leave a comment because this is something Dublin needs and we need as much support as possible as there still is quite a mountain to climb.

Any support, suggestions or criticisms: please leave a comment.

Cheers,
Jack Fox

bluesmoke

Hi All

As someone who is involved in RealFM. I can tell you that alot of work has gone in to this. We have contacted most of the college within dublin and have support from all of them.

Some other things we are looking for is any, some of the money for the radio station is got to come from fundrasier. One idea we had was having gigs, so if your an up an coming band/act or establish band/act. Please let me know. We are hoping to play the highlight of the gigs on RealFM

So any advice, or suggestion on the set up or content of RealFM. or anyone who wants to volenteer to help out. Please let me know

Thanks

Bluesmoke

catch--22

From my own work with Wired Fm (in Limerick), excluding grants etc for working on community radio projects, most of the money came from the three (now two) student unions of the colleges involved. They put it through their budget that they received from the college. So basically the colleges paid for it....but just put the money through the SU.

There is a lot of money to be made by directing your programming around community projects and receiving part of their grant etc!

Best of luck with the whole project! I'd love to give you a hand if it's needed! About time Dublin had a full-time or at least a term-time station for students!

bluesmoke

Thanks Catch-22.

I think we will be in contact with wired FM and yourself for advice. The problem we have is and we disccussed it with the BCI. We need to have Real FM seperate from the students union, exleast for funding and administration.
So that no one college will have full control of the radio station. There is well over 20 third level colleges here in Dublin, and we want to involve secondary school as well.
So we are looking for support from the student unions but no funding. Our funding will come from fundraisers and grants, last if we have to sponsorship from companies.

alot of work but fun as well, so any suggestion, comments and advice are more than welcome

Real FM

Someone tried to do this 2 years ago, and as a result of politics between the vast amount of colleges, it never went ahead. As a result we have to steer clear of relying on the colleges to keep it funded and running.

catch--22

Ah right! I do remember Wired having various problems with the SU's and they were dealing with only 2 of them in the end! i can imagine what it would be like if you had all of them on board!

I have contact information for Wired's management team if you want them. I'm sure they'll be more than willing to help out in any way! And as I, mentioned so am I.

Real FM

Yeah that would be brilliant. If you could just send on your details through a private message or something. Were planning on getting in touch with you guys an we may even head down in a few weeks to check out the set up.
if thats ok?

bluesmoke

Hi all,

As we are going to be a non-profit making organisation, All of our funding will have to come from, Fundraisers, Grants and Sponsorhips. We have the fundraising sort and that covers about 50% of the cost. (all student related as well). Looking at about 30 different grants organisiations and a possiblity of 20 possible sponsors. Is there anyone out there that can give us the hands up on particular grants agencies or sponsorships that we should be looking for. (or even anygood fundraiser ideas). I really believe in this idea and think it would be great fun and great for Dublin to have everyone envolved. Please PMS or just post any suggestion here.

PS I'm not even a student.

Thanks.

monkeyfudge

Have you been in touch with CRAOL yet? They're the community radio forum of Ireland and should be able to give you plenty of advice.

bluesmoke

Yep we have,

Hopefully heading down to see them in the next couple of weeks, and see how Wired is set up. Thanks for that though Monkeyfudge, where you invovled in community radio?

thanks a million.

I wondering we are radio station wanting to find support from you guys, is there a reason why no one is posting (expect for catch 22 and monkeyFudge) to this thread we should know about?

To me this is something that we can all get invovled with, it's a radio station that you can have a input into. This is your radio station. Let me know Please.
and have an input.

Please and thanks in advance

Bluesmoke

monkeyfudge

I'm work in NEARfm over in Coolock.

We do a good bit of work with Colaiste Dhulaigh's students. If you ever want to drop out and have a look at our set up then drop me a PM.

I know Craol is going to be doing a roadshow this year and inform different community groups around the country how to go about setting up a community radio station.

Also you might have more luck with getting people interested by posting in some of the college forums on boards.ie. I know Belfield FM have a fairly strong presence in the UCD forum.

bluesmoke

Thanks MonkeyFudge

For the advice and the offer, we are abit swamped with meetings at the moment, but I would love to have a look at the set-up in Near FM. I will PM you in the next week or so. Also good idea about the colleges on baords (never thought of that) (doh). Cheers

Declan A Walsh

bluesmoke wrote:

Thanks MonkeyFudge

For the advice and the offer, we are abit swamped with meetings at the moment, but I would love to have a look at the set-up in Near FM. I will PM you in the next week or so. Also good idea about the colleges on baords (never thought of that) (doh). Cheers

Another possible avenue for getting tips would be the dedicated radio forum -

www.radiowavesforum.com
There are various sub-sections within that but the most relevant in this case might be the ones entitled Promotion and Jobs. Just check with the administrator before putting entries in those 2 sections. Radiowaves' Radio News section is pretty good for giving info on any new developments in the radio scene:
www.radiowaves.fm/news

Declan A Walsh

Actually, a better link to the radio forum page would be as follows:
http://www.radiowavesforum.com/rw/

bluesmoke

Thanks Declan,

I'm going to check it out tomorrow and I will let you know now I get on. Thanks you for the advice again.