What Radio Reverb does

RadioReverb is a not-for-profit community radio station headquartered at Brighton Open Market in Brighton, United Kingdom, founded in 2004 and operating under an Ofcom community broadcasting licence renewed through 2027. The station broadcasts live on 97.2FM, DAB+ digital radio, and online via radioreverb.com, with on-demand podcasts distributed through Mixcloud (cumulative 500,000+ downloads). It produces more than 50 specialist shows covering music genres (jazz, electronic, rock, world, experimental) and speech content (politics, food/drink, health, mental health, pet care, LGBTQ+, refugees, learning disability, HIV), all presented by approximately 60 unpaid volunteers with a small paid staff led by Director Geoffrey Bowden and Station Administrator Kelly Westlake.

The technology stack is conventional broadcast plus digital: an FM/DAB transmission chain supplemented by online streaming, Alexa smart speaker skills (a UK first for events listings via 'The Brighton Guide Flash Briefing'), and a Mixcloud-hosted listen-again catalogue. There is no proprietary software product or AI capability; technical novelty is limited to the smart-speaker integrations and the multi-platform distribution layer.

The business model is donation- and micro-sponsorship-driven: the station is 100% independent and advert-free, