Youth community broadcaster FBi Radio tops half million listener mark
Sydney community radio station FBi has topped the half million audience mark for the first time in its 16 year history.
The station, which specialises in independent music aimed at 18-24 year olds, recorded 504,000 average monthly listeners according to the McNair community radio survey for 2018.
Managing director Nikki Brogan said: “The survey numbers are a clear vindication of our commitment to championing new sounds and diverse, emerging voices. The twin milestones of turning 15 and passing half a million listeners are a direct result of the wonderful efforts of a staff and volunteer community driven by a passion for Sydney culture, and of our belief in and respect for our listeners who value being challenged as much as being entertained.”
Programming changes in 2018 included a new line up to the Up For It breakfast show, with Ruby Miles as presenter and Ted Dwyer becoming executive producer and a new Wednesday to Thursday mornings host Eddy Diamond and mornings executive producer Jodie Fisher.
The survey results found average time spent listening across the week increased by 2.5 hours to 12 hours, and the average weekday audience for the breakfast and morning shows doubled.
The station aims to play at least 50% Australian music, with 61% of most-played tracks from 2018 hailing from Sydney, 71% from Australia, plus 44% from female, trans and non-binary artists. The most played track of 2018 was “Cooked” by Western Sydney hip hop duo Slim Set.
In 2018 the station also launched new podcasts: Don’t @ Me with Ayebatonye, Movies Movies Movies, Or It Didn’t Happen, Let’s Talk About Sex and Notes From Home.
2018 also saw former FBi presenters moving into coveted industry roles, including previous breakfast announcer Lucy Smith, hip-hop show hosts Sally Coleman and Erica Mallett, and summer program host and Dance Class alumni Ebony Boadu all moving to Triple J, while others returned to hold workshops for volunteers, including Marc Fennell and Dom Alessio.
*repeated airhorn sample*
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Great bunch of people, good on ’em
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