Have a music schedule
A schedule will be the content of your radio station that is organized by day and hours. You must have a chart on your website with information about your programming by days and hours; this will let your website visitors know about what you have to offer to them if they listen to your station. For example, you have a rock show on Mondays from 7 pm to 11 pm; if your visitor is interested, will tune in to listen that day and at that time. If your website visitors don’t listen now, you have the chance to have them as listeners later.
Another way of having a schedule is by using Sweepers, Jingles, and Promos. These elements usually last less than 10-seconds and are used every 2 or 3 songs alternating one for another.
- Sweeper – Is an element usually used between songs that has sound effects and talking. This talking is done by the station’s hired “voice guy,” rather than someone at the radio station, so it’s a completely different voice. Identify the name of the station and the frequency, for example (The X, 100.9fm). In the case of the Internet, Radio will be the name of your station or show and the domain name.
- Jingle – A jingle is played between songs, and is sound effects, music, and jingle singers all wrapped into one. Like a sweeper will have the name of your station or show and the domain name.
- Promo – A promo usually starts the commercial set. Like on television, where they play a promo spot for an upcoming TV show before the paid commercials start, a radio station will also plug an upcoming station event, a particular show on the station, etc. Promos usually last 30-seconds and include voice, sound effects, music, and audio clips.
- Slogans – Impact with your station slogans (is a concise description of your station) also has to be catchy and easy to remember. For example, Z100 “New York’s Hit Music Station”, Capital FM “Number One Hit Music Station”, 2Day FM “Sydney’s Hit Music Station”, NRJ “Hit Music Only”
Sweepers and Jingles are constant reminders to the listener about what and from where they are listening. Promo is what you are going to use to announce an upcoming program next or any other day. Repetition is the way we learn and memorize.
Sell your station benefits, let listeners know why they should listen to your station, be very specific, for example, The favorite surfer’s station, giving you the tide report every 15 min.
Remember, all these elements should be created with the station’s official voice, not by a DJ of the station; the idea is to separate entertainment from the business. You can also incorporate/mix with these elements some listener’s voices with hour farces like “my station”, “I love it”, “best music” etc.
