How to Start a Talk Radio Broadcast on the Internet
Whether you're already a veteran broadcaster looking to expend your horizons or an expert on a particular subject, hosting an Internet talk radio show can get your message out to millions of potential listeners. As technology continues to evolve, Internet radio will soon be as accessible to listeners as their cell phone or car stereo.
When starting a new talk radio show, you have a choice to make: do you want to spend money to make money? Internet radio networks such as LA Talk Radio, CyberstationUSA, Talk Zone, wsRadio, and The Voice America will, for a fee, put your show before a large listening audience and promote you heavily.
Or if you are just starting out and money is tight, the most popular do-it-yourself talk radio hosting service is Blog Talk Radio. Using BTR, anyone can host a live call-in show using only their telephone and a computer at little to no cost.
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Instructions
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Join Forces With a Talk Radio Network
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When you pay a syndication fee to broadcast your show on an established talk radio network such as The Voice America, LA Talk Radio, CyberstationUSA or wsRadio, you usually retain all rights to your original programming. You will have the option of using the network's facilities and an in-house producer, or you can broadcast from your own studio anywhere in the world. The network will assist you with promotions, publicity, advertising sales and commercial production.
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Shop around and decide which network is right for you. Although most radio networks offer a wide variety of programming, some networks feature more political talk, others have a stronger focus on sports or financial shows. Whatever your subject of expertise - be it computers, cooking, relationship advice, or the paranormal - choose a network that can reach your target audience.
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Prepare a demo of your proposed show; this will be your "audition" for the network. You can pay for studio time at a local recording studio or, if you're already proficient in audio recording/editing software, simply make your demo show on your home computer.
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Produce a demo that sounds as close to a live show as possible, including taking calls. Have friends or family members call in questions since you're not yet broadcasting to a live audience. Mainly, you just want to show the network what your phone style is: are you a rude, brusque shock jock who hangs up on people or a soft, welcoming voice giving advice to the lovelorn?
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Sign a syndication contract with the network. Every network's contract is unique; some may span only 13 weeks, others may be for a year or indefinitely until mutual termination. This contract should spell out all terms of the agreement clearly: what your cost to the network is, how and when it will be paid, what revenue your show generates through the network, ownership rights, music licensing fees (if applicable) and any other special considerations.
DIY at Blog Talk Radio
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Sign up at Blog Talk Radio and familiarize with how it works. You may decide that having more direct control over every aspect of how your show is produced and marketed is preferable to hosting over a syndicated network. The free hosting package is perfect for beginning broadcasters, allowing you to do one show a day with up to five live callers at a time. Advanced hosting packages range from $39 to $249/month (as of September 2010) offering hundreds of concurrent callers and thousands of impressions per month.
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Add optional features to your Blog Talk Radio broadcast package if desired. These might include adding a Toll-Free Number for your callers, or a transcription service for listeners to order transcripts of any program. (These services cost extra in addition to your hosting package.)
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Integrate your Blog Talk Radio account with your social network accounts at Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or elsewhere. This handy tool keeps your friends and followers continuously updated with news about your show and provides real-time listener feedback.
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Name your show and choose a category (you can do this from the "My BTR" menu in the top right corner of your screen). Click "Add an Episode," and schedule when your show will air. This can be done one show at a time, or set at the same time each week. Then click "Add a File" to start uploading your MP3 files for broadcast. (This can either be background/bumper music, or your pre-recorded shows if you don't plan to broadcast live.)
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Click the "Switchboard" button when you are ready to go live. The broadcast screen will have all the info you previously entered for this show, your MP3 files in the queue, and the call-in lines visible. Then dial your designated host phone number (provided at sign-up) and enter your host PIN. You are now on the air!
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Tips & Warnings
Blog Talk Radio's "Add a Blog Post" feature is an effective way to announce each show's topic or plug upcoming on-air guests.
When you broadcast on an Internet radio network, you are an independent contractor, not an employee of the network. All income your show generates should be reported as self-employment income on tax returns.
If you plan to broadcast any copyrighted music on your show, you will need to secure a license to use the music legally and pay a fee. If you're working with an Internet Radio Network, the network will include this fee and take care of all the licensing paperwork for you as part of your hosting package.
