Source Radio

This page concerns the student radio station based at Coventry University. For the community radio station based in Cornwall, see Source fm.

Source Radio

City of license	Coventry, England
Broadcast area	Coventry University
Slogan	Coventry University's Student Radio Station
First air date	January 2006 (March 2000 as Phoenix Radio)
Format	Hot CHR
Former callsigns	Phoenix Radio, Source FM
Owner	Coventry University Students' Union (Coventry University Students' Union)
Webcast	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/source-radio-studio#utm_campaign=synclickback&source=http://www.sourceradio.co.uk/&medium=5999235
Website	http://www.sourceradio.co.uk

Source Radio is a radio station operating from Coventry, England. It is a division of the Coventry University Students' Union, and broadcasts to the Campus and beyond, online. It has in the past operated for short periods on FM and AM, but currently offers a near CD-quality version of the output via the Internet.

Known as "Source FM" from 2001 to 2005, and "Phoenix Radio" before that, the station changed its name as part of a rebrand to eliminate confusion over the fact that it does not broadcast on FM for the majority of the year, and was moving to a permanent AM license.

The station opened on Monday 9 January 2006 at 8 am with Dan & James at Breakfast, the station's morning-show of that era.

Music

The station provides a unique blend of music to the city, uncatered for by the other stations in Coventry. Current "youth" favourites and upfront music are complemented by the best tracks of the past few years, and the biggest songs of the 1990s. The breaking of new acts forms an important part of the music policy. Unusually the station plays a fair amount of Cliff Richard, despite the trend in radio not to play Richard tracks.

Notable alumni

The station has many talented presenters, a number of whom have gone on to enjoy success in the professional arena.

Its alumni includes the likes of:

• Chris Moyles (BBC Radio 1)
• Nick Arkell (Trafficlink, Silk 106.9)
• Roopa Rajani (BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Television)
• Chris Nash (Touch Radio, 107.1 Rugby FM)
• Kelly-Anne Smith (Kix 96.2, Century 106, Virgin Radio)
• Tim Westwood (BBC Radio 1, Capital FM)
• Paul Bodman (Trafficlink, Big City Radio)
• Ben Gareth (The Hillz, Hope 90.1)
• Bill Bennett (BBC Local Radio)
• James Martin (107.1 Rugby FM, Fosseway Radio, Banbury Sound)

Current presenters

The station once had many talented presenters who kept the airways full of great music and talented talking. However lately they haven't had anyone to write home about. Many aspire to break into the radio industry professionally upon graduation. The station members meet weekly on Mondays at 6 pm in The Junction of CUSU's Priory Street building, and the meeting remains 'open to any new members who are at the University'.

List of managers

• Thomas Balmer (Station Manager)
• Scott Cowley (General Secretary)
• Jake Humbles (Music Manager)
• Chris Hammond & Jack Harris (Production Management)
• Natasha Apps (Marketing Manager)
• Laurie-ann Masfusire (News Manager)
• Alexander Holland (Social and Events Manager)
• Robert Kirkland-Gay (Technical Manager)

Production values

Source Radio's jingle package is produced by ex-Station Manager Chris Nash, with the male voice being Ben Day (Touch FM) and the female vocal as Anna Harding (107.1 Rugby FM, Banbury Sound, Fly FM).

FM RSLs

In May 2005, the station ran a short-term stint on 102.6FM in Coventry. The launch was publicised in the local press, as well as supported by a series of advertising billboards in the city centre. Other stints took place in March 2002, March 2003 and September 2005.

Becoming Source Radio and going to AM

The rebrand came about as the station rarely broadcast on FM, and with the (later-fulfilled) possibility of an AM license on the way it was felt it was time to strengthen the brand.

Around the same time youth station Kix 96.2 closed down in the city, and flipped to an adult contemporary station, Touch Radio, which made it part of a network of stations in the Midlands. Source Radio, took this opportunity to fill the gap left, and although Radio 1 became the number one station in the city, Source Radio's placing and status offered a distinctive opportunity.

The station launched to the city on 1431AM on Monday, 5 March 2007 under the management of Kat Page, with a special programme presented live from the Student's Union nightclub, FiftyFour.

Technology

The station has one studio, with a 12-channel Soundcraft sound desk. The playout system is currently Myriad, although RCS Selector and Linker provides the scheduling facilities. The studio phone is controlled via Skype, whilst texts and emails are handled on screen.

In addition to this, the DJ can play music from 2 CD decks, 2 turntables or a PC, as well as any device they may choose to connect via 3.5 mm cable input such as an iPod.

In the next few years the station is hoping to move to a new studio complex in the new Coventry University Student's Union building, slated to open in early 2011.

Flirt! and Source Radio

Students Unions across the country participate in a national event called "Flirt!", a franchise for an evening entertainment event. CUSU became the first union in the country to have its radio station simulcast the event live on its radio station throughout the 2004–05 academic year.

External links

• "Article about the 1431AM launch". Archived from the original on 2007-12-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20071215225201/http://www.sourceradio.co.uk/content/view/18/26/. Retrieved 2007-12-22. 
• Official site
• Coventry University's Student Union Source Radio mini-site