I have been sent a yearly review from Soundart Radio – I did an interview there last year (details/playlist) and I felt it was a strong and ambitious project. I hope it keeps going.
Extract of review below:
Soundart Radio launched, under a student radio licence, in November 2006. On an initial budget of £4,500, the studio was equipped with a second-hand broadcast desk, new microphones, headphones, transmitter and aerial as well as all relevant licences to operate an analogue radio station. Concurrent to the launch, the station submitted a detailed application to the Office of Communication (Ofcom) for a community radio licence. The station was awarded a five year licence in February 2007. In awarding the licence, Ofcom stated:
â€Soundart Radio’s arts-based programming proposals were considered to be particularly strong in relation to broadening choice (1c). The group set out well-developed proposals for the delivery of ‘social gain’, (1e), which were especially strong in relation to the facilitation of discussion and expression of opinion, as well as in relation to developing the better understanding of the community and the strengthening of links within it. In relation to its accountability to the community, (1f), Soundart Radio set out a number of ways in which members of the target community could influence the operation of the service. Its proposals concerning the provision of access to, and training in, the use of station facilities, (1g) were also considered to be appropriate.â€
Volunteers and governance
The station is a social enterprise group run by volunteers. It is governed by a constitution overseen by a steering group comprising seven members. In April 2008, the project will start trading as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee called Soundart Radio Limited. The company currently has four directors and is seeking to expand this number.
The Future
Soundart Radio currently operates under a student licence (officially called a Long-Term Restricted Special Licence). This means that the station broadcasts on a very weak analogue transmission signal within a small geographical area (the DCA campus). The granting of a community radio licence will enable the station to broadcast on a much stronger transmission signal, covering a wider geographical area, therefore substantially increasing the size of audience. Ofcom estimates this audience size to be somewhere in the region of 40,000 people over the age of 15.
Ofcom regulations state that groups awarded a community licence must have their community radio stations up and running within two years of receiving the award. In this case, Soundart Radio must secure the appropriate funds and infrastructure in order to re-launch by February 2009. Soundart Radio will have the opportunity to apply for an automatic licence extension in 2014 for a further five years.
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