How can I get into the radio broadcasting business?

Question

How can I get into the radio broadcasting business?

Answer 1

I'm not sure where you are from but if your in the UK, buy Chris Moyles book! It's really funny and he describes how he got into the business and became a top bloke and savior of BBC radio 1 in England.

I am a radio presenter for a local station, only as a cover-in, along side my main job. I started with volunteering at my local hospital, and kept on bugging the local stations for any work placements or jobs opening. It just so happened that someone who worked for the local station heard me at the hospital radio and helped me make a demo to send off to the producers. It all went from there for me...

Most of the people I work with studied Broadcasting at Uni, it's a very popular course here in England but very difficult to get into.

Whatever route you take, you will need experience.. try your local hospital... even supermarket!

Good luck!

Answer 2

I'd agree with gatefan.  When I wanted to get into radio I started calling all the local stations in my area.  I got a tour with the Top 40 station in town.  I called the PD back then next day and thanked him for the tour.  He said that if I was serious about getting into radio that I could start out as a board op on Sunday mornings running the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown.  I took the job and 3 years later I ended up being the PD without ever spending a day in radio school.  10 years later I am still in radio, but have since moved on to a bigger market.        

Experience far outweighs education in the radio business.  As someone smarter than me once said, "you can't teach talent."  Either you have talent or you don't.  A good PD could tell you up front whether a career in radio is right for you.

Understand that chances are you will NOT get rich in this business.  There are plenty of other careers that will get you the big house and new car, radio is not one of them.  There are a few exceptions and maybe you will be one, but don't count on it.  All my friends have big houses and make twice as much as me.  People do radio because it beats working for a living.    

I would suggest calling the stations in your area that you like and asking for a tour.  Ask if there are any entry level job openings.  Tell the PD you would be willing to do whatever it takes to get into the business.  Then go from there.  Good luck!

Answer 3

Visit the radio stations in your area and let them know you're interested in broadcasting.  If nothing else, most stations will at least offer you a tour of the facilities.  Let them know you want to go to work and more than likely you'll be filling out an application in no time.

Stations are always hiring board ops for weekends, overnights and special programming ...Hey, it's grunt work and not at all glamorous, but it IS a way to get your foot in the door.

Know this going in, however, the larger the market the tougher it is to break in.  For example, if you want a radio job in New York, Chicago or Atlanta, you're going to have a lot more competition when it comes to finding an opening.  In Podunk Junction, US, on the other hand, if you show up on time, can talk "gooder anglish", and show the capacity to learn how to punch buttons on a console at the appropriate times, you'll almost always get an entry level job.

If you want to do sales for radio you can almost always find a job, especially if you have any sales experience.

Good Luck and happy broadcasting!