Perth community radio station RTRFM is calling on listeners to support its annual Radiothon fundraiser, with a simple message: “It’s good for you.”
As streaming platforms, podcasts and commercial broadcasters compete for audiences, RTRFM is making the case for something different — music selected by people, not algorithms.
With more than 125,000 weekly listeners, the station says its appeal lies in connecting Perth audiences with local music and the wider community.
With no playlisting and every song being handpicked by each presenter, RTR General Manager Simon Miraudo explains the station’s listenership is a reflection of people searching for connection.
“We’re seeing is that community radio’s listenership is steady, if not increasing. And that is because community radio is not serving up the same things that streaming platforms are.
“It’s not feeding you the algorithmically designed music that people are otherwise getting on commercial radio. So people who want to listen to the alternatives, they’re not going to get that from Spotify.”
“It’s a place of community. It’s a classic third space, even though it is intangible radio.”
Supporting local musicians
For many local Perth musicians, RTR plays an important role in securing radio airplay. Being so far from the Eastern states, getting exposure from Triple J and commercial radio is that extra bit harder.
“For a local WA artist to penetrate national airplay, it requires so many hoops to be jumped through.
“We want to be local artists first port of call. And I think people respect and appreciate that,” Miraudo said.
The station’s focus on local music is supported by its 400 volunteer presenters, who are given the freedom to choose what they play.
Miraudo said the station’s 400 volunteer presenters have the freedom to select their own music, allowing them to discover and promote artists who might otherwise struggle for airplay.
That freedom allows presenters to seek out artists they believe deserve more attention.
“And so when they play a band, you know that that’s been hand selected and that’s by someone who wants to shine a light on a particular artist.”
Miraudo said that personal approach can also encourage listeners to engage with the artists they hear on RTR.
“This is something that the listener feels strongly about, and they are more attentive to that music. Then they want to go and support those artists in a live scene.”
Backing the community
In support of Radiothon, RTR has partnered with several local businesses to have special items that contribute to Radiothon’s donation fund, with local businesses supporting the station’s fundraising efforts.
“To have local businesses who like, they appreciate what we bring and we only work with businesses that we think reflect our values as well.
“It’s quite touching, honestly, as someone who works here. It’s quite touching during Radiothon to see the influx of love.”
Miraudo said the slogan ‘good for you’ derives from the classic ‘apple a day’, where community is able to feed you ‘good’, and it is people power that fosters it.
“When we think about it being good for you, you know, you think about your two and five, and you think about an apple a day.
“But I think if someone listens to RTR FM every day, they are ingesting good and I think they in turn produce good as well.”
For RTR, that people power also helps cover the everyday costs of keeping the station on air.
“We have to pay power bills, we have to pay for our license, we have to pay for the power to our transmission tower, we have to pay for our toilet rolls, but ultimately, to be able to do that through people power is very meaningful.”
More than just music
For local musicians, community radio is more than just a platform for music; it’s about connection and discovering your peers.
Luke Giglia-Smith from the Fremantle-based band Lloyd and the Leftovers said it’s a rewarding feeling supporting a station that supports the scene.
“It feels nice to support the radio station that supports the bands and, you know, playing those shows.”
(Lloyd and the Leftovers performing an RTR ‘Slightly Oddway’)
For emerging artists, the station also provides an opportunity to be discovered by listeners.
“It’s important because there not at a point where they’re playing enough to be able to discover them live, but being able to find them on radio and have that curated by people who are explicitly looking for that and its really amazing.
“It truly grounds the scene and ties the scene together.”
RTR’s Radiothon is ultimately a reminder of the role community radio plays in supporting local artists and connecting Perth’s music scene.
Clare Perrott
Clare Perrott is a Journalism and Broadcasting student at ECU with a strong passion for arts, culture and education.
