Are you interested in starting an online radio? In that case, fixing your budget is a big part of the planning process. But how much does it actually cost to start a radio station? We’ve done the math for you, so let’s break it down.
1/ How much does a radio hosting service cost?
2/ How much does it cost to broadcast music?
3/ How much do I need to spend on radio equipment?
4/ Grand total for starting an online radio station
5/ Can I earn money from my online radio station?
How much does a radio hosting service cost?
Automatic broadcasting
The first thing you need to look into when you want to start a radio station is how to broadcast it. For this, you’ll need to to choose a hosting service, such as RadioKing! We provide you with a radio stream that you can manager via an online interface that we call the Radio Manager. Easily upload your content, create playlists & programs, and schedule them to broadcast whenever you like. Here’s a quick look at our Radio Offers:
- Discover Offer: $19/month or $190/year
- Start Offer: $34/month or $340/year
- Pro Offer: $64/month or $640/year
- Business Offer: $119/month or $1190/year
By selecting an annual subscription, you get the equivalent of 2 months free compared to a monthly subscription. The offer you choose will depend on your radio project, your number of listeners, the audio quality you wish to broadcast, etc… RadioKing offers a 14-day free demo, so try it today!
Live broadcasting
With all of our radio offers, you’ll also be able to broadcast live on air. For this, you’ll need to use a live broadcasting software. There are various free options available for Windows and MacOS, such as:
You can also choose to invest in a software solution, such as:
- VirtualDJ: $299
- SamCast (Windows): $199
- AudioHijack (MacOS): from $77
How much does it cost to broadcast music?
Music Royalties
Now that you have a hosting service and a broadcasting software, you’ll need some content. Do you want to play music on your radio station?
Note that if you’re planning on broadcasting commercial music, you will need to purchase a music license. Most internet radio stations tend to cover themselves with a blanket license (also known as an umbrella license) which allows them to legally broadcast whatever music is represented by the issuing authority.
For the USA, there are several licensing bodies. Here’s a list with a rough price estimation*, although bear in mind that pricing will vary depending on the country you’re broadcasting from, as well as the countries you’re broadcasting to:
- BMI: $345/year
- ASCAP: $240/year
- SoundExchange: $500/year
- SESAC: $95/year
*Pricing estimation for non-commercial internet radio stations.
To get in touch with the relative authorities for more information concerning music licensing in your country, take a look at this article.
Royalty Free Music
You can also choose to broadcast royalty free music on your radio station. You’ll still need a music license, but they are much cheaper than a regular music license and generally only require a one-time fee.
If you’re looking to download royalty free music, you may want to take a look at these links:
- AudioJungle: Royalty free audio files available from just $1.
- Jamendo Music: Discover and download trending tracks
- StoryBlocks: Music, sound effects, and jingles
If you’re planning on creating a talk radio station, a music license won’t be necessary!
How much do I need to spend on radio equipment?
In order to start a radio station on the Internet, all you need is a computer and an Internet connection. If you’re reading this article, you probably already have both. However, if you’re planning on broadcasting live, it’s better to invest in some equipment such as a microphone, headphones, and, if you want to record with several people, you’ll also need a mixer.
Microphone
When you start a radio station, it can be difficult to know where to turn to in terms of microphones as there are so many possibilities. Pricing will obviously depend on the type of microphone you want, as well as the overall sound quality. There are 2 options available to you:
- USB microphone: plugs directly into your computer without needing any additional equipment. This is a great option if you’re planning on broadcasting solo, without any guests. The Samson C01U Pro is available for $50.
- XLR microphones: require additional equipment such as an XLR cable, as well as a mixing desk or audio interface in order to connect to your computer. If you’re on a tight budget, we recommend going for the Behringer XM8500 for under $20.
Discover our selection of XLR microphone and USB microphones for radio broadcasting.
Bear in mind that not all microphones are sold with a stand and cables, make sure to count an extra $15 per stand and $10 for an XLR cable.
Headphones
If you’re planning on broadcasting live, or simply to ensure the quality of your broadcast, we recommend comfortable headphones. We also recommend testing your headset before buying it. If you’re on a tight budget, we recommend the AKG K-52 priced at just $30.
Take a look at our selection of best budget headphones.
Mixing desk or audio interface
A mixer will allow you to add multiple microphones, computers or even a dedicated phone line for your radio.
If you’re planning on broadcasting with multiple people, you’ll need to invest in a mixing desk with the appropriate number of microphone inputs (2, 4, 6, 8, etc..) If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to choosing a mixing desk, we invite you to take a look at our selection here.
If, on the other hand, you know that you’ll be broadcasting solo, you can opt for an audio interface with 1 microphone for around $30.
So, how much does it cost to start a radio station?
Although it’s difficult to give an exact number as there are many variants depending on your specific needs, here’s a rough idea of the total pricing:
- Hosting provider: between $140 and $1008/ year
- Equipment: starting from $50
- Music license: between $95 and $500/year
Grand total: between $235 and $1500/year, with an additional one-time fee between for your equipment starting from around $50.
Can I earn money from my online radio station?
It’s completely possible for you to monetize your radio station in order to earn some extra cash to help fund your project! There are various options, such as:
- Sponsorships/partnerships
- In-stream advertizing
- Affiliate programs
- Sell goodies
For more information on how to earn money from your radio, take a look at this article on our blog.
You now know everything you need to know to make your radio dreams comme true! So, what are you waiting for?
