Award-winning student radio station Utopia FM is being backed by popular Sunderland band the Hungover Stuntmen in its bid to become the city’s first radio station specifically for younger people.
The University station currently runs twice a year on air and online at www.utopiafm.net
Now, radio academics at ADMC are putting together a case to apply for a full-time licence to communications regulator Ofcom, which is responsible for granting radio licences.
If successful, the station would be the first in the region to cater for university, college and school youngsters, offering the latest music, news and entertainment.
People working on Utopia FM, which is run entirely by students, have won numerous national and international awards over the past five years - six alone in the BBC Radio 1 Student Radio Awards.
The Hungover Stuntmen, who have been described as a ‘brilliant new band’ by the Sun; ‘Awesome’ by Radio 1’s Zane Lowe and a ‘A new Indie Britpop sensation’ by Virgin Net, said they were keen to support the station.
A statement from the band reads: “As a North-East based band with strong connections to Sunderland, we are happy to put our name behind this bid. The University of Sunderland would benefit from a community spirited project like this, as would the young people of the city. Good luck and keep supporting local music."
Richard Berry, senior lecturer in radio at Sunderland, said: “This is a real opportunity to create an exciting radio station and a one that young people can call their own. Not just because they can hear the sort of programmes they like but more importantly because they can have a real say in what it does.
“The new community radio licence means we can really build on the success that Utopia has had over the past ten years. It also means we can do so much more and work closely with the audience and the community in ways that short-term broadcasts could never do.”
Applying for a community radio licence means programmes will involve local people, and there will be an opportunity for local colleges, schools and youth groups to get involved.
The station aims to build a network of local groups producing content from different parts of the city, with possible satellite studios to broadcast live from different parts of Sunderland.
The station’s aim is to compliment the other radio stations in the city by offering different programmes and also being accountable to its audience.
Utopia staff are inviting local groups to get in touch with them to discuss how they might work together in the future. See more at www.sunderland.ac.uk/radio or email community.radio@sunderland.ac.uk
