Okay, is there anyone listening to the radio anymore? You may be asking this question out of concern for the industry as a participant. Perhaps, you run an online radio station and can't seem to figure out why your audience numbers are not up!

 

The continual rise and adoption of new music streaming platforms such as Spotify also seems to pose a danger to radio. Podcasts may be said to compete with radio for a share of the audience's attention. Radio has been around for over 100 years, and it is as old-school as it gets. That’s why you may be also questioning if radio is still popular. 

 

We will use a fact-based method to determine if radio is still popular by looking at radio listenership statistics from 2019 to 2021. You'll also see reasons why radio is still popular: 

## **Radio listening statistics 2019**

 

According to the [Nielsen Total Audience Report, Q1 2019: ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mediapost.comhttps://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/NielsenTotalAudienceReportQ12019.pdf)

● Radio reached an audience of 92% every week in the US far surpassing other media platforms, including streaming on smartphones with a share of 50%, satellite radio 16%, and streaming audio on tablets 20%. 

● All adults (18 years +) spent about 1 hour and 42 minutes listening to the radio, with those 18 to 24 spending 1 hour 20 minutes, and 50 to 64 years old spending the most time at 2 hours 5 minutes. 

● Regarding the total time spent per platform, radio listenership came second in every age bracket to Live+ and Time-shift TV. 

Based on [RAJAR Findings Q4 2019](https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/02/rajar-q4-2019-new-record-for-digital-radio-listening/) for the UK market: 

● Listening on DAB radio for the first time surpassed listening through FM; 

● Radio listenership via online and apps experienced a growth of 30%, and accounted for 12.5% of all listenership for radio in [Q4 201](https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/02/rajar-q4-2019-new-record-for-digital-radio-listening/)9

## **Radio listening statistics 2020**

2020 was a defining year for the radio industry. Normal listenership habits were disrupted, birthing new insights. Nielsen noted the presence of two sets of consumers, those that remained mobile throughout because they were often essential workers, and the second class of consumers that contributed to a decline of automobile listenership because they largely remained at home. For instance, there was a notable decrease in listenership in April and May, but Neilsen predicted a recovery come fall. Now, here are some relevant radio listenership statistics for 2020. 

 

According to [The Infinite Dial 2020](https://www.edisonresearch.com/wp-contenthttps://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/2020/03/The-Infinite-Dial-2020-from-Edison-Research-and-Triton-Digital.pdf) Report by Edison Research: 

● Over 220 million residents over the age of 12 years in the USA were aware of smart speakers

● 42% of 18 to 34-year-olds owned about one to three radios, with 6% owning four radios or more

 

According to [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/761889/daily-time-spent-radio/)’s US Media Use time: 

● The average daily time spent listening to the radio per adult in the US from 2015 to 2020 entailed 111 minutes (Q1, 2015), 112 (Q1, 2016), 111 (Q1, 2017), 106 (Q1, 2018), 102 (Q1, 2019), and 99 (Q1, 2020). 

[RadioCentre’s research](https://www.radiocentre.org/wp-contenthttps://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/2020/05/OEM_Radiocentre_Infographics_32.pdf) interestingly noted that: 

● Commercial radio listeners were listening more to radio than pre-pandemic levels; 

● 90% of respondents stated that radio helped them keep in touch with the outside world, with 84% stating that it kept them company;

The On the Road to Recovery [with Am/Fm Radio Report by  Nielsen](https://www.nielsen.com/wp-contenthttps://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/On-the-Road-to-Recovery-with-AMFM-Radio.pdf) further revealed that: : 

● Radio had a reach of 88% in [Q3, 2020](https://content.nielsen.com/2021/report/totalaudience/march/pdf) among users aged 18 years+; 

● In fall 2020 (Oct), Radio listenership was 97% of what it was in pre-covid levels in March 2020. 

● Most of the radio listenership continued to be out of home, with home listenership contributing to a 29% share in March, 38% in May, and 31% in October.

## **Radio listening statistics 2021**

According to[ NZ Commercial Radio Ratings](https://www.gfk.com/hubfs/ANZ MEDIA/NZ/press_releases/2021/S1 2021/kadGfK NZ Commercial Radio Ratings Media Release S1 2021.pdf): 

● 82% of New Zealand’s population or 3.73 million aged 10 years+ tuned in to radio each week, with 76% tuning in to commercial radio, as of Q1 2021 metrics; 

● The average listener tuned in for a total of 16 hours 8 minutes.

 

Stay updated on this year’s radio listenership figures. RAJAR announced that it would be publishing its Q3 2021 figures on October 27th, 2021, with Q4 figures expected by 2nd February 2021. 

## Why is Radio Still Popular? 

Is radio dying in 2020? No, and it's clear from the various statistics and industry reports that radio is as resilient as ever. It continues to connect with more consumers than any other platform. Now you may ask: Why is radio still popular? 

### 1) **It has a prime position on the center car console**

Think about it, listening to the radio is pretty much straightforward from the moment you step into a car. Most radio listenership still takes place inside vehicles, with programs oriented for the car listener, including morning and afternoon drive time shows. In-car listenership is appealing to advertisers because radio listeners are away from home and near areas where they make the most purchases. 

### 2) **Free & ubiquitous**

Listening to the radio is pretty much free because it's advertiser-funded, unlike with some streaming platforms. The capacity and capability to listen to radio stations is ubiquitous as listeners can tune in through their phones, car consoles, Hi-Fi systems, smart speakers, and any internet-enabled device with audio capabilities. 

### 3) **New delivery platforms**

Radio is quite adaptable and has shown its resilience by being present on newer delivery platforms. For instance, with the adoption of digital car dashboards, listeners can still tune in to internet radio stations or DAB stations.  

### 4) **Mass appeal**

Radio has a general appeal to all audiences and demographics. That means that while a radio station may have a core demographic, it may still draw younger and older generations. 

### 5) **Music discovery** 

Many people still use the radio as a tool for music discovery, even if they still listen to on-demand audio through music streaming platforms.  

### 6) **Radio is more than Music**

You can never get the same experience listening to on-demand content as you get with live radio. Listeners get to form a special bond with the presenters. Radio also plays an important role in our social life by hosting political debates, interviews, and discussions. It's also quite informative with educational programs, traffic updates, weather forecasts, and news. 

## **Are Internet Radio Stations Becoming Popular?**

Online radio listenership has been steadily climbing in the last decade.  Statista reports that the share of online monthly radio listeners in the US has been steadily rising with more US consumers having listened to online radio than before. 

 

Admittedly listening online is set to become more popular because of various reasons. 

 

People are becoming acquainted with online radio stations as terrestrial radios promote their apps. The proliferation of smart speakers has similarly made online radio more accessible. Radio stations can create their own skills, making it easier for listeners to add various radio stations to their smart speakers.  

## **Bottom Line** 

It’s clear that audiences are still listening, and replacing radio entirely is impossible. While there has been increased competition for the limited audience attention, the only way to survive is to find more ways to keep listeners coming back by creating engaging content. 

Wondering if people are still listening to the radio? Let's find out by looking at recent statistics. 

Is anyone listening to the radio anymore?

Headlines sell newspapers. 

Similarly, a catchy radio or podcast episode title can compel listeners to stop browsing through the directory and click on your show. 

In turn, you get more listeners, and everyone is happy. 

Coming up with original and attractive episode titles may not be straightforward. Your usual process may entail coming up with several title ideas, crossing out the dull ones until you find something noteworthy. 

Sometimes you stumble on great titles, and other times you pick the least desirable option. 

We want to recharge your creative juices by presenting 12 episode title ideas with examples from actual shows. 

Let's get started: 

## 12 Catchy Radio & Podcast Episode Title Ideas

Before we begin, you may appreciate a little back story on how we found these great naming strategies. 

We combed through hundreds of podcast episodes, looking for titles that automatically jumped out of the page. Titles that made us want to stop and listen. 

Examining the titles revealed the underlying formulas used in creating them. You can use the same process to expand on our list. So—here are some episode title ideas for your next project: 
### 1) Pose a thought-provoking question
Posing your title as a thought-provoking question can spark a fascinating discussion on a heavy topic. It can even contribute to a better episode, as you will have fresh perspectives on a problem. 

The first example of a thought-provoking question used effectively as an episode title comes from the podcast Land of the Giants. It asks, “Should we break up Google?”

The creators pose this question because it's virtually impossible to go online without using Google's products. It plays into the ongoing debate of the power of big tech and its overwhelming influence.  

![1. Come up with catchy episode titles - Example with Land of the Giants.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/1_Come_up_with_catchy_episode_titles_Example_with_Land_of_the_Giants_ea593a94f8.png)

Hidden Brain also had this thought-provoking question on a recent podcast asking, “We Broke the Planet. Now What?” 

![2. Create better episode titles - Example with Hidden Brain.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/2_Create_better_episode_titles_Example_with_Hidden_Brain_d71e4e48f2.png)

### 2) Mention well-known guests
If you are interviewing someone well known to your audience, you can mention their name as part of the title. 

SmartLess uses celebrity guest names as episode titles, for instance, “Tom Hanks and Joe Buck.” 

![3. Creating effective episode ideas - example with Smartless.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/3_Creating_effective_episode_ideas_example_with_Smartless_b43f0a72fd.png)

Some take this advice to mean that you should only mention celebrities.

As long as someone has done something notable and generated public interest, make it a requirement to include their name. For instance, you can still mention a relatively unknown author. 
### 3) Talk directly to listener, “You”
The advice here is quite simple.

Talk directly to the listener by including a “You” in the episode title. It creates a bond and enhances rapport and trust. 

