How Much Does It Cost to Start FM Radio?

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Cost of Starting a Radio Station

To start an internet radio station, you can use existing equipment, costing almost nothing. Another option is creating a low-power FM radio station for under $15,000. However, obtaining an FCC license is necessary for legal broadcasting on FM frequency bands. There are two types of FM radio licenses: LPFM (local) and full power.

Equipment and Licensing Costs

For broadcasting via FM/AM or DAB, a larger budget is required due to licensing costs. However, internet radio stations offer cheaper licensing options and allow you to reach a global audience.

Starting Your Own FM Radio Station

  1. Small-Scale FM Station: Starting cost around $20,000.
  2. Medium-Scale Station: Costs can exceed $350,000.
  3. FM License Application: Requires $725 fee.

To operate legally, you need to establish funding for studio space, power, microphones, transmitters, audio mixers, and headphones.

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