How to Start an Internet Radio Station | Radio.co

Become a radio pioneer

How to Start an Internet Radio Station

Your complete guide to start an internet radio station. From essential audio equipment to actionable marketing strategies, make your broadcasts a success.

Over the last decade, internet radio has gone mainstream. Big networks like the BBC, iHeart Media, NPR, NBC, and loads more have made the switch online.

Why? Because listeners tend not to have big clunky radio devices in their kitchens or cars anymore. Instead, shows are streamed through smart devices like phones, speakers, and watches. Easier access means better discoverability. If listeners can download your station in their pocket, then chances are you're going to get more people tuning in.

But before we jump ahead, let's start from scratch. From humble beginnings to your first listener, start an internet radio station the right way.

Jamie Ashbrook

by Jamie Ashbrook

Last updated 23.08.2024

Why Start an Internet Radio Station?

As much as your favourite streaming platforms can predict your tastes and serve you up an infinite stream of content, the radio DJ continues to deliver community, news, and well-timed vibes. In a world of on-demand, radio provides a more human connection.

There's never been a better time to be a creator, a curator of taste, a messenger. Technology has helped lower the barrier for entry on almost all media, and radio is no different. Gone are the days of needing hefty studio equipment to get a signal on the airwaves - all you need now is a computer, an internet connection, and a desire to be heard.

Take the first step forward. Get to know the basics of starting an internet radio station with the help of Radio.co. For 15 years we’ve been supporting independent broadcasters, so take advantage of expert advice and start your journey today.

Your Roadmap to Success

Ever noticed in disaster movies that radio is always the last thing to go? Even though TV, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook are all viable ways to reach people, they always get left by the wayside in a crunch. Not only is this a testament to radio, but the way we think as well.

Although technology has changed the way we consume content, radio is still very much alive and kicking. Broadcasters both big and small have taken home their fair share of profit too. In 2018, radio stations in the US made $13.3 billion in ad revenue. To put that into perspective WTOP-FM, a single news radio station based in Washington, made $69 million from that same year.

Whatever reason you want to start broadcasting, it’s safe to say now has never been a better time to get into radio.

Put the Human Back into Radio

Spotify, Last.fm, and YouTube Music all have one thing in common, automation. What you hear is generated by content-driven algorithms, not people. Bring back a much needed human connection with online radio, a low-barrier alternative to content curation.

Radio shines brightest when you put your listeners in the spotlight. Say hello during talk shows with live phone-ins, start conversations, build loyalty, and create a community of fans who’ll help spread the word about your show.

A white girl with long brown hair wearing a t-shirt and black headphones is chatting in front of a microphone in this image. She is presenting a radio show. The background is plain with a framed picture on display.


You can even put your listeners in control. Hand over the wheel with track requests, a simple way to give your audience a voice and make them feel a part of your show.

It's How You Broadcast

Radio has changed. Turn the clock back a couple of decades and the only broadcasters around were those with expensive clunky equipment and the technical know-how to operate it. Fast forward to today, and broadcasting is much simpler. No matter where you’re from or your experience, radio is the easiest tool to share your stories live.

FM, AM, or DAB are probably what you think of when it comes to radio, but listener habits have shifted. Internet radio is booming and has the potential to reach millions of people across the globe.

  • Get peace of mind by automating shows to run in the background, 24/7.
  • Collaborate with anyone, like colleagues, partners, friends, or DJs.
  • Create unique content by carefully curating handpicked playlists.
  • Record conversations directly in your browser, no matter where guests are located.
  • Make your station easily accessible with custom iPhone and Android apps.

In other words, online radio is easy. And works for you, not against.

Ready to Get Started?

Join over 20,000 broadcasters who chose Radio.co.

Try Free for 7 Days

Plan Ahead

Getting Prepared

Know who you're talking to for better, more engaging shows. From concept to media, build a recognisable brand that stays with listeners.

Your Radio Concept

There are lots of stations out there. So why should listeners tune in to yours? Without a good hook, it’s difficult to get much attention. You’ve probably got a good idea to start an internet radio station, but will anybody actually want to listen?

Haphazardly broadcasting only gets you so far. Instead, build a foundation. Who will your ideal listener be? What type of content can you create that will spark their curiosity? Ask yourself these questions and more to flesh out your station concept into a rock-solid plan.

Audience: Know Who You're Talking To

Who is your audience and why should they care?

As the old saying goes “When you speak to everyone, you speak to no one”. By defining your ideal listener, their interests, and habits, it's much easier to create a show that resonates with the right people.

Every year towards December, Radio.co gets flooded with Christmas themed stations. As everyone gets into the holiday spirit, these types of broadcasters corner the market by honing in on a specific group of listeners.

Not only are they drawing in crowds, but interestingly enough the station’s message is much stronger and likely to have a greater impact. Listeners who actively seek out your station will naturally be more engaged than those that just stumble on it.

Content: Create Interesting Shows People Care About

Don’t you just hate it when you tune into a station and the presenter keeps yapping on at the beginning and ending of every song? On the flip side, if all you’re going to play is music, what’s the point? Spotify curated playlists are just as good.

Ask yourself what type of content works best for your audience. Whether it’s music, talk, or a bit of both, put yourself in the shoes of your listeners. Churches playing pop music won’t work, but pre-recorded sermons with a mix of live choir singing would. Brick and mortar retail businesses broadcasting a motormouth presenter would most likely annoy customers, but upbeat soft music would compliment the store’s brand and atmosphere.

Presenters: Talk With Your Audience, Not at Them

Have you ever noticed how difficult conversations can be when they’re one-sided? Even people with the gift of the gab run out of steam eventually. Dead air is the worst offence any broadcaster can make. Instant red card. Keep your listeners engaged and the conversation moving forward by either tagging in a guest or talking with a co-presenter.

Two presenters can bounce ideas off one another and carry conversations for hours, but the same can’t be said when flying solo. Whether it’s a regular occurrence or a one-off, consider adding regular presenters or live phone interviews to your shows.

Broadcasts: Always Stay Connected with Listeners

Watching a movie in the cinema is a very different experience compared to watching one at home. Same applies to radio. Live shows let you interact and engage with your audience in real-time, something you can’t do with pre-recorded shows.

Radio.co lets you do a mix of both. Connect with your audience by sharing what’s going on right now or record shows alone (or with a presenter) and schedule them for times when you’re not around.

Big commercial stations often do a mix, pre-recording shows during the holidays when presenters are off. But you can never beat going live. As the notorious Bill O'Reilly once said, “F**k it, we’ll do it live!”.

Build a Recognisable Brand

According to leading psychologists Atkinson and Shiffrin, adults can hold new information for 15 to 30 seconds. After that... poof, it’s gone! Stay at the forefront of your listener’s mind by creating an easy to remember brand.

It's All in the Name

They say names can make or break a business, the same holds true for radio. Although it’s difficult to encapsulate what your station is about in a few words, it’s just as important as what you broadcast.

In one word, try to describe your station. Whether it’s uplifting, educational, relaxed, or something closer to home like your city’s name, use it as a jumping-off point. Take Z100 New York. Right off the bat you know where it’s based. Z100 is easy to remember and could mean the station plays the top 100 hits, which it sort of does. Many stations, including London based Soho Radio, follow this tried and true format.

Design a Memorable Logo

Turn your station’s name into a work of art, literally. People remember what things look like, not just how they sound. Translate your name or tagline into memorable artwork. But you don’t have to start from scratch. Take a backseat by hiring freelancers to design your station’s artwork - or take a stab at it yourself.

  • Fiverr: Outsource to professionals. Find freelance artists to turn your vision into reality.
  • Freepik: Discover thousands of free stock photos, artwork, and icons you can use to build your station’s brand.
  • Squarespace: Design a beautiful logo yourself. Using a free logo maker, choose from pre-existing artwork to create something unique.
These are the images of 6 recognisable brand logos: Soho Radio, a white and black circle, MCR Live, black text over a blue and pink triangle, Cult Records, a C on a black and red background appearing to be a record in a sleeve, the black and red text of 'Radio Primavera Sound', Boogaloo Radio a black and abstract shaped logo, and Radio Lichfield, a pink and blue logo in the bottom corner.

Stay with Listeners for Longer; Sound Unique

Own the sound of your station. Although that might sound weird on face value, what you play ties into what’s known as radio imaging or sonic branding. Sound effects like voice overs, music beds, sweepers, intros, outros, and jingles give your station a sound design.

Take the UK’s biggest commercial station Capital FM. Fast-paced with pop music and celebrities, their radio imaging matches the overall tone and feel of the high-energy brand. Create your unique sound that listeners can instantly recognise by hiring a full-service audio creative agency.