The Mindset Mile podcast effectively did this by naming their 30th episode as “Being You is Your Superpower.” 
![4. How to create catchy radio station programs - Example with The Mindset Mile.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/4_How_to_create_catchy_radio_station_programs_Example_with_The_Mindset_Mile_7ee4a896db.png)

### 4) This vs. This (Comparisons)
Comparisons are rather intriguing because they have an element of conflict. The listener is invested in discovering who will come out on top. That's why this particular podcast title by Land of the Giants again caught our attention, “ Netflix vs. Hollywood.”

In the actual episode, it’s not a requirement to compare two things. But if you’re weighing the benefits, wrongs, or circumstances facing two or more groups, you can effectively use the comparison title format. 

For instance, if you’re discussing voting blocs in the country, you can title the show “Middle America Vs. The East Coast - Who Decides the Election?” 

![5. Example of comparison headline idea.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/5_Example_of_comparison_headline_idea_e5a610bee4.png)

### 5) Storytelling
Does your episode revolve around narrating a story that took place: a murder, a crime, a genocide? 

Use this highly intriguing approach by giving a summary of a story that's taking place. 

Baking A Murder utilizes this approach in their catchy titles, such as “She snuck into a psychiatric study & found “patient #5” went missing.” 
![6. Episode idea formated as storyline.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/6_Episode_idea_formated_as_storyline_f800689c9e.png)

### 6) Touch on sensitive issues 
If you're creating good content, you undoubtedly touch on sensitive topics, whether it's politics, dating, relationships, or health. 

Girls Gotta Eat titled their podcast episode as “Are you dating a narcissist? Feat. Dr. Ramani Durvasula.” 

For maximum emotional impact, they pose the question directly to the listener. They could have taken another direction with the title, but you can agree that this is more effective. 
![7. Touch on sensitive issues.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/7_Touch_on_sensitive_issues_15202adc57.png)
### 7) Make it official & authoritative-sounding 
Come off as authoritative with an official-sounding title. You can take the direction of “Morbid, a True Crime” podcast. Their super catchy podcast episode title begins with “Morbid Network Presents….”  You can also consider other terms such as: 
Introducing
- Research
- Advice
- Study
- Secret
- Sneak-peek
![8. official & authoritative-sounding episode headlines.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/8_official_and_authoritative_sounding_episode_headlines_2d2ae9c1c6.png)
### 8) Add a bit of drama
Your titles should be exciting, emotional, and unexpected. That's the literal definition of drama.

The Ramsey Show does this in their intriguing podcast episode titles such as “My Husband Is Hiding Cash in a Secret Bank Account, The Secret to Happiness Is Lowered Expectations, and My Sister Wasn’t in Dad’s Will.” 

Their radio show delves into straight-up financial talk and runs for about 3 hours on 1510 WLAC. We like that the titles give their repurposed content a much more significant impact.   
![9. Writing a dramatic headline.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/9_Writing_a_dramatic_headline_36189592ac.png)
### 9) Be mysterious, don’t give it away soon 
Another way to entice people to listen to your radio or podcast episode is to remain mysterious. Don’t give away too much, and allow listeners to discover what happened. 

You can try this technique now and then, but make sure your titles are not all “clickbait.” Freakonomics  implemented this technique well with the intriguing title, “That's a great question!” 

![10. Example of episode title from Freakonomics Radio.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/10_Example_of_episode_title_from_Freakonomics_Radio_98222eec38.png)

### 10) Negative headlines 
Negative headlines outperform positive headlines. A study by Outbrain concluded that headlines with negative superlatives received [60% more engagement](http://www.outbrain.com/blog/2013/07/headlines-when-the-best-brings-the-worst-and-the-worst-brings-the-best.html?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BrainpowerWeekly-2014-2February19(LT)%20(1)&utm_content=) than positive counterparts. The brain tends to register and react more to negative stimuli. 

Radio Headspace focuses on wellness topics with plenty of positive episode titles. Admittedly, the headline that caught our attention reads “The Dark Side of the Mind.”
![11. Negative headline example.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/11_Negative_headline_example_71fdc01edd.png)
### 11) Scary & mythical 
Scary and mythical titles can draw the listener's attention more than ordinary and plain headlines. That's the direction BBC World Service took by naming their interview with Ariel Dorfman, a prominent novelist, as “Ghosts of the past.” It has a nice ring to it too. 
![12. Scary & mythical titles.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/12_Scary_and_mythical_titles_68be87fde1.png)

### 12) Scandalous
Can you think of something more intriguing than a scandal? Scandals are particularly fascinating because they are fundamentally, legally, and morally wrong. They cause anger and outrage, which are powerful emotions. 

The All American Scandal podcast writes scandalous headlines such as “LA Steals Its Water and The Clinton-Lewinsky Affair | Forbidden Love.” 
![13. All American Scandal Example 1.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/13_All_American_Scandal_Example_1_778db9ef22.png)
![14. All American Scandal Example 2.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/14_All_American_Scandal_Example_2_6f3c732d30.png)

## Things to Consider As You Name Your Radio and Podcast Episodes 
You now have some ideas on how to format your radio and podcast titles.  The learning does not end here.  There are other things to know, such as the recommended title lengths and whether you should write the episode numbers. Let's consider the tips;  
### Tip 1: Start with the title
Start with the title first before producing the entire episode. The heading can help guide the direction the show will take. 
### Tip 2: Keep it short
You should always keep your podcast and radio episode titles short and to the point. So what's the ideal podcast episode title length? Shoot for about 60 characters with spaces.
### Tip 3: Base the title on the most exciting aspect of the show
Select the most interesting part of the episode and base your title around that. It’s sure to work with interviews or call-in shows.  
### Tip 4: Think of the target audience
You should have a clearly defined target audience to write great titles effectively. 
●Are you appealing to 25 to 34-year-olds? 
●Is your content directed towards musicians, chess players, or parents? 

Once you know who you’re targeting, think of things they will find appealing. 
### Tip 5: Optimize your episode titles for SEO
You should consider making your episode titles optimized for SEO, which stands for search engine optimization —the art of trying to get found on Google, Bing, and other search engines.

The best way to optimize your podcast titles is to include search terms users may use to find the content. You can also think of questions they may ask. For instance, if your podcast goes into cooking pizza, you can use relevant search terms such as Pizza recipes.  
### Tip 6: Avoid clickbait - Deliver what you have promised
You should avoid clickbait as much as you can. The title should promise and deliver without misleading listeners about the nature of the content.   Clickbait content often makes users feel cheated.
### Tip 7: How to handle titles with “Episode Numbers.” 
Should you start your episode titles with “Episode 1: or similar.?” Or is it better to put the episode information at the end of the title. 

The advice is to avoid beginning with the episode information. On most podcast directories, listeners can only see about 25 to 30 characters. The rest of the title is truncated. 

If you want to include the episode number, consider a short version such as “30...” not “Episode 30….” 
### Tip 8: Experiment and have more variety 
Don't just stick to one format, such as posing each episode title as a question. Each episode delves into different topics and content. So, aim to have different podcast titles, each optimized for maximum effectiveness. 
### Tip 9: Analyze the effectiveness of your titles
You should keep analyzing the effectiveness of your podcast and radio episode titles. Different platforms offer listenership metrics, such as completion rates. 

You can draw various insights by looking at the data. If your content is drawing plenty of listeners, but people don’t listen for too long, you may consider improving the accuracy of the title to match the content or placing important information closer to the start. You may offer a preview or tease to keep people listening.

## Bottom line 

As you write more podcast or radio episode titles, you'll find that you'll get better and better.

Continue practicing, ask for feedback, and learn from other shows. 

That’s all for today. If you need radio hosting services, take a look at our affordable [services here. ](https://www.cloudrad.io/radio-hosting)

You can draw more listeners for your radio station or podcast by coming up with catchy episode titles. Find out how. 


How to Create Catchy Radio Program & Podcast Episode Titles

Are you planning to produce a radio drama or audio drama for your podcast show? 

This guide covers essential topics a beginner should know. We’ll cover:  

● What is a radio drama? 

● Which unique features and characteristics does it have? 

● Past and future of radio dramas

● Tips on writing a radio/audio drama script

● Producing a radio drama

● 10 ideas for audio and radio dramas with examples

 

So if you're all in,  let's dive straight in
- ----


## **Chapter 1: Introduction to Radio Dramas**

Audio dramas are experiencing a resurgence in popularity as the ear delights gradually win over podcast listeners. 

 

With sound elements only, the audio dramas evoke real-life scenes in the theatre of the mind. Listeners recreate characters in their own image and visualize their actions, akin to enjoying a good novel. The possibilities are limitless. 

 

In this first chapter, we are looking at the fundamentals of radio dramas. So let's get started. 

### **What is a radio drama?** 

A radio drama is a performance of fictional work distributed on the radio. It's entirely acoustic-based with no visual components. Audiences understand what is happening through dialogue, sound effects, and music. They give the story form by visualizing the settings and characters. 

 

Audio dramas may be fictional works written explicitly for radio broadcasting or podcasting. Alternatively, they may be adapted from theatre plays, novels, short stories, etc.

 

Now, there's often a need to write audio dramas specifically for radio because theatre plays rely on what the audience can see on stage.  

### **Unique Characteristics of Radio Dramas Compared to Theatre Plays** 

Here are some unique characteristics of audio dramas, which make them unique compared to theatre plays:

● Audio dramas are entirely dependent on sound (sound effects,  music tracks, and dialogue) to convey emotions, ideas, and action; 

● Sound effects and thematic music convey the setting, which may be anywhere from  outer space to the inner depths of the earth; 

● There is no stage management involved, such as lighting cues, prop usage, costume changes, or managing entrances;

● Through dialogue, actors tell the audience what’s happening and what they are doing. For instance, announcing the arrival of a new character, they may say, “So you’re here.” 

● While radio plays are sometimes broadcasted live, they are often recorded and aired at another time; 

● Radio plays are well suited where the setting and character actions are limited; 

● There's no need for actors to learn their lines as they can directly read from the script during recording sessions. While this is true, they still have to study the play to learn how to speak like their characters or to know the sequence of events;  

● Radio drama scenes often feature a small number of cast members,  as it may be quite difficult for listeners to distinguish between characters if they're too many. It's also quite easy for them to forget if the character is still active in the scene if they go for an extended time without speaking; 

● Actors don't use actions, gestures, or facial expressions but only rely on the voice as the audience cannot see them. 

## **Orson Welles War of the Worlds - The Most Famous Radio Drama** 

Broadcasted on October 30th, 1938, The War of the Worlds went down in history as one of the most famous radio dramas. For the production, Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre Company adapted H.G. Well’s serialized science-fiction novel published in the 1890s. The show kicked off at 8 p.m. during prime time, with millions tuned in across the United States.

 

It was formatted as a news bulletin. The presenter began by taking listeners to the Meridian Room at Hotel Park Plaza to be entertained by Ramon Raquello and his Orchestra. 

 

The dance music was interrupted by an alarming announcement that Professor Farrell from the Mount Jenning Observatory had witnessed explosions on Mars. The music resumed playing before another bulletin announced that a meteor had crashed into a farmer’s field. Emerging from the crashed metal capsule was a bear-sized glistering Martian with tentacles. 

 

The aliens began arbitrating puny humans on mounted Martian war machines, which terrified the unaware listeners. The realistic performance and the fact that some fell for it cemented the audio drama’s notoriety and position in history. And you just have to hear it to enjoy it too: 

<iframe width="651" height="366" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xs0K4ApWl4g" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


### **Radio Drama - A Quick Review of the History** 

● Radio dramas emerged with the introduction of the théâtrophone in 1881 by [Clément Ader](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clément_Ader). It was a telephonic transmission system that allowed users to listen to theatre and opera performances over phone lines. 

● The first English-language radio drama was a brief sketch specially produced for Pittsburgh’s KDKA Radio in 1921. 

● A Comedy of Danger by Richard Hughes, Recorded in England in 1924, was the first BBC commissioned radio drama. 

● The most famous radio drama was War of the Worlds that aired on October 30th, 1938. 

● During the golden age of radio, most radio dramas were live shows owing to the poor sound quality of recorded programs. The magnetic era, beginning from 1945, saw a leap in audio fidelity, allowing the recording of radio programs.  

● Increased priority for the production of TV programs saw a decline in the production of radio dramas for many networks around the world. Producing radio dramas did not come cheap as networks needed to pay for studio recording time, scriptwriters, and directors. 

● [The Archers](https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/january/the-archers/) is the world's longest-running radio drama series beginning its national run on 1st January 1951.  

● While there has been a decline in the production of radio dramas in the US, the BBC continues to produce radio plays every year. In the Philippines, “This Is My Fate” has remained on-air since 1973. 

### **The Re-Birth of Audio Dramas** 

Radio dramas have had a new lease of life with the emergence of audio dramas distributed digitally as on-demand podcasts. Many listeners are discovering fictional audio dramas for the first time, finding the format to be as appealing as it was 100 years ago. Podcasts have also made it possible for anyone around the globe to write and produce their own audio dramas, even with a limited cast. 

 

The fictional podcast niche is on the rise, and already, there have been great hits, such as [Limetown,](https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/web-series/is-limetown-based-on-a-true-story-did-over-300-people-disappear-in-real.html) a fictional story about the disappearance of over 300 people. It follows the story of Lia, a journalist who decides to investigate the vanishings when no one is bothered to look. Limetown’s popularity saw it transition to a TV series. There are more examples of modern audio dramas, including Alice Isn’t Dead, Wolf 359, The Magnus Archives, Within the Wires, and Night Vale. 

## **Chapter 2: Producing a radio drama** 

So how do you start producing an audio drama? Well, the first piece of advice is getting your hands on past radio dramas and fictional podcasts. You need to listen to them noting what you like. Which sound effects did they use? Did you find the acting or plot structure appealing? Did you warm up to the multi-dimensional characters? And so on.

 

You can even listen to your favorite productions multiple times to uncover their secrets. It's also important to study radio dramas that you don't like, looking for mistakes you can avoid repeating.

 

Now, in this chapter we will briefly touch on the structure of audio dramas and share up to 10 tips that you can use to write your own radio drama script: 

### **Structure, Format, and Length of Audio Dramas** 

Audio dramas follow a basic structure. They have a beginning, middle, and end. Depending on the length, the audio drama may have a series of subplots, smaller stories within the plot’s main events. You can employ the long-standing dramatic structure that involves exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. For instance, during the exposition at the beginning of the play, it's expedient to introduce the Who, What, and Where. Audio dramas will also include similar elements to stage drama such as plot, character, theme, pace, tension, dialogue, and genre. 

 

Now, before you start thinking of the sound effects, you will need to write the script depending on the genre. If you’re writing the script for public or commercial radio stations, it should comply with FCC guidelines or other territorial broadcast guidelines that vary with the country.

 

Are you planning to produce a radio drama or audio drama for your podcast show? Performances may last from 20 minutes to 90 minutes. How many pages will you need to write? One page may give you anywhere from 1 minute to 1.15 minutes. So, 60 pages of material may translate to a 60 to 75-minute show. 

 

Once you're happy with the script, the next process may entail finding actors and conducting rehearsals. You may need to have trial runs with rough recordings and create Forey sound effects. While you can do the recording remotely, it’s better to have a group session.

 

If possible, you can reduce the need for narration. Instead, have characters create the storyline, setting, and action from dialogue alone. For a great example of how to do this, you can listen to [The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eji2vmYDAIY) a 1958 BBC play. 

### **10 Tips to Use to Script a  Radio Drama**

You can use the following tips to enhance your audio drama scripts and make the creative process much easier:

1. **Make your purpose clear:** Set clear intentions when it comes to the audience and what you want to achieve. Is your audio drama out to convey a message, teach, educate or entertain? 

2. **Know your audience**: You should have some insights into the potential audience for your audio drama. What shows do they like?  Which issues do they resonate with?

3. **Use sounds and dialogue to introduce visual elements subtlely**: Characters should not explicitly mention what they're seeing, but you can find certain ways of introducing visual elements. For instance, you can distinguish between different magical creatures by having different sound effects for each, such as the heavy flapping of wings to denote the arrival of a dragon or the quick flutter of wings for a fairy. 

4. **Have a few characters with distinct voices and mannerisms**: Listeners can't tell apart characters if they become too many or too similar. Apart from making characters sound distinct, think of other mannerisms that distinguish people, such as the words they love repeating, breathing patterns, stutters, etc. You can have up to six key characters, and it’s still possible to have a doubling of roles, where someone may fill for minor roles rather than hiring more characters. 

5. **Use dialogue to give context to sounds:** While you should use sound effects, remember that it's only through dialogue that you can give proper context to various sounds. For instance, the heavy flapping of a bird’s wings may belong to a vulture keen on scavenging on a rotting corpse or an eagle scooping a squirrel from the barren earth. 

6. **Make the dialogue sound a bit natural:** The dialogue needs to come off as natural, which may be hard to achieve with written prose. That’s because people don't always talk in coherent sentences or follow a consistent line of thought. They don’t explicitly mention what they’re planning to do. For instance, a character may not say, “Let's prepare dinner,” but rather, “Let's grill the chicken.” Words used by the character also tell us about the background; for instance, a professor may have a formal way of speaking compared to a casual laborer. It's the little nuances that make for a believable audio drama. 

7. **Vary the pace:** The radio drama should have parts with a lot of action and slow scenes where the story develops. You can introduce pace and rhythm with short and long scenes.

8. **Hook them from the start**: Listeners may have incredibly short attention spans. It's quite important to get to the heart of the action as soon as possible and avoid spending too much time on exposition. In the Unexpected Guest, the play begins with a man knocking at the door. He explains that he has unexpectedly run his car into a ditch. Moments later, we find out that the woman in the house has shot someone.

9. **Introduce high-stakes to keep the listener glued**: While it's important to hook the listener from the start, it's also important to introduce high-stakes as soon as possible to keep listeners listening for the resolution. Each scene should build on the tension.  You also need to have plot twists and surprises for a more entertaining show. 

## **Chapter 3: Radio Drama Ideas** 

 in this chapter, we'll go over some radio drama and audio drama ideas. We’ll examine popular genres and provide examples. You can use the following ideas to figure out what to write about or produce. Let’s get going: 

### **9 Radio/Audio Drama Ideas**

#### 1. **Full-cast hilarious musicals** 

There will be no dancing that the listener can see, but they will certainly hear the singing. Songs, dialogue, and other sound effects will be interwoven into the narrative. 

Examples: 

● [Esther Destined and Redeemed Full Audio Drama Musical ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ3TEnTXw4k)- YouTube 

#### 2. **Narrative Drama**

One or more performers speak directly to the listeners to tell the story or comment about actions in the scene. A performer who is not involved in the story may also describe what is happening. The narrator serves as the [audience’s seeing eye ](https://www.ruyasonic.com/wrt_narration.htm)in an otherwise blind medium. 

 

Examples of audio dramas with narrators: 

● [The Will of the Woods ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC0GSqpQ7Uk)- Episode 1 [Fantasy Audio Drama]

● [Star Wars:  A New Hope Radio Drama ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-29uKdckL4)

#### 3. **Short-form Fiction/Short Stories**

You can also think of producing short-form fiction for your audio dramas. Think of it as a story that can be finished in one sitting or episode. Short stories have few characters and scenes as they focus on single incidents. 

**Examples of short-story audio dramas**

● [**Personal Call & Butter in a Lordly Dish** ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eys25aqHE5g)

#### 4. **Serialized Stories with Continuous Narratives**

To execute this audio drama idea, you’ll need to publish your story in regular episodes. You don’t have to produce everything right away. The key to having a great serialized story is maintaining a regular publishing schedule and creating memorable characters. You should always leave the listeners eager for the next episode. Some fictional podcasts in this format include: 

#### **Examples** 

● [Girl in Space](https://www.girlinspacepodcast.com/)

● [The Black Tapes](http://theblacktapespodcast.com/)

#### 5. **Adapted Novels** 

If you have access to an unfilmable novel, you could very well turn it into an audio drama. With sound effects and dialogue alone, you can literally have any setting and have characters perform any action without the need for pre-planned sets or stunts. Many novels have also been adapted to radio and audio dramas. 

**Here are examples of adapted novels to audio drama:** 

● [2020: Gethsemane |](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdqKUfZaCRg) A Full-Length Audio Drama

● [Indiana Jones and the Well Of Life Audio Drama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvEn82A0FfM)

 

Additional ideas for radio drama include: 

#### 6. **Radio Sitcoms** 

#### 7. **Science Fiction audio dramas**

#### 8. **Fictional** **Paranormal** **Dramas**

#### 9. **Horror Audio Dramas**

### **Bottom Line** 

Audio dramas can enhance the content on your radio station or may spin-off to independent podcast series. Now, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you’ll get better with writing. You need to spend enough time listening to past works. Get a feeling of what makes an audio drama great.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Planning to produce a radio drama or audio drama? Here are the some tips you can use to script your show! 

Radio/Audio Drama Ideas - With Examples and Resources

The morning. It’s when folks tune to the radio to get an early start to their day since the 50s or 60s. Many will be commuting to work, and what better way to pass the lost time in traffic than listening to their fav personalities. Others, well, are chilling at home but in need of some quality company as they prep kids for school or shuffle to their home offices.

In terms of attracting listenership, morning breakfast shows (or AM drive) may not pull as many listeners from the 12+ demographic as PM shows based on[ Nielsen data](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.insideradio.com/free/inside-story-why-pm-drive-is-radio-s-king-and-a-brand-kingmaker/article_20af561c-c354-11e5-96e5-57f0cd33e6a4.html&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898787335&usg=AOvVaw0w9AOXvIprGzV3KbKJnV-y). But on the other hand, AM shows are the most listened-to shows by fully employed adults. That’s why morning ad spots pay off big for many stations.



Advertising in the morning and midday also has other advantages. Customers are planning how to spend their day, which affects where they spend their money. Unlike PM drive (from 3 pm to 7 pm when people commute back home). So, you’ll find a pizza joint airing their spot in the morning for customers to think of them as their hunger pangs bite.



Stations are even rated based on their morning breakfast shows because it is one of the primest times of the day. So, there is the pressure to perform, and everyone will feel the pressure. How can you succeed with your morning breakfast show? How long should it be? Which are the biggest shows? These are the topics we’re mulling over in this article. Let’s get started:  

## **What is a morning breakfast show?**

 In the radio and TV world, a morning breakfast show is a live show that airs during the morning hours, starting as early as 4:00 am to about 11.00 am. Now, most shows are scheduled from 6:00 am to 10:00 am, giving hosts about 4 hours in the studio. Okay, some examples:

![The Zoe Ball breakfast show schedule and archive.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/The_Zoe_Ball_breakfast_show_schedule_and_archive_20ead0cc90.png)
### 

Bernie & Sid in the Morning on WABC radio, the home station for The Mark Levin show, airs on weekdays from 6 am to 10 am.



Morning hosts don’t clock in for Saturday and Sunday shifts. Instead, radio stations may have special programs. On BBC 2 Radio, legendary pilate radio host Tony Blackburn presents Sounds of the 60s for about 2 hours starting at 6 am.



Talk radio stations may have special Saturday broadcasts or a different set of hosts in the studio.



### **What time do morning talk shows start?**

To answer this question: It varies on the station’s preferred programming. But with most shows, they start at 7:00 am. This makes sense.



Most people prefer to rise up at 6:00 am, according to Snoozester.com. To arrive at the office before 8 or 9, they may have left by 7, especially in big cities with longer commute times. You can vary your schedule for weekends if you don’t expect people to rise up early.  

## **What do you talk about at a breakfast show?**

Anything really. The only bar is that the topic must be interesting, relevant, relatable, and entertaining. To whom? The listeners, of course. So, you may talk celebrity gossip with a younger audience: Nicki Minaj’s new shoes, the Kardashians, or Ye Yeezys.



With a more mature audience, you may tackle the higher living costs or the job market. Parents care a lot about those things and the direction of their country.


If you’re looking for a quick list of topics, here we go:



Sports scores, politics, celebrity gossip, famous people, the struggling economy, markets, daily life challenges, traffic, your interests, news, events, TV shows, weather, food, relationships, people’s bad habits, what if, liberalism, conservatism, family values, changes, etc.


Some radio presenters are great at creating a show with their improv skills alone. But they will have a theme of what they talk about. The talk will be geared in a way to trigger the audience to call and contribute.  

## **List of most-listened-to morning radio programs: UK, Ireland, India, USA, NewZealand**

Quickly, let’s check out some famous morning shows from around the world. We have placed links to places you can find archived shows, or listen live. Starting with the UK, we have:



- [Heart Breakfast with Jamie and Emma’s](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.heart.co.uk/london/spare-categories/heart-breakfast-jamie-theakston-and-bunton/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898791597&usg=AOvVaw3HeBQewbN1Bue4SL3z20FU)
- [5 LIVE BREAKFAST](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0070htg&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898791971&usg=AOvVaw3SWa6Pw-O9g1yYCuiPAXbl)
- [The Chris Evans Breakfast Show](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://virginradio.co.uk/the-chris-evans-breakfast-show&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898792261&usg=AOvVaw2qGq66-3PFm1AuN3hgQkmp)
- [Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.capitalfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/roman-kemp/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898792577&usg=AOvVaw3cjwW6ShG4wy67hGDuBAsT)
- [The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08h8z5t&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898793057&usg=AOvVaw07esdPYgRggnt3StysVu4W)
- [The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mrh21&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898793413&usg=AOvVaw2b0Y7335zba9TGNZAI8h-8)

![Heart radio breakfast show.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/Heart_radio_breakfast_show_571a379f03.png)
Some popular breakfast shows in the US include:

- [Morning Edition](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898793908&usg=AOvVaw2ocOCIZlAR0EjENFAhM98e)
- [On Air with Ryan Seacrest (TMSG)](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/51-tell-me-something-good-from-27955498/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898794286&usg=AOvVaw19qahplIG4sZMxovWb2U19)
- [The Murphy Sam & Jodi Show](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://murphysamandjodi.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898794846&usg=AOvVaw3r0t7vuP_cBwhvbWAakgKN)
- [K92 Mornin' Thang](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.k92morninthang.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898795123&usg=AOvVaw2PBsQg66d5IKNgabUDTeBz)
- [The Big Big House Morning Show Podcast](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tunein.com/podcasts/Morning-Shows/The-Big-Big-House-Morning-Show-Podcast-p221162/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898795646&usg=AOvVaw17umLlrSkZtwkn-6D_5SJN)

![Morning Edition popular breakfast show USA radio.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/Morning_Edition_popular_breakfast_show_USA_radio_0b4fbe9ba8.png)

Some popular morning shows from India include:

- [Gyarah Se Do Bhabhi Ka Show, Red FM](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tunein.com/radio/Red-FM-935-s68907/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898796169&usg=AOvVaw2Z-V0wg-GZj9Id1y0EyCj1)
- [Mumbai Maska Maar Ke, Big FM](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bigfmindia.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898796446&usg=AOvVaw1lZPVy5fjYOf-ib84Apw25)
- [RJ Rachna on the Breakfast Show - Radio City 91.1.](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mixcloud.com/krithikasharma/rj-rachna-on-the-breakfast-show-radio-city-911-a-fun-filled-musical-kickstart-to-your-mornings/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898796996&usg=AOvVaw194EB-iO9sunWp3h5-T41t)
- [Sarthak, Ishq FM](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ishq.com/author/rjsarthak/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898797383&usg=AOvVaw1-qoFqPbQMHVPu8iFSLCys)
- 



Some breakfast shows from NewZealand include:

- [Morning Report - RNZ](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898797944&usg=AOvVaw01pPZf5dFcWv42V-hawgsP)
- [Mike Hosking Breakfast](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898798279&usg=AOvVaw1MB6KnLcFsbfeYGWHmoInc) (Most popular)

![popular morning breakfast show New Zealand.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/popular_morning_breakfast_show_New_Zealand_cc8f099d40.png)

- [Mai Morning Crew - Mai FM](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.maifm.co.nz/home/shows.html&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898798746&usg=AOvVaw21Cj9u4qnulmtUj-wwknFE)
- [Rock Drive with Jay & Dunc](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.therock.net.nz/home.player.html&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898799051&usg=AOvVaw1UyVbofj13LUFLsbTLoK4q)


Some Ireland breakfast radio shows include:

- [Newstalk Breakfast](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.newstalk.com/shows/newstalk-breakfast-234855&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898799437&usg=AOvVaw34qK8-UavRnkyt0TvQCmNr)
- [The Colm & Lucy Breakfast Show, Classic Hits Radio](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.classichits.ie/breakfast/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898799715&usg=AOvVaw3lvrStEaFZ-Uo6lQEjPE3y)
- [Fully Charged: Graham & Nathan, Spin Radio](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.spin1038.com/schedule&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898799996&usg=AOvVaw1aLp1Dzof2um2E6J1Oggrn)
- [2FM Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha and Carl - RTE Radio 2](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.rte.ie/radio/2fm/2fm-breakfast/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898800286&usg=AOvVaw2uIfD2GrvvwUApzDohoG7i)
- [Morning Ireland, RTE Radio 1](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/morning-ireland/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1643635898800616&usg=AOvVaw3Fzh_qWstD2PYTJXU1JCD5)

![RTE 1 morning breakfast radio.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/RTE_1_morning_breakfast_radio_5c942587b5.png)

## **What makes a good breakfast show? 13 Secret Ingredients**

Now, we get to the good part. We’re simply asking: What makes a breakfast radio show great? Here are 13 secret sauce ingredients that you can use to make your show sound wonderful and the best in the morning.

### 1. **Set goals & Keep true to the station’s identity**

A lot of stations don’t have any clear objectives about their morning shows. Jocks show up, talk, and leave. That’s not the way to do it. The whole team led by the PM should meet to set clear goals, visions, and missions for the breakfast show. Maybe you want to have the funniest breakfast show or create a reputation for the best music. The goals should keep true with the station’s identity. If you’re a rock station that targets the young at heart, then your goals should reflect this.

### 2. **Great hosts and synergy**

It’s true that great hosts drive breakfast shows. Yes, people don’t merely tune in for the music. They can hear their songs on Shopify, YouTube, or a competing station. They are there for the great chemistry, spark, and funny banter between the hosts. They already know the day’s news and are there to hear what their fav presenter has to say about it or their take. Stations need to carefully select and hone their presenter’s talents. If you’re a host reading this, you can implement tips to make you a super host, such as:

- Being hearty with the listeners by sharing your successes, failures, learning lessons, emotions, thoughts, and opinions;
- Taking a bold stand on issues;
- Learning how to create intrigue and mystery with your voice, never giving away too much.

### 3. **Promotion, promotion, promotion!** 

A great morning show needs to be promoted well. That means producing show promos even days before promoting guests for the morning show or topics.

### 4. **Understanding who is listening and why?**

Your shows become better once you discover who you’re talking to. That is the target listener or main listener. This is the core group that is your raving fans. They call in, contribute, and make their voices heard. The listeners are the most likely people to follow your hosts on social media, purchase your merch, and attend your roadshows. Part of recognizing who they are is also understanding why they are listening. What do they get out of your show? So, figuring out listener needs is equally important, along with promising them that you’ll fulfill their needs and following up with a great show.

### 5. **Right topic, at the right time, right people** 

What should you talk about during a morning show? It should be the right topic. That often means discussing the latest news or event. The topic needs to be timely offered at the right time. Mornings may not be the greatest time to pour over what’s wrong in the country. It may get people in a bad mood for work. But once people are up and going, you’ll find that PM shows, particularly conservative ones, pick up the pace and give many something to mull over over supper.

### 6. **Right segments, sounds, and music**

The right combination of segments makes for a more fulfilling and awesome show. Some segments to have in the morning breakfast show include:

- News bulletins (suitable as top of the hour)
- Time updates
- Traffic beats
- Music
- Guest interviews
- Sports updates
- Prank calls (reasonably and legal)
- Quizzes
- Call in segments
- Man on the street features
- Radio presenters banter or in-studio games
- Movies or song reviews
- Showbiz updates
- International news
- Real user stories

The flow should sound integrated and smooth, with tight transitions. Keeping a consistent schedule can help create a familiarity with listeners. You may need great promos and imaging, repeated frequently for audio branding.

### 7. **Feelings and emotions**

Your morning breakfast show must not sound mechanical and bland. It should be packed full of feelings and emotions. Ask: Are presenters charged or feeling bored? Are they having a good time? Are they laughing and showing genuine surprise? Listeners can pick up on emotional cues, so give them a more human show.

### 8. **Tell stories**

Hosts can’t go wrong with stories. Recounting a personal experience on-air may foster trust, bring listeners in, and make them feel like friends. Stories work as long as they sound genuine and not made up. They should be entertaining too, meaning a challenge you had to face, an embarrassing situation, etc.  

### 9. **Teasers**

Teasers are a great tool to use during the show. Basically, you tease what’s coming next. A host may say, coming up in 15 minutes, “Why your EX deserves a second chance.” It should be something listeners can wait for and keep listening to find out. Teasers may be deployed even a day before, in the form of show promos.

### 10. **Keep them laughing**

Lighten their moods in the morning with some natural humor: natural meaning that it should not be forced or conny. Morning shows should be uplifting in every way. As a potential segment, your station may even play some motivation clips.

### 11. **Involve your listeners**

Get people to participate in your morning show. They don’t have to call in, but they can send short recorded clips, voicing their opinion about a story. You can even read their tweets or comments on air. Over time, radio stations develop a list of regulars. Listeners don’t actually mind hearing from these folks. They always build on the content by introducing a new dynamic.  

### 12. **Shuffle and move bits around - Don’t go stale**

The problem with many great morning shows is that they can go stale after a while, given also that radio hosts may have careers spanning many years. You don’t have to make big changes. Giving listeners something new in a while, like a new segment can help. The PM and producers should also watch for stale bits, and churn them out in favor of more existing segments.

### 13. **Prepare Your Radio Morning Shows**

Last and not least, it helps to prepare for your radio show. Preparation allows you to put your ideas in motion, giving you a better chance of having a seamless show that listeners love.



## **Bottom Line, and word of encouragement**

Producing a great morning radio show is not difficult. Put these tips in motion, and watch your listenership grow! We’ll be here to offer the best place on the internet to host your radio station, in a simple, straightforward, and powerful way!



Struggling with your morning breakfast show? Learn up to 13 things you can do for a better show. 

Morning BreakFast Show: Ideas for a Powerful Show

You just want to listen to the radio on your phone or the car because, well, even the best playlist can’t match the radio experience — with jocks bantering, traffic updates, weather updates, the news, on-air contests —you want it, radio has got it. 



**But how can you access online radio on your device**? This guide reveals the top ways to tune in to internet radio. 

 

And why web radio? Because it gives you access to stations from the East Coast if you’re from the West Coast and UK stations if you’re taking a trip down under. You get CD-quality with little interference even after driving off city limits most of the time. 

 

Unlike satellite radio, there is no bill in your mailbox at the end of the month. And nowadays, internet plans are generous enough, and you may be on an unlimited plan with lots of data to spare. 

 

Let’s get to it then: 

## **How to listen to internet radio on your s****martphone**

Listening to internet radio on your smartphone is pretty straightforward, “You can simply install a radio app.” But wait! There is a way to do this without installing any apps, which entails using your phone’s browser. 

 

Simply visit any of the following links (see list below 1 to 30). They point to internet directories that host thousands of radio stations from around the world (P.S. You can use the same links to listen on your desktop):

### **Internet radio directories for phone and desktop browsers**

1. [Streema](https://streema.com)

2. [TuneIn](https://tunein.com/)

3. [Radioguide.FM](https://www.radioguide.fm/)

4. [Radio Garden](http://radio.garden/)

5. [myTuner Radio](https://mytuner-radio.com/)

6. [Streamitter.com](https://radio.streamitter.com/)

7. [Radioline](http://www.radioline.co/)

8. [Online Radio Box ](https://onlineradiobox.com/)

9. [StreamingThe.Net](https://www.streamingthe.net/) 

10. [Radiotower.com](http://radiotower.com/)

11. [Radio FM](https://appradiofm.com/)

12. [TuneYou](https://tuneyou.com/)

13. [LogFm.com](http://www.logfm.com/)

14. [Internet-Radio.com](https://www.internet-radio.com/)

15. [Filtermusic](https://filtermusic.net/)

16. [Live Online Radio](https://liveonlineradio.net/)

17. [LiveRadio.ie](https://www.liveradio.ie/)

18. [LiveRadio.](https://www.liveradio.uk/)UK

19. [Screamer Radio](https://www.screamer-radio.com/stations/)

20. [BlindRadio](http://www.blindradio.com/)

21. [Frequence Radio](https://www.frequence-radio.com/)

22. [StreamFinder](https://www.streamfinder.com/)

23. [vTuner](https://vtuner.com/setupapp/guide/asp/BrowseStations/startpage.asp)

24. [RadioDex](https://www.radiodex.com/)

25. [RadioForest.net](https://www.radioforest.net/)

26. [TrinidadRadioStations.net](https://trinidadradiostations.net/)

27. [Tunerr](https://tunerr.co/)

28. [RadioPlug](https://www.radioplug.co.uk/home)

29. [Get Me Radio](https://www.getmeradio.com/)

30. [VRadio](https://www.akouradio.com/)

Note that the directories may not necessarily have different stations, as radio stations[ submit their streaming links ](https://www.cloudrad.io/internet-radio-directory)to as many websites as possible to get found easily. The choice of the directory to use may boil down to its usability, interface, features, etc. 

 

Next, let’s cover the top 5 apps based on ratings that you can use on iOS and Android devices: 

## **Best internet radio apps for iOS**

Radio apps are necessary if you want to listen to radio on iOS devices. Reason? iPhones, iPods, and iPads don’t come with built-in AM or FM tuners. Rather than leaving you to sort through internet radio iOS apps, we picked the top 4 highly-rated apps and mentioned how to use Apple Music to listen to online radio: 

 

### **#1: iHeart: #1 for Radio, Podcasts - #10 in Music**

iHeartMedia offers all audio entertainment for free - podcasts, stations, and music. The app has a 4.7/5 rating from over 525.3K reviews. Note that some exclusive content may require a subscription. 

 

[Download the iHeart iOS app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iheart-1-for-radio-podcasts/id290638154?see-all=reviews) 

 

### **#2. Simple Radio – Live AM FM App by Streema, Inc - #68 in Music**

Simple Radio is one of the best iOS apps for listening to the radio on iPhones. The app has a 4.7-star rating based on 397.8K reviews. The basic version is free but offers in-app purchases.

 

Users have said many good things about the app:

 

“Reliable performance and good selection” 

“Simple as can be.” 

 

[Download Simple Radio on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simple-radio-live-am-fm-app/id891132290)

 

### **#3: RadioApp - A Simple Radio by Firetruck Productions - #74 in Music**

One reason to love the RadioApp is its familiar analogy-style tuner that provides access to local and international web radio streams. 

 

![RadioAPP - A simple radio internet app for listening to online radio.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/Radio_APP_A_simple_radio_internet_app_for_listening_to_online_radio_4f362c30a6.png)

[Download RadioApp iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/radioapp-a-simple-radio/id720291153)

 

### **#4: TuneIn Radio: News & Music App - #130 in Music**

The TuneIn app hosts over 100,000 global radio stations. It has a 4.7 out of 5 score with 4.1K reviews. Its twin app on the Google Play Store boasts of more downloads and reviews. 

 

[Download TuneIn Radio for iOS](https://apps.apple.com/eg/app/tunein-radio/id418987775)

### #5: Apple Music App - preinstalled

 

P.S. You can listen to broadcast radio on the Apple Music app with no downloads. Just [ask Siri to play a particular radio station](https://support.apple.com/kb/HT208279) or search the station from the radio tap in the Music app.

![How to listen to online radio on Apple music.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/How_to_listen_to_online_radio_on_Apple_music_3b6f3964ea.png)

## **Best internet radio apps for android** 

Listening to FM stations on Android is pretty much smooth sailing. Most android phones have FM tuners even on recent models. Still, you must use your headphone jack as an antenna, meaning that the connection may be spotty. Internet radio apps have a more convenient experience. So, here are the top radio apps for Android. 

### **#1: TuneIn**

On the Play Store, TuneIn reigns supreme. It boasts 50+ million downloads and over 2,100,00 reviews with an average score of 4.6. The app brings you thousands of stations worldwide and offers exclusive sports content and podcasts. 

 

[Download TuneIn for Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tunein.player)

 

### **#2: iHeart: #1 for Radio, Podcasts**

The iHeart app is highly-rated on Google Play with a 4.7 rating out of 5. It has been reviewed over 2,200,000 times with 50million+ installs. While the app is generally great for radio, many users have complained about its music feature. 

 

[Download iHeart for Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clearchannel.iheartradio.controller&showAllReviews=true)

### **#3:Radio FM Online**

The RadioFM app unlocks access to 50,000 + radio stations from across 236 countries and territories. It has some nice features: you can use other apps as you listen to the radio, create bookmarks, find stations based on your Geolocation, and more. 

 

[Download Radio FM Online](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.fmradio)

### **#4: Simple Radio: Live FM AM Radio**

Streema continues its dominance on Android with The Simple Radio app that has over 50million installs. It boasts of a clean user interface, no buffering, and one-tap access to your favorite stations. 


[Download Simple Radio](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.streema.simpleradio)

 

### **#5: radio.net - Live FM radio**

With 10+ million installs and an average rating of 4.6/5, radio.net is another top internet radio app to try for your Android smartphone - particularly if you’re bored with the others. It comes alarm and sleep timer. You can also listen to podcasts. 

 

[Install radio.net here](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.radio.android)

 

## **How to Listen to Online Radio on Android Auto**

Smart infotainment systems make listening to online radio stations in your car easier using your existing apps on your phone. If you have an Android phone, your car infotainment system should support Android Auto. 


You need to first link your phone with a USB cable or through a wireless connection. After connecting successfully, you should see the Android Auto Dashboard display with all the compatible apps.  


As of now, the best internet radio apps to use on Android auto include: 

● TuneIn 

● iHeartRadio

● Simple Radio

● radio.net FM Radio

 

(P.S. You only need to install them on your phone)

 

![Simple Radio.png](https://strapi.hnux.com/uploads/Simple_Radio_07b4aefb42.png)

 

## **How to Listen to Internet Radio on Carplay**

Apple CarPlay aims to make it safer to use your phone in the car. It can give directions, send messages, or allow you to stream online radio through apps on your Apple device. While all major automobile manufacturers now support CarPlay, check to see if your model is supported.  

 

Setting up CarPlay is quite easy. You can follow Apple's recommended steps [found here](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203412#:~:text=) .If your car supports wireless,Cars and choose your car. 

 

You’ll need internet radio apps that support CarPlay. The best apps to install are TuneIn, Simple Radio, and iHeart Radio. 


So, that’s pretty much it—everything you need to know to listen to internet radio across your devices. 

 

And if you fancy starting a radio station, check out our guide on [starting an internet radio station.](https://www.cloudrad.io/start-an-internet-radio-station)

Best Radio Apps to Listen to Online Radio on Your Smartphone, Android Auto, CarPlay, & Desktop

Constructive feedback can help overcome the “overconfidence bias” that you’re doing just fine, if not phenomenal, and that everyone loves what you do.

You may quickly discover that there are many aspects of the show you may be overlooking. Correcting them can get you more listeners and dynamically improve your content.

On the other hand…

…good reviews, shares, likes, and five-star ratings can positively* *portray* *your content to potential listeners. Everyone fears missing out on the hit podcast, TV, or radio show that everyone is saying good things about! 

Getting feedback is easier said than done. But don’t worry; we’re here to show you the steps you can follow to get feedback for your internet radio show on directories, social media, and even fan mail. The same advice is applicable to podcasts. So, hop on the bandwagon, and let’s go: 

## Quick Reasons Why Feedback Is Important

● Know what listeners like, what aspects of the show they resonate with, favorite topics, or best host qualities

● Get a feel of their dislikes, major contentions, or least favorite topics

● Become familiar with who listens to your station. Their backgrounds, demographics, locations, or experience

● Respond, engage, and connect with fans who care about you

● Improve, and learn from constructive feedback to become better at your content.

● Catch mistakes before they blow out such as poor song rotation, not enough hits, or a stale playlist

● Smash the ego trap that stops you from seeing the mistakes you’re making.  

Moving on, let’s see the techniques and tips you can implement to gain feedback. 

## 5 Tips to Earn You More Honest Feedback

Before looking at the tips that you can use to collect more feedback for your internet radio or podcast, let’s ask the why question:

“Why do happy listeners detest leaving feedback?”

Well, it’s not mandatory.

They may be shy, not wanting to express their mind.

Too polite! Too polite to offer constructive criticism. 

Actually, people who have had bad experiences are twice and even thrice more likely to leave angry reviews than their counterparts.

 Your goal is to encourage more listeners out of their shells. And overpower the inertia they experience every time they see the feedback or comments section.

Okay then, let’s go:


### 1) Be specific with your request

The child asks for a loaf of bread, not sustenance.

If you have an internet radio station, in particular, you can get feedback on various program items. But most stations will just say: “If you have a comment, feedback, or complaint, call xxx-xxx-xxx.”

The point is: Make your request for feedback more specific.

For instance, this is a more precise request. “Hope you had a lovely morning with us. Before you go, help us improve. We would like feedback on our Morning Show.

### 2) Tell them how to leave feedback

Before telling them how to leave feedback, you require mechanisms to capture it. Here are some options to consider:

● Phone number: This can be a direct line to the programming team.

● Email: Ask listeners to email your customer. support email. 

● Third-party review sites: These days, you can find radio reviews on independent review sites such as TrustPilot. If a thread has cropped up around your radio, you can claim it and control the conversation.

● Online feedback page: Create a dedicated feedback page on your website, and ask web visitors to leave their feedback there. 

● Feedback platforms: You can use a dedicated platform for collecting feedback in one central place and running surveys.

● Social media comments: Put yourself out there and ask for feedback right from your social media pages. 

### 3) Encourage, encourage, encourage

Once you know the type of feedback you want and how to collect it, the next process is quite easy. Just repeat your request as many times as you can.

Make it easy by creating a spoken announcement, sweeper, that you play regularly even between songs or breaks that informs listeners how to share their feedback.

Get the hosts involved too. It may be more meaningful if listeners get the request from their favorite personalities. As always, the messaging must be consistent, even across channels.

### 4) Use incentives

Incentives are extrinsic motivators that promote a certain behavior or action. Your goal is to get people to share honest and helpful feedback that you can use to improve your podcast or station. Give listeners giveaways, free contest entries, follow-backs, merch, jackpots, etc.

### 5) Make them feel valued, say how feedback helped you improve

Imagine this, people give their hearts out responding to your call for feedback. But in response, you don’t really heed their advice. Instead, you continue operating like everything is fine. The best you can do instead is to recognize the feedback that you’ve received. Have a session talking about areas of improvement, and say how you’re improving.

## Ways to use your feedback - Just the Obvious Really

Wondering how to use your feedback? Basically, there are two ways: 

### 1) The first way is to improve on your weak areas 

For instance, here are some grueling reviews leveled against a radio station, How would you respond if you were at the helm of things:

“This radio station is so bad they repeat the same songs every day.”

“ Capital is one of the worst radio stations I have ever listened to. It’s like they’re being held at gunpoint and being forced to play the same 4-5 songs all day, every day.”

“I used to listen to this radio a lot and enjoyed it, but now it's just non-stop repeats that make me go crazy.” 


### 2) The second way is to use positive feedback as a force of good. That means showing it off 

If you have a website, you can source and highlight the positive things people have said about your station. Use a widget to embed the positive ratings on your homepage. Get fans to give shoutouts to your podcast or radio station, and include them as part of your exciting show intros, or intertwine them with the rest of the show promos.

## All things said

So, all things said, feedback shows you things you have overlooked and how you can perform better. You get criticism, allowing you to make important decisions that take you to the top.

 

You can improve your content by collecting and responding to feedback. Learn how, for your podcast and radio station. 

How Do I Get Feedback For My Radio or Podcast? 6 Tips To Try

Looking for a fresh, exciting start?

 

Or are you in school exploring potential opportunities in audio production and engineering? 

 

How about a career as a radio program producer? Well, it may open many exciting doors in the broadcast world. 

 

Radio production skills are also in demand with the rise of podcasts. 

 

Becoming great at producing audio shows can even open more doors in TV, theatre, and film. 

 

Now for your questions: 

● What does the job entail? 

● How much does it pay? 

● What are the responsibilities? 

● Which qualifications are required? 

Join us as we explore the field in detail, and leave with tips on how to become the best radio producer you can be.

 

Let's get started: 

 

## **1. Who is a Radio Producer?** 

You can think of the radio producer as the show manager, who oversees major aspects of a radio show, right from the topics of discussion to booking on-air guests. 

 

The producer will be the little voice giving directions to the radio presenters, actively managing the show as it progresses. They may be the creative force, steering the show through the pre-production stages and ensuring that hosts deliver their best. 

 

As a  keen radio listener, you’ll often hear the host saying, “My producer says that we have to go on break.”

 

Now, you can work as a radio producer in different capacities: 

● **Executive or content producer:** The role largely entails booking guests, organizing callers, cueing the music, running contests, and generally producing the show content. 

● **Imaging producer**: Imaging is the audio branding leveraged to make radio stations sound unique—for instance, the radio promos, stingers, commercials, and bumpers. Imaging producers, also called creative producers, produce the imaging played on-air and may delve into the in-house production of commercials for clients. 

● **Technical producer or board operator**: With talk radio shows,  the producer is often located in a separate room and runs the broadcasting desk. They may control the sound levels, breaks, etc.

Next, let’s look at the typical duties and responsibilities that you may find in a job description for a radio producer: 

## **2. Radio Producer Duties and Responsibilities**

The radio producer ensures the smooth production of audio content for a live or prerecorded show on a typical day. As the Breakfast Show kicks off in the morning, they will communicate their daily expectation and give their feedback as the show ends. ‘

 

The rest of the day will be busy preparing for the next show. They will also work in close collaboration with the program director. 

 

The audio producer for a podcast may also have quite a busy day, booking guests, editing, troubleshooting, finding new stories, or preparing show notes: 

 

Responsibilities: 

 

● Discuss the show topics and direction with the program director and assistant program director 

● Network and establish relationships with persons of interest

● Collaborate with the on-air Talent and other workmates on show execution

● Produce show segments and features

● Come up with talk show topics

● Help in the selection of on-air guests

● Ensure conformity with rules prohibiting obscene, indecent, and profane content. 

● Monitor the show competitiveness and analyze performance based on rating results

● Offer direction to the talent on promotional mentions, breaks, interview questions, etc.

● May be required to run the broadcasting desk.

● Come up with shows from idea ideation to the final production

● Help produce and run live game shows 

● May be required to produce scripts 

● Helps choose music and appropriate styles for promos, PSAs, and programs

If the role entails working with a podcast, additional responsibilities may include:

● Using audio techniques and audio mixing to create engaging show episodes;

● Repurposing video or text content such as blogs  into engaging podcasts; 

● Partnering with hosts to find and investigate compelling stories; 

● Polishing rough cuts and incorporating show notes; 

● Distributing the podcast episode on all target platforms;  

● Oversee the recording sessions,  and ensure the smooth running of remote interviews. 

## **3. Qualifications to Become a Radio Producer**

The required qualifications will differ depending on the job role and the necessary experience. Some of the basic qualifications entail: 

 

● Minimum working experience in a relevant field (for instance, 3 years in talk radio)

● Good phone skills

● Top-notch scripting, writing, and audio editing skills

● Ear for music and quality sound

● Knowledge of specific radio broadcasting systems

 



## **4. Radio Producer Career Path - Steps to Become One** 

Here is the career progression you can follow to become a radio producer: 

### **Step 1: Education** 

You may only need a High School Diploma or equivalent to qualify for most positions. That doesn’t mean you don’t need formal media training or college education. Employees may prefer candidates with college degrees or formal media production training.

● A bachelor's degree in journalism, media production, media arts, or mass communication.

● =An online radio production program

### **Step 2: Gain the experience**

● Apply for entry-level roles with off-radio duties such as intern or writer

● Volunteer for podcast audio editing jobs

● Join community radio teams

### **Step 3: Find opportunities**

● Think national and global to find opportunities

● Try job boards such as indeed.com

● Network as the best jobs never make it to job boards

● Attend industry events

### **Step 4: Keep training & honing your craft**

● Take on more courses to keep improving your craft

● Try something new, work in new fields, learn music production, etc. 

### How much will it pay? 

According to Payscale, the average salary of a radio producer is $46482. But roles can pay over $100,000, according to Glassdoor. 

 




## **5. Tips on Becoming a Good Radio Producer**

How do you become a great radio producer? Let’s get down to the basics. A good radio producer delivers exceptional shows, works seamlessly with hosts, and furthers the station’s goals.

 

Here are some handy tips to try: 

1. Connect with the hosts by building a great working relationship

2. Know the show production process intimately, from ideation to the final production

3. Understand your working environment and tools of the trade

4. Keep an eye out for any mistakes that you make, note them down, and aim to improve

5. Be open to feedback

6. Answer the why question. Why are you working as a radio producer? Why does it matter? 

7. Watch out for trends in your industry

8. Keep networking

9. Don’t be afraid to volunteer your time to gain the relevant experience

10. Chase new opportunities and harder challenges

11. Develop your ear and eye for creativity

12. Know what your audience is seeking

13. Be confident in your work

 
You can even become an online radio station proprietor by creating one right here on CloudRad.io. It’s a chance to practice your skills by creating and hosting your shows, which give you a proper perspective of broadcasting from all sides. 

Find out what it takes to become a radio/podcast producer in today's guide. 

How to Become a Radio/Podcast Producer: Step-by-Step Career Progression & Tips

It could be you—thinking of quitting your regular 9 to 5 and venturing out on your own as a solo radio act. 

Or, you’re just embarking on your radio career and can’t find suitable placements. You may be thinking of putting together a solo act for the love of radio. 

To the podcasters… This is for you too. 

You may be looking to create a solo podcast and wondering how to succeed or where to start as a solo host.

This blog is a cumulation of observations made over 2 years now. They center around one man, one show, and how he successfully created a solo radio talk show/solo podcast. 

Sorry, names are withheld. 

But that’s all the better, so we can focus on the message. 

We’ll look at 12 observations —real-life lessons you can use to build a captivating solo podcast/radio show. 

## **#Lesson 1:** **Reinvent** **the self** **#YourBrand**

Forget mics, forget scripts, and even forget your booming voice; the most important thing to build is your “self.” And you build it through everyday interactions, for instance:

what you represent as a person

what you say

what you’re known for. 

## **#Lesson 2: Rock the boat**

It’s no secret that many successful talk show personalities rock the boat. That is to say, they are a bit controversial, going against the prevailing perceptions. They confront everyday opinions, adopted as harmless and fine. They call out the government, expose lies, and confront opportunists. 

People find the hosts refreshing and exciting because they don’t exactly see the world as we do. They are bold and fearless. 

## **#Lesson** 3: Build a grassroots following

Build a following at the basic level of society. 

That is to say, people should know you and follow you before you launch your radio show. 

Social media is a great place to spearhead your growth. 

You can start with ordinary posts that share your opinions or commentary—Reshare material from other thought leaders.  

Create and share short videos on various subjects, for instance, a 3-minute clip talking about “Rising costs of mortgages.” And this can be a future show. 

Grow your following from 1,000 followers to 10,000. Keep growing to 100,000. The stronger your grassroots following, the easier it is to transform them into adherent supporters and fans.  

If no one knows you, don’t expect listeners to flock to your radio show. 

## **#Lesson** 4: Go Big, Fail **&** Rebuild - You’re on a Hero's Journey

You’ll fail. 

And that is a big observation in our undercover investigation. 

And the failures may be too much. 

Chasing the big dream may even leave you on your knees. 

But if you’re strong enough to keep trying, things will shift. 

You’re on a hero’s journey. And just like the main characters in classic action movies who get captured and make one last comeback that succeeds, you’ll make it.  

## **#Lesson 5: Target a niche - Serve only one**

There should be no doubt about your target niche, and you should clearly state it. 

For instance, say that “Our podcast targets young men, going through the ups and downs of life, and offering them quality support along the way.” 

Or

“We reach out to people on the spiritual journey and help them achieve their ultimate self.”

It can even serve as a branding slogan of sorts.

## #Lesson 6: Go Live and on multiple platforms

Be felt, be seen, and be heard. And that’s another reason to go Live.

 

It’s a highly interactive experience, as people tune in and contribute. 



You can even invite guests to join the Live broadcast. Like on TV, the viewers will see a split screen with all the invited contributors. 


Another clincher is that going live is a great way to monetize your content. 

On Instagram, fans show support to creators with paid badges. On TikTok, they can send gifts. On YouTube, they can buy Super Chats and Super stickers.

 

Don’t expect your entire fanbase to show up. 



If you have 1million followers on Instagram, only a couple of hundreds or thousands may tune in for the live sessions. 

 

Another golden piece of advice is to go live on multiple platforms at once. 

 

Be Live on your internet radio stream with audio. Go Live on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter with video. 

 

This adds to the total number of people tuning in. 

## **#Lesson 7: Record your Live sessions, repost, and monetize** 

We're busy humans. So, few people may turn up for the Live streams. 

 

That makes it paramount to record your live sessions. 

 

You can start posting them for free on YouTube or sharing the live recordings on Instagram. 

 

As excitement builds up and your show starts getting more attention, limit its availability. For instance, delete live streaming sessions after 3 days but make them available behind a paywall. You can sign up for platforms such as Patreon. 

## **#Lesson 8: Make your shows addictive**

Your content must be simply irresistible. 

 

Irresistible content shares some common elements: 

● It’s fascinating

● It’s creative

● It’s funny

● It fulfills a need

● It impacts lessons 

● It’s shocking too

● It tugs at the heartstrings

 

Don’t expect to have an award-winning show on day one. You’ll need a lot of practice to get there. 

## **#Lesson 9: Consistency and hard work**

It’s not going to be easy. 

But you need to show up every day, ready to do the uncomfortable work. 

If you’re publishing one podcast every week, don’t miss a beat. 

If your radio station has to run 24/7, don’t have a second of dead air. 

If you go live every day, do so consistently without fail. 

You can’t simply replace hard work and consistency. And even if you have 1 guest today instead of 100 as per usual, that’s no excuse not to go on. 

## **#Lesson 10: Connect** 

You must have a fundamental connection with your audience, so much that they can go miles for you. 

How do you build a strong connection? 

Show that you care for their problems and are out to help them. 

Don’t show people that you’re better than them. 

Reveal that you have been in the same trenches before. You’ve made bad choices. Now, you’re better positioned to guide them into the light. 

 

Do involve them, don’t isolate them. Give them merch to purchase, and so on.  

## **#Lesson 11: Don’t back down**  

Haters are a matter of fact. 

People will rise up against you. Shoot you down. Demean. 

But don’t back down. Be prepared for the opposition, and continue doing your best. 

## #Lesson 12: Don’t dilute - Creating content to sell your advertisers 

The problem with content creators is that they go out of their way to modify their content to sell products or services. 

For instance, taking a detour from your wellness podcast to talk about cars just because you have a sponsorship from a dealership. 

It seems clever, but it’s not. 

Stay true to your content. 

At most, give mentions but don’t create content just to sell products. 

 

## **Go forth, Champion!** 

That is it for your masterclass. You can become a successful solo talk show host by implementing these tips. 

But it won’t happen overnight. Give it sufficient time, and don’t give up. 

 

P.S. Our platform hosts internet radio streams. If you’re creating an online radio station, you can try our hosting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Putting together a solo talk show for podcasts or radio? We have some observations and great tips. 

How to Create a Successful Solo Talk Show - Undercover Lessons from a Fired Radio Host!

Are you trying to generate income for your podcast or internet radio station? 

 

If you do it out of love and passion, you can literally create content for free. 

 

But — it'd mean the world to earn income from a show. That's because a consistent income stream allows you to hire talent, buy better equipment, produce professional-sounding audio, and even turn a 'hobby' into a full-time gig.

 

Creators have tried their fair share of monetization strategies. 

 

Most web stations and podcasts pursue ad spots and sponsorships. They may work with advertising networks, where the rates deemed as fair range $20 to $30 for 1000 listeners/downloads. At best, the income will be inconsistent if the show doesn't draw many listeners.  


Exclusive sponsorships are another means to make money, but they don't come easy unless the show is quite popular. It has to be part of the top 2%, as most podcasts and web radios don't pull in large crowds.


That said, listener or download stats don't vindicate the show's quality, and there are other ways to make money. 

Today's article discusses two awesome ways to raise a bit of income —which are applicable for shows with a modest following: 

● Charging a monthly subscription.

● Receiving regular tips from listeners. 


## **What is a membership subscription?**  

It's a monetization model where creators charge a recurring fee that allows users to access premium content. For online radio stations, the content may include ad-free streams or music-only radio streams.

 
Paid podcasts can offer bonus episodes or pre-release new episodes to customers. Membership programs may even provide entry into an exclusive community, full interviews, interactions with show creators, and behind-the-scenes peaks, among other perks. 

 

**Will it work? I heard people basically like free things?** 

 

At the dawn of the internet, people were really drawn to free things. But slowly, the tide has turned, and many people are willing to pay for the right content. 

 

That's why Netflix blew up—it had nearly 221 million subscribers as of 2022. 

 

Imagine what it would mean if you only have 100 people supporting you with at least $10 per month. 

 

Break it further, what if you had 200 subscribers paying $5, a more reasonable sum? 

 

So, it can work provided that: 

● You're solving a problem for your subscribers—whether it's providing better-curated playlists or an ad-free experience; 

● You're offering unmatched value —because a bad experience will cause them to unsubscribe faster than they subscribed and may bad-mouth your station. 

● You're promoting your paid station and giving free listeners a reason to subscribe. For instance, you can limit free podcast episodes to only 20 minutes and ask people to subscribe for the full content. 

 
**Advantages of membership subscriptions**

What are the benefits of developing a subscription-based monetization strategy? Here are some: 

● Dependable income: Your fans pay a recurring fee.

● Predictable revenues: You can predict how much you'll earn just by knowing your subscriber count; 

● No need for ads: Keep your listeners happy by reducing disruptions to the listening experience; 

● Ready & engaged market: A subscriber model creates an engaged community that can support the show in many other ways —buying merch, following you on social media, etc. 

● Stronger Community: Communicate with your subscribers right in their email inbox. Alternatively, include a community section on your paid website section; 

● Much easier to budget for episodes: A predictable revenue stream makes it easier to budget for episodes. 

 

**Challenges of membership subscriptions**

A membership model provides an opportunity to earn with a small audience. So, there are no drawbacks or challenges that you can't surmount.

But it's important to keep the following things in mind and plan accordingly: 

● **Content must be** **top-notch****:** Without a highly engaging show, gaining paid subscribers may be a challenge; 

● **The stakes are higher:** Paying customers expect consistent delivery of high-quality content; 

● **Requires a more** **hands-on** **approach**: Making the membership model work requires a high level of commitment. At the start, you'll need to put in more effort and time. With time and as you build a team, you may only need to put in minimum effort to keep things going. 

## **Best platforms to use to build a membership online radio or podcast**

Let's look at some platforms you can use to create a membership podcast or online radio: 

 

*For online radio stations, don't just share your public stream. That is a bit easy for people to duplicate and share with non-subscribers.

 

Now, the membership platform should still allow you to keep using your host. The platform should ideally offer multiple checkout options and offer flexibility when it comes to creating plans. 

### 1) [**Memberful**](https://memberful.com/) 

 

The platform caters to creatives in different niches, from podcasting to publishing. Customers can create any type of plan, easily manage subscribers, and even sell subscriptions without a website. 

### 2). [**Captive FM**](https://captivate.fm/)

The platform allows users to host podcasts and monetize them as well. It also includes a full suite of marketing tools. 

 
### 3). [**ARMember**](https://www.armemberplugin.com/) 

It's a turnkey WordPress site membership plugin this allows users to build any kind of membership site, from premium news content sites to membership communities. Users like that it doesn't have a monthly fee, only a low one-time price. 
 

### 4). [**Glueup**](https://www.glueup.com/)

The platform offers end-to-end solutions for creating a membership platform, with the unique advantage of allowing users to run online and offline events where they can sell tickets, customize registration, and more. 

 

Other platforms to use to create membership programs include: 

● [Paetron](https://www.patreon.com/)

● [Memberful](https://memberful.com/)

● [Memberspace](https://www.memberspace.com/)

 

## Beyond membership income - Increase earnings with Liveshows and Tips

You can still make money with tips from your fans. This is a genuine monetization option that creators have started using to make money from their shows. For this to work, you’ll have to host a live show on a platform that allows fans to tip the hosts. Many social media platforms have added this feature. And here are links to relevant pages that describe how tipping works: 

● [Instagram badges ](https://help.instagram.com/2284971015132274)

● [Ticktok gifts](https://support.tiktok.com/en/live-gifts-wallet/tiktok-live/live-gifts-on-tiktok)

● [YouTube Superchat](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9178268?hl=en&ref_topic=9164065) 

 

You can also request users to send money through other ways, such as locally available cash transfer methods or with mobile money, for instance, Venmo or Cash App.

 

Are you exploring potential ways to generate income for your radio station or app? Try the membership model, and here is a description of what it entails.

Welcome to the Blog

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