How To Start An Internet Radio Station And Make Money

Have you ever wanted to know how to start an Internet radio station and make money? Well, that is what this post is all about. Here you will learn how to get started with your Internet radio station and some of the best ways to make money from it.

You do not have to be a professional to launch an Internet radio station. Anyone can do this but there are a few things to consider such as the equipment you will need and complying with the law. So, follow this step-by-step guide to setting up your own Internet radio station and monetizing it in the best way.

1. What kind of Internet Radio Station?

What is your idea for an Internet radio station? You need to think through what your station will be about and how big you want it to be. Think about the kind of partners that you want to work with for sponsorship.

Is your Internet radio station going to play music or will it all be talking and interviews etc? What are the topics that your radio station will cover? What hours of the day will it be available? Are you going to do everything yourself?

2. Give your Radio Station a Brand

The best way to make money from an Internet radio station is to broadcast to a specific audience. You need to come up with a consistent message that your audience can relate to and give your station a brand name.

It is essential that you have a website associated with your Internet radio station and you need to get a domain name that reflects your brand. As a lot of the good .com extension names have gone, you may want to settle on your brand name once you know what domains are available. Check that you are not infringing and copyright or trademark laws with your branding.

3. Check Music Copyright Laws

If you intend to play music on your Internet radio station then you need to ensure that you comply with the relevant music copyright laws. It is very likely that you will need to acquire a license to play music on your station and these can be expensive.

One thing that you could do is just to play copyright free or royalty free music. There are a number of different places where you can find this and one of the best is the YouTube Audio Library. There are other websites where you can find royalty free music as well – just use your favorite search engine to find them.

There is a very useful resource on the laws associated with an Internet radio station in the United States. It is a blog on broadcast law and it has a lot of helpful articles. Another site that you can check out for answers to music copyright questions is CopyNot.org.

4. Get the Right Equipment

You do not need to invest thousands in equipment for your Internet radio station but you will need good quality equipment. Top of the list here is a decent microphone. Go for good quality headphones as well.

There is no need for you to purchase a complex mixing desk when you are getting started. You can find software that you can use for a low price which is a much better option in the beginning. When you are really doing well with your station you can upgrade your equipment.

5. How to Start an Internet Radio Station and Make Money – Sell Ad Spots on air

After you have built up a good following for your Internet radio station you can start to sell ads that you will broadcast on the air. You can approach local businesses that would benefit from this and you can offer to read their ad for them or you can play a recording that they have made.

To convince a local business to invest in ads you will need to prove that you have a lot of listeners in their target market. Show them your social media accounts and all of the followers that you have. Having the right metrics to show potential advertisers is essential.

6. Have a Show Sponsored by a Client

There are many YouTube creators that get brands to sponsor them and at the start of the video you will see that it is sponsored by XYZ company. The presenter of the video may also mention the company at the beginning.

You can do the same thing with your Internet radio station. The company can provide you with a pre-recorded message that you agree to play a specific number of times or you can speak on their behalf such as “this show is sponsored by XYZ company (there would usually be a tagline to follow).

7. Other ways to Monetize your Internet Radio Station

Here are some other monetization ideas for you to consider for your Internet radio station:

• Accept advertising on your website
• Run infomercials for clients
• Organize gigs and other online events
• Create and sell merchandise
• Get donations
• Provide endorsements

Now that you know how to start an Internet radio station and make money from it you need to take action. It is a big commitment so you need to plan everything in as much detail as possible. Get the word out to promote your new Internet radio station.