  • TM Studios: Create a memorable audio package, all under one roof. With a proven track record of hit stations like LA News Radio (KNX 1070 AM), Easy in Miami (WFEZ), Talk News & Sports (AM 620 WJDX), TM Studios knows what it’s doing.
  • Noise Fusion: Audio branding is an artform, one Noise Fusion has got down to a tee. Based in London, they’ve helped UK stations such as Radio X and even TV programmes like entertainment news shows Access.
  • ReelWorld: Since 1994, ReelWorld has been making radio stations sound good. Z100 New York, 103.5 KISS FM, and BBC Radio 1xtra are just a few broadcasters to take on powerful sonic branding.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to commit to hiring audio professionals to design your station’s entire sonic branding, test out the waters first with freelancers on places like Fiverr.

Safeguard Your Station with Licensing

icon--video-button A white man with brown hair and blue eyes sits in front of a Macbook. He is reading and his expression is that of hyperfocus. The background is a white wall with patterned scribbles on it.

Do You Need a License?

Unlike terrestrial radio, you do not need to actually own a license in order to broadcast your stream online.

However, if your station is going to be playing commercial music, as opposed to a talk radio station, you may need to obtain a license in order to fully protect yourself and ensure you are not infringing on anyone else’s copyright. In most cases, the copyright is normally held by the recording artist or record label.

Blanket License

Internet radio station’s cover themselves by paying for what’s known as a “blanket license” or “umbrella license“, it covers their station and allows them to play any type of music.

Most licensee’s like this are paid on a yearly basis and can vary in price depending on the country you are broadcasting from and the countries you will be broadcasting too.

If licenses covering particular countries aren’t in your price range then you can block access from listeners by using “geofencing“, effectively restricting the countries you broadcast to - Radio.co helps you handle this really easily.

Fundamentally, licensing can be confusing, but we’re working on trying to fix this. At the moment we’re in talks with a few licensing bodies in hopes of safeguarding your station if you plan on playing commercial music. In the meantime, if your country isn’t listed below or you want advice, then feel free to reach out to us.

Find Your Licensing Body

Whether you're in the US, UK, Australia, or somewhere in-between, get the info you need to safeguard your station when broadcasting commercial tracks.

Let's Have a Look

Your Media

Any good broadcaster has a back catalogue of tracks. From country to hip-hop, discover places you can download and build your music library.

This is a white studio background with various signs and framed pictures on the wall, with a Macbook in the forefront of the image. The radio.co logo is on the wall in neon on the far right of the image.

Free Music

Although it sounds too good to be true, free to use music does exactly what it says on the tin. Some artists offer their music under Creative Commons, which is a license that gives non-profit organisations permission to use the creator’s work freely.

  • HookSounds: Priding itself on offering the best curated royalty-free music, their “Use & Mention” plan lets you deep-dive into an extensive collection of both well-known and fresh artists.
  • Free Music Archive: Or FMA for short, is a public domain archive of Creative Commons licensed songs. From pop to jazz, download and use any tracks for free.
  • Jamendo Music: Connecting musicians and music lovers together as a community. With more than 500,000 tracks shared by 40,000 artists from over 150 countries, it’s safe to assume there’s something for everyone.
  • NoiseTrade: Built on generosity, there are thousands of artists and labels all in one marketplace. Discover popular artists like Sould Asylum, Cold War Kids, and loads more.
  • ccMixter: Built as an open-source tool for anyone to contribute or download music. The large community now consists of over 45,000 musicians collaborating and sharing their own creations.
  • SoundCloud: The world’s leading social sound platform has over 75 million music curators uploading around 12 hours of audio each minute. Although not all music is free, there’s plenty of variety to keep you searching.
  • Opsound: The free online music library largely consists of instrumental music from various genres, so it’s suited for stations looking for background tracks for shows, jingles, or promotions.

Paid Music

Free to use music offers lots of enjoyable artists, but probably not the ones you or anyone else knows. Find familiar songs through paid music. From Elton John to Bob Dylan, download tunes you know and love.

  • I Like Music: Designed for and built by broadcasting professionals, I Like Music supplies thousands of tracks that range from all time cult classics to new tracks you can’t obtain digitally anywhere else.
  • Beatport: Home to a large collection of electronic music, Beatport is ideal for DJs looking for full sets and mixes from independent artists. With over 1 million tracks and over 120,000 artists, discover exclusive music you won’t find anywhere else.
  • Google Play Music: Just like Apple Music and many other big players, Google have thrown their hat into the music ring. Providing a service aimed at music lovers that want all the latest songs, but on a budget. Just like Spotify, there are endless songs with well over 35 million available.
  • Amazon Music: Every song under the sun is available in both digital and physical formats on the popular online retail goliath. Amazon is still the go to place to buy an album. With millions of artists available, you’re really spoilt for choice

Amass a collection of music you love and store everything in the cloud with Radio.co. Just add your favourite songs using the most common file types, MP3 or AAC, by uploading and organising everything in your dashboard, then get ready to start broadcasting to the world.

Essential Equipment

Most broadcasting setups can get by with just the essentials, like a USB microphone and stand. Depending on the audio quality and type of studio you’re after, we recommend starting off right. Here's a list of suggested starter gear for a more professional sounding broadcast.

Microphone

This is an image of a man with a ginger beard speaking into a purple and black Podcast.co microphone. The background is blue and purple and yellow, and is blurred out. We only see his mouth and the mic.

The Shure SM7B is slowly becoming the de facto mic of choice for broadcasters, but for good reason. With a built-in shock mount, internal pop filter, and simple design, the SM7B has everything you could possibly need in a dynamic mic.

Audio Interface

This is an image of a Focusrite 2i2 audio interface, a small red and black box with various inputs and knobs and buttons on it.

Microphones are power-hungry beasts that need enough voltage to work properly. Use a good interface like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, ideal for the ‘one-man-band’ radio broadcaster.

Boom Arm

This is an image of a man in a plaid blue top and green trousers holding onto a mic attached to a Rode PSA1 Boom arm.

Nobody wants to be hunched over a desk talking into a microphone. Get up close and personal for clearer audio using a boom arm. Whether you’re standing, sitting, or moving about, mic arms like the Rode PSA1 give you the freedom to broadcast the way you want.

Pop Filter

this is a plain black background with a Pop filter in the centre of the image, a rounded sort of grid appearing piece of equipment.

Most built-in pop filters aren’t great (even the SM7B). Reduce harsh-sounding peaks and save your audio with an external one. The InnoGear pop filter clips onto your boom arm and acts as a barrier, ensuring you always sound your best.

Headphones

This is an image of the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones against a plain black backdrop. The headphones have one white inner and are mostly black.

Where would Sherlock Holmes be without trusty Dr Watson? Find the yin to your yang with a good pair of headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO. Comfortable and stylish, go for hours listening to these studio-quality headphones designed for professionals.

Equipment Upgrades

Every radio setup is unique and built to purpose. What may work for others, might not be right for you. One man bands don't necessarily need a mixer with 8 XLR inputs, whereas a simple USB microphone will do the trick.

Whatever type of studio setup you're after, get better insight into what a more advanced professional radio studio setup looks like below.

icon--video-button This is an example image of Radio Station Equipment For A Professional Studio Setup. There is a monitor on the wall on the right. On the main part of the desk is a mixing desk. The background shows blue and black soundpanels.

Want More Equipment Ideas?

We like to nerd out over new tech gear. From audio equipment to actionable ways to grow your listeners, stay one step ahead by following us on YouTube.

Subscribe

Your Schedule Outline

Radio is typically always on, listeners tune in at all hours of the day ready to pick up what you're throwing down. It’s important to understand different communities and audiences have different habits and tastes and that serving the right content and the right time is key for engaging audiences.

Tailoring your playlists and conversations to the time of day will go a long way to ensuring your station is a success, consider these key times in your schedule:

  • Breakfast - A peak switch-on time, you have an opportunity to energize listeners as they prepare for their day. Light-hearted content helps to get the day off to a good start while top-of-the-hour news helps keep listeners informed of the important stories relevant to them. People are busy preparing for their day so remember to keep things light.
  • Lunchtime - Much like breakfast, listeners don’t want to be over-challenged or provoked while preparing their lunch so keep the topics light, play popular music and maintain a friendly attitude.
  • Drivetime - Listeners generally tune in for their commute home and are typically listening more closely to your station so it’s a great opportunity for more thoughtful features and intelligent discussion.
  • Evening & night-time - Mainstream stations typically use this time for more specialist broadcasting, whether that's a specific music genre show or subject debates, this is ideal time to deep dive into your communities niches. A broader range of shows will help broaden your reach to your community.

