RTRFM's Radiothon is on!

The medium of radio is going through unprecedented changes. With the expansion of internet and digital radio, old-school stations that have been ‘available on the dial’ now have to hone in on niche formats to present a truly stand-out product to their audience.

But while commercial stations – which often cater to the lowest common denominator (ie: a mass market) – have been finding it difficult to discover a particular niche, community radio stations pretty much had them all along.

A station like RTRFM 92.1 in Perth proudly boasts a variety of segments – from dedicated arts programs (eg: Artbeat) to queer politics (All Things Queer), classic jazz (Nostalgia) to progressive electronica (Full Frequency), dance (Disco Science) to even a bold program dubbed ‘Difficult Listening’. With this variety, the station’s individual listeners can pick and mix whatever music and topic content they like during particular parts of the day. And since a lot of this audience is already equipped with the tool to enjoy internet and digital media, RTRFM’s growth in these new media can only happen quicker.

But there needs to be some sort of funding to help a station like RTR grow, and since the Australian government has tightened its purse strings and slowed in its assistance to community radio, it’s ultimately up to a community station’s listeners to keep the alternative sound alive.

This is where RTRFM’s Radiothon comes in – responsible for almost a third of the stations’ annual operating income.

Having kicked off on Friday, the station is taking listeners through Radiothon madness until noon, Sunday 23rd August, tying in with live gigs around Perth. Presenters will be asking listeners to contribute in any way they can – via subscription or donation – all contributions helping to see the station grow.

On that note, this year’s Radiothon theme is ‘digging deep’ – “helping to grow and create fertile soil for community issues, local music and the arts”. Even some of the prizes that subscribers will be up for have a definitive ‘eco’ bent to them including a $3,000 Infinite Energy home solar package to the cutest biodegradable pot plants. And there’ll be new prizes announced and drawn daily.

To help keep the alternative sound alive, tune in to 92.1 on your analogue or digital dial or online at www.rtrfm.com.au, and phone (08) 9260 9210 to subscribe/donate.  Antonino Tati