Rare FM

Rare FM is the student-run radio station of UCL.

Background

Rare FM was set up in 1998 as an afflicted society of UCL Union, headed at that time by Ed Jackson. It is managed by a committee elected annually at the society's AGM by its members.

Rare FM broadcasts continuously over the Internet, streaming music when DJs are not live in the studio hosting their shows. On a normal day during the university's Autumn and Spring Terms, there will be approximately 15 hours of original programming, starting at 9.00 a.m. and finishing at 12.00 midnight.

During the university's holidays and reading weeks, many of the student DJs leave London resulting in the output of shows per day decreasing, although some other shows are extended to cover some time that would otherwise be filled by streaming music as happens at night. Similarly, during the Summer Term many students DJs are unable to do their shows owing to exams.

Whilst students are not in the studio, music is streamed via a computerised playout system, making use of MP3 and OGG streaming. Students are able to play music from a variety of sources including the studio database, CDs, cassette tapes, records, mp3 players, MiniDiscs and laptops.

Rare FM has started to provide some content via podcast. The podcasts are available via RSS feed available through the website and listeners can also listen and subscribe via the iTunes music store. The podcast show Some News Or Something has been nominated for the 'Media Project of the Year' award at UCL's Social Colours and Arts Awards Ceremony 2007.

Rare FM uses Restricted Service Licences to broadcast on FM to Central London, (as well as over the Internet as normal), for up to 28 days a year. During this period, local London businesses are given the opportunity to advertise on FM. New Look advertised on Rare FM during the 2007 FM broadcast.

In 2004, Rare FM broadcast on FM from 1st to 28th February. In 2005, the FM broadcast lasted from 23rd September to 5th October to co-incide with UCL's Freshers' Week. The last FM broadcast took place from 6th to 19th March 2007.

Rare FM DJs also broadcast live at UCL and UCL Union events, such as the Freshers' Fayre and the Summer Arts Festival.

Content

Rare FM is primarily a music station, tending to focus on indie/alternative music, although almost none of its output is playlisted. As Rare FM DJs have the freedom to play the music they like, this focus is more coincidence than design. Music companies sending Rare FM promotional CDs also tend to specialise in indie and alternative music, influencing some of the ouput.

Rare FM features a wide range of specialist shows focusing on many different music genres including classical music, grimecore, Bollywood, heavy metal and UK hip hop.

Rare FM is believed to be the first radio station in the world to play a Coldplay track, the members of Coldplay having met at UCL, although there is still some debate about this.

Outside of the music content, Rare FM has shows focusing on film, books, football and news from UCL Union's clubs and societies. The station regularly features interviews with musicians and comedians. Recently, special guests have included Alan Fletcher (Neighbours's Karl Kennedy and lead singer of the band Waiting Room) , Josie Long, The Spinto Band, the Five O'Clock Heroes, Jason Bavanandan (lead singer of the band Battle) and Ty.

Past interviewees and/or studio guests have included Thirteen Senses, The Subways, Stewart Lee, The Magic Numbers, Graham Coxon, Razorlight and Kings of Leon.

Station Alumni of Note

Alex Zane - DJ in 1999-2000 (with weekly show It's Alex Zane!), went on to be a presenter for XFM, MTV and Channel 4. He hosted Popworld on Channel 4.

Nick Godwin - DJ in 2000-2001 worked as a DJ on London Live.

Karyn Miller - Head of Spoken Word 1999-2000 went on to be a successful journalist for Vogue and The Mail on Sunday.

Club Night

Rare FM runs a club night called I Like It Rare!. These nights allow Rare FM DJs to DJ live at venues across London, with profits returning to the venue and to the society, used to fund the running of the radio station.

Some of the club nights take place at the Salmon and Compass in Angel, London and, while there is no music policy as such, the music played is similar in style to that played on Rare FM itself unless a theme is decided upon.

As well as the station's DJs providing music, live bands, normally supplied by the UCLU Live Music Society, perform during these club nights. The opening night and Christmas Special in 2006, for example, featured July July and Punchfight!, (both UCL bands).

See also

• Student Radio Association

External links

• Official Rare FM website
• UCL Union's Rare FM page
• The Student Radio Association's list of members
• Rare FM's listing on Media UK
• Rare FM's listing on PenguinRadio
• Rare FM merchandise