Ground Your Shows with Daily News

We all want to know what’s going on in the world today. Keep your listeners regularly updated with breaking news.

Do your due diligence by considering your sources. You’re never going to run out of places to find news, either on a local or global level. Set up alerts on your phone, crawl through your RSS feeds, and follow reputable news sources like BBC World News to create your own story listeners will want to know.

Report live or record news segments to repeat on your show with our voice tracker (a nifty tool that lets you record your audio right in your browser). Alternatively, you can let others do the hard work for you. Broadcast a hosted news feed on the hour to all your listeners automatically with Radio.co’s top of hour news bulletin, but without needing to manually schedule events or replace files in your library. Personalise the news with a message at the start and end, and add background music throughout.

icon--video-button This is a white man with brown hair and a brown closely shaven heard. He is talking into a white and red microphone. The background is neutral but appears to be a powerpoint. The borders of this image are purple.

Your Streaming Partner

Wave bye-bye to overly complicated transmitters and say hello to a simple out of the box solution.

Radio.co handles everything in the cloud. Just connect a microphone to your laptop and start broadcasting to your radio station online.

When it comes to broadcasting, it’s just you, us, and your listeners:

  • Source (You): Your computer mixes audio, like your microphone or music, then converts the sound into a constant stream of data packets which are sent to your radio station.
  • Server (Radio.co): When your stream arrives at the server it gets cleaned up, organised, and sent to the right channels, such as mobile apps, players, and directories.
  • Listener (Everyone): Whether at home, in the car, or out for a walk, your listeners can stay connected to your radio station 24/7.

But it's not always been like this. Back in the day, if you wanted to start an internet radio station it would take blood, sweat, and tears. And that's assuming you knew what you were doing.

This is a flow chart illustrating the old more traditional way of broadcasting and creating a radio station. It has 'You' with a green microphone in the centre, and surrounding it are 8 different hexagonal bubbles. They read in order: Your LIsteners, Streaming Server, Website Developer, Scheduling Software, Javascript Player, Encoder, Broadcast Engineer, Radio Automation Software.

Today, that's changed. Radio.co makes broadcasting online easy. Just like Netflix or Hulu, login via your browser to manage your account. Upload tracks, schedule live events, and broadcast globally in minutes.

This is a flow chart illustrating the new, easier way of broadcasting. On the left is a green mic icon that says 'You'. In the middle is the red radio.co logo. On the right is a blue hexagonal logo of a radio that reads 'Your Listeners'.

Support: Get Help When You Need it

Never get lost with the help of Radio.co’s friendly sales and support team. Right from the start, get your questions answered instantly over messenger, or chat with us on the phone in a one-to-one demo. No matter what’s on your mind, we’re always here to help.

Content: In-Depth, But Simple Guides

If you prefer to get stuck in, there are a ton of useful in-depth guides ready to point you in the right direction. From uploading your first file to reaching thousands of listeners, Radio.co has you covered.

Dashboard: Your All-In-One Command Centre

From the moment you login to your station for the first time, you’ll soon realise how easy everything is. At a glance see what’s coming up and discover how well your station is performing. Drill down into your dashboard with plenty of substance, from customisable web players, branded mobile apps, and in-depth reports, there’s enough here for even the most experienced of broadcasters.

Platform: Reliable Hosting Provider

Invest in a partner you can trust. Radio.co’s reliable track record gives you peace of mind. With 99.9% server uptime, regular status reports, and a technical team keeping things ticking over behind the scenes 24/7, you know you’ll always be in safe hands.

Let's Talk Ideas

Take a tour of Radio.co with a one-on-one chat and get all your questions answered.

Book Demo

Take Action

Broadcasting On-Air

Take your idea and run with it. In just a couple of minutes transform your concept into a fully working radio station you can be proud of with the help of Radio.co.

Say Hello to Your New Home

There’s no ‘new car smell’ with online radio, but that doesn’t make it any less special. Right from the start carve out your station’s own identity with a much-needed makeover. Set your name, description, genre, and upload a logo to make the radio dashboard your own.

icon--video-button This is a white man with grey hair and a grey beard. He is pointing at a monitor that reads 'Create & Broadcast Radio Online'.

Broadcasting Tools for Pros

Audio quality has dramatically improved in modern times. You’d be surprised to know AM radio broadcast quality is only 48kbps. FM isn’t much better at 64kbps, and DAB is just a bit better at 96kbps. Whether you want to pay homage to days gone or are looking ahead to the future, set your sound quality all the way up to a crystal clear 320kbps.

Stay informed with your station’s performance with weekly digest emails, a summary of your listener statistics direct to your inbox.

This is an example of how the Radio.co Newsletter appears - it starts off with the Radio.co logo, below it is the customer's name and a list of the customers' radio station's statistics, eg 10221 total listeners. It is a white homepage with coloured icons.

And never repeat yourself with album and artist separation rules. Set a limit on the number of times a track from an album or artist is played within a given time frame.

But it's not just about you. Open your station to listeners with track requests. Using the requests widget, set some ground rules on which tracks you want listeners to see, how many times they can pick a song, and when unplayed tracks expire.

Protect yourself with an extra layer of security. Say who can and can’t stream your station with geo protection, the best way to stop unwanted ears listening or for licensing purposes. Alternatively, target specific listeners by adding them to your ban list. Stop people from copying with ripper protection. Software like Pathfinder and RipCast not only save your stream, but waste your bandwidth, preventing genuine listeners from connecting when your server is full.

Integrate your station with popular tools to get yourself noticed.

  • Go on-demand with podcasts. Turn your shows into downloaded episodes for listeners that may have missed out with either Podcast.co or Mixcloud.
  • Keep listeners updated with what’s happening on your station with automatic tweets. Connect Twitter to publish your ‘Now Playing’ tracks directly to your feed.
  • Get showcased on popular radio and podcast directory TuneIn. Automatically share your track info so listeners can see if you’re playing music or broadcasting a live talk show.

Radio.co Crash Course

Start an internet radio station the right way. With Radio.co, easily upload your favourite music, organise into playlists, and schedule to play at a time that suits you. The best part? Everything is in the cloud, so you don't need your computer running 24/7. Set everything up, then check in every once in a while.

Uploading Media

Organising files into folders, renaming, converting samples rates, and just generally managing media is never fun. Tidy your entire back catalogue automatically by uploading your tracks to the cloud.

Drag and drop files in your browser to quickly add tracks to your station. Categorise all your tracks with tags so you know what’s what. Whether by year, genre, format, or something else entirely, set your own custom tag names for randomising selection within playlists.

icon--video-button This is a white and red graphic that reads 'Uploading media files'

Crafting Playlists

Demonstrate your broadcasting skills by weaving together playlists listeners will love. For the purists out there, add just tracks from your media library one by one for concrete sets or go deeper to keep things fresh by using tags to randomly select files. Whatever you choose, keep playlists diverse and engaging with a combination of music, talk, jingles, and news to build professional shows.

icon--video-button This is a white and red graphic that reads 'Creating station playlists'

Scheduling Shows

Schedule what you want to broadcast, and when. Choose the day, time, duration, and whether you want events to repeat. They say all good things come in threes. Select an event type, either connect a live DJ, relay another stream, or air the selected playlist. Show what’s playing on your players, apps, and radio directories with track information, or show the playlist. If your shows are just a bit too long then cut them off on time with overrun. The current track ends, so the next scheduled event can start.

icon--video-button This is a plain red and white graphic reading 'Station scheduling'. On the left is a computer monitor image, faded.

Stop, Collaborate and Listen

Not everybody has the option of being in the same room when presenting shows together. Whether you have a co-host out of town, a last minute change, or even a guest in another country, both you and your presenters can record from anywhere and in different locations using Radio.co.

  • Radio made simple. Presenters get an email with a link to join
  • No software needed, just record directly in the browser
  • Shows are automatically stored after each recording
  • Broadcast shows multiple times so nobody misses out

Go one step further and hand the reins over to your team. Invite colleagues, friends, or family to manage your station when you’re not around.

Everything you can do, your team can too. From uploading tracks to broadcasting live, give permissions to the right people. Don’t want your guest DJ uploading music or viewing reports? Limit what they can do with user roles. Appoint your station manager to control everything, set a music controller to manage your schedule, and just let DJs broadcast live.

icon--video-button This is a plain red and white graphic reading 'Inviting and Scheduling DJs'

Broadcast Live Anywhere, Anytime

Everywhere is your radio station. With a laptop and microphone in hand, turn your dining room, back office, and practically anywhere else into a studio. Go live in seconds at the click of a button using Radio.co Broadcaster. Live takeovers covering breaking news are a breeze, or broadcast entire talk shows from the comfort of your home.

Break free from stuffy old rooms by taking shows out on the open road. No matter where you are, broadcast from your iPhone using PocketStreamer. Be just like a real-life news reporter and go live in 3… 2... 1!

We’re all only human and make mistakes from time to time. In the industry, dead air is the equivalent of a red card, but online radio gives you peace of mind by running your shows in the background 24/7. If disaster strikes during a live show, be it hardware malfunction, loss in internet connection, or you just have to leave early, Radio.co automatically takes over with your custom curated playlists. No matter what happens, your listeners never miss out.

icon--video-button A plain white and red graphic reading in white font 'Broadcasting Live'

Get Setup in Minutes

Make Radio.co work for you. Upload tracks, craft playlists, and build a hub for your listeners.

Try Free for 7 Days

Reach Listeners

Growing Your Station

With a solid plan of action, build a following to elevate your radio station. Start interesting conversations, promote exciting shows, and make your broadcasts accessible for the masses.

Go beyond your comfort zone by reaching listeners where they are. Create a presence on social media, design your own custom iPhone and Android apps, reach out to like-minded influencers, or even get featured on the local news.

More choice means more open doorways to your radio station. And as they say, variety is the spice of life. Empower your audience by giving them the tools needed to always stay connected.

Share and Get Discovered by Listeners

Building a radio station is one thing, attracting listeners is another. Luckily Radio.co gives you the tools to draw in a crowd, all from the comfort of your home.

Always Stay Connected with Website Players

Automatically play your station for your website visitors with stylish custom players. Lovingly craft yours with the player builder, the easiest way to create and distribute access to your station.

This is the way a Custom branded player will appear - at the top it has a orange and white banner of the Now Playing and Discover widgets. Below is the album art for 'Paint It Black' by The Rolling Stones, a gorilla with red lips and its tongue out.

Just like a swiss army knife, the player gives you an arsenal of handy tools. Add social sharing buttons so listeners can talk about your station on Twitter or Facebook, disable track info to always keep your brand front and centre, and pop out your player so visitors can stay tuned, even when they leave your website. The best part? Copy, paste, and publish to your website, all without fiddling with a single line of code.

Get Discovered on Popular Radio Directories

One of the biggest challenges radio stations face today is getting found. Grow your community by being where your listeners are. Increase your chances of getting discovered by getting featured in online radio directories.

With dozens of popular destinations like Streema, TuneIn, Mixcloud, and Dirble, the team here at Radio.co can help you find and get listed on these places and more in no time.

Go Mobile with Branded iPhone & Android Apps

Create a home for your radio station on your listener’s phones. With over 3.5 billion people carrying smartphones in their pocket, now is the perfect time to go mobile. Design and build sleek custom iPhone and Android apps, all without any coding experience.

This is a picture of an example station, FeelGood, on a Smartphone homepage. It has multiple arrows pointing out where one can add their own logo, app colour and own icon etc etc.

Submit your app’s design and we’ll do the rest. From building your own custom apps for iPhone, iPad, and all Android devices, we do the hard work for you. In the end your branded apps will be available across The App Store and Google Play for everyone to download and enjoy.

Alexa, Play My Favourite Radio Station

According to Amazon, there are now more than 100 million Alexa devices. People are talking to smart speakers to order online, stay connected with friends, and listen to music. As homes get smarter, so should your radio station.

Create your own unique skill so listeners can tune into your station, all without lifting a finger.

Become a Household Name

Just exactly who are you anyway? Warm up listeners the right way by creating a killer brand nobody can resist. From identity to tone of voice, make your radio station stick in people’s minds.

Get inspired by others to see how you can craft the perfect mission statement, choose the right colours, sound your best with sonic branding, and design the perfect logo to become a household name.

Turn Your Passion into a Side Business

Monetise your shows by turning listeners into customers. But let’s face it, there’s no get rich quick scheme when it comes to making a profit from radio. It takes hard work, dedication, and a good plan to follow. Whatever route you take, rest assured there are more ways than one to turn your passion into a full-time business.

  • Advertisements: Tried and tested, ads are short promos from businesses wanting to talk to your listeners. Whether local or global, give companies looking to get noticed a platform, whilst making a profitable return.
  • Sponsorships: Throw your hat into the ring and endorse products or services you care about. Strike a deal with companies for host read ads, usually mentioned throughout your show.
  • Affiliate programmes: Earn off the back of businesses. Companies like online retail stores pay based on number of clicks or percentage of sales made through you.
  • Donations: Ask your community to show their support. Using platforms like GoFundMe and Patreon, raise capital to cover streaming costs, buy new equipment, or other ways to invest back into your radio station.
  • Merchandise: Get your brand noticed, start a side-business. Places like Merchify and Bands on a Budget let you design and create custom merchandise like t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and much more.

Make Money Broadcasting

Turn your hobby into a side business. Take a page from others, whether sponsorships, crowdsourcing, or merchandise, there are more ways than one to make a bit of cash.

Stations Making Bank

Success Stories

People from all walks of life are using online radio to broadcast their message. Businesses are adding more value to their existing services, schools are creating safe learning experiences for students, and passionate broadcasters are turning their hobby into a full-time business.

Whatever your goal, get inspired by leading innovators already making the most of online radio.

Melodic Distraction: Community Focused

Melodic Distraction started in 2015. The founders met outside a bar and formulated a mad idea to start a party at Liverpool venue Constellations. Booking loads of DJs and spending way too much money on decor, the idea just carried on from there.

Over time things escalated. They were blogging about the local music scene, planning events, and it fell into place that they became a radio station. Now situated in the heart of Liverpool, they have regular and one-off special guests broadcasting from their studio that make up their growing monthly shows.

"Online radio has allowed us to go from 7 shows a month to 65. We make more killer shows, listeners get extra content."
icon--video-button This is an image from behind of two people stood in front of laptops and mixing desks. One is a man with an orange plaid shirt on and short brown hair. The other is wearing a green fleece and is bent down out of view.

Anderton Tiger: Educational

More than a radio station, Anderton Tiger offers educational services to help students learn real-world skills. At the forefront is Russell Howard, a man on a mission to get young people engaged when it comes to crafting their own stories. With the help of Radio.co, Anderton Tiger shows just how easy it is to create, broadcast, and connect with others.

"The beauty of radio is no one cares what you look like. It’s all about performance and collaboration, which is vital in building healthy characteristics in young students."
icon--video-button This is an image of the Anderton Tiger studio. It has a grey background. In the back of the image there is an orange microphone. There is a laptop screen and keyboard on a pink desk. There's another desk containing more audio equipment.

Soho Radio: Brand Awareness

A community station broadcasting from a coffee shop?! Stations come in all shapes and sizes, take Soho Radio which broadcasts from the heart of a small cafe in Soho, London. In one of the most creative hubs in the world, there's no better place to get inspired and share community-driven stories, music, and hot new mixes.

"People have come all over the world to visit because they’ve heard us online."
icon--video-button This is an image of the Soho radio studio from the outside, a black building with a neon Soho Radio sign in the window. The rest of the image is blurred.

Music for Pets: Premium Services

No one likes an unhappy kitty cat. Music For Pets helps cats and dogs overcome their anxiety with online radio for happier, healthier lifestyles.

"Radio adds more value to our services because it’s an easy way for customers to consume content."
icon--video-button This is an image of a Jack Russell Terrier with his head on one side. He is a brown and white dog with a black nose. The background is neutral.

St James & Emmanuel: Religious

The biggest challenge churches face is getting heard. The St James & Emmanuel church use radio to reach a congregation of millions. From local sermons to global listeners, religious broadcasters are reaching followers wherever they are.

"Our daily online radio service brings loads of traffic onto our website and starts lots of interesting conversations."
icon--video-button This is an image of stained glass windows, blue white and pink, at the St James Emmanuel Church

Conclusion

That's plenty to sink your teeth into. But if you're a bit turned around, there's never any shame in asking for a hand. As you've got to this point, chances are you're committed and looking to start an internet radio station of your own (or you just skim read incredibly fast).

Whatever the case, we've got your back. Either let us know what's on your mind in the comments below, or drop our team a message.

Got Questions?

Get quick answers about what we can do for you. No obligation, just a helping hand.

Let's Talk

Ready to get started?

Join over 50,000 broadcasters who chose Radio.co

Smiling radio broadcaster

Create your station in less than 60 seconds, for free.

Pick a plan, cancel anytime, no hardware needed

Smiling radio broadcaster

Take a tour with a radio specialist and ask us anything.

No obligation, just a helping hand