Subcity Radio Show Application Pack

About Subcity Radio is an independent, non-profit station based in Glasgow and broadcasting to the world. We provide a platform to creative individuals to create forward-thinking radio content. Over 200 contributors make up our community, they are editorially independent and follow no set playlist, all content is their own. The station was founded in 1995 as an alternative to the options on the FM dial in Glasgow, following an American freeform college radio format. The station went online in 2003, and the last FM broadcast was in 2009. Today the station continues to aim for unique content that is free from commercial restraints. We keep our ears to the ground and our heads in the clouds. Freeform means that the station subscribes to no centralised programming and has no set playlist; this means presenters have full control over the content they put out on the airwaves, they are editorially independent and responsible for their own promotion and production. We will always encourage applications which challenge the norm, which attempt to shine light on under-represented styles or topics, and which use the radio as a creative medium. The station hosts an incredible catalogue of audio for on-demand listening, including listen again playback for all shows, sessions, interviews, news and live recordings. Off-air, we operate as one of Glasgow’s most established promoters, running club nights, day events, screenings and exhibitions at venues including: The Art School; Sub Club; Stereo; Nice N Sleazy; SWG3; The Arches (RIP); The Berkeley Suite; The Buff Club. The acts booked for events are always contributors who have been involved with the station. Subcity Radio alumni have included: Hudson Mohawke; Optimo; Boom Monk Ben (Mixed Bizness); Slam (Founders, Soma Records); Shaun Murphy (Co-founder, Vitamins); Mungo’s Hi Fi; Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebstian); Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand); Laura Sayers (Producer, BBC Radio 1); Dougal Perman (Cofounder, Radio Magnetic); Adam Uytman (Editor, BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra).

Applying for a Show These notes are designed to give you an idea of the sort of things we are looking for; this is a guide, but you should pitch your idea in the format that works best for you. The details you include in your pitch are what the programmes team will use to assess your ideas, your interest and capability in seeing them through. You can write about whatever you think is relevant in any structure you think appropriate, so don’t worry about including everything mentioned in this document.

Key Criteria Good content doesn’t need to tick all of these boxes, but the fewer areas of the criteria a piece of content meets, the stronger it should be in the ones it does. When pitching your idea think about whether it measures up to this, and try and point out where you feel it does. At Subcity Radio we measure the quality of our shows by assessing whether the contributors are: • Enthusiastic and passionate about sharing their knowledge and interest in exciting areas. • Positively engaged in the station’s community. Content should be: • Fresh, exciting, challenging, exclusive, obscure, progressive, high quality, intelligent, independent, alternative, confident, talked about, timeless. • Considered with the distribution format (freeform radio) in mind; why should it be on Subcity Radio and not simply on Soundcloud? • Limitless. Don’t put limits on the possibility of change and expansion, if you’re too niche you might fast run out of content (i.e. a show focused on Madonna’s brief foray into electronica ca. 1998 would have a pretty short shelf life). What we mean by distribution format: • It’s freeform! – Listeners don’t tune in for hours on end, they’ll most likely listen to the same shows every week. Concepts that rely on broad or populist appeal and having a latent audience will struggle compared to shows that will be able to attract a specific audience who choose to engage with the content. • It’s time-shifted. The vast majority of listeners are not listening live. Most people engage in the same way that they do with iPlayer or Soundcloud: at their own convenience. Things like competitions and topical content can work, but it’s worth bearing a sense of timelessness in mind.

Areas of Interest Although the above criteria apply to all content, we also look at applications under more specific - audio content, the supporting output around this to promote and enhance it, and you as a contributor. These could be more or less important to your show in particular, but are expanded upon in their own sections.

Audio Content Ensuring you have a basic core structure to your show to begin with will provide a stronger basis on which your content can develop. •

•

• • •

What is the core content you will present to the audience? For example: the music, topics of exploration, themes to base episodes around, guests to pursue. Go into detail! o It’s useful to provide a sample playlist and show structure if appropriate. o If you have an example of a mix/blog/article that you have personally developed and wish to share, it would be good to provide a link. How is this core content going to be packaged and presented? Will the music be mixed? Will you act as a host? Will the content be discussed or augmented with more information? How will the show have continuity from episode to episode? How will each episode differ or evolve? How will this content be made? Will it all be produced live in the studio, or will some sections be recorded in advance? Why is Subcity Radio the right platform for this content? As opposed to other free platforms like Soundcloud or Mixcloud?p0

Supporting Content and Promotion Each show is responsible for promoting their own episodes and managing the supporting outlets and content that accompanies them. • •

•

• •

Who are your target audience and how will you engage with them? What channels will you use to promote your episodes? Do you have any blogs, Facebook pages, forums, outlets in mind, and do these channels match your target audience? Could you use offline materials for promotion? How will your content stand out or hold its own against the rest of the internet/ current shows on Subcity Radio as well as different stations? What makes it unique? How will you use the text space available on each episode page? Will the show tie in with other activities? We have lots of contributors who also run blogs, put on club nights, write for magazines etc. How would any tie-ins work? How will they complement your content/assist in its promotion?

You We’d like to know a bit about you, i.e. the one(s) attempting to pull these ideas off: • •

•

Why does Subcity Radio seem right for you? What attracts you to the station? Do you have the necessary interest and enthusiasm to curate a show based on this idea? For example, do you have a big enough collection of the type of music planned? You don’t need to have a background in radio to apply for a show, but let us know about what relevant experience you do have - e.g. putting on band nights, DJing, curating events and so on. What are you looking to get from your time at the station? Are you interested in the wider Subcity Radio community as a whole?

Of course, we’re not expecting every objective in this list to be covered in your application. Subcity Radio as a community is an ideal creative environment to develop your idea in; this pitch should be viewed as a starting point.

 

Start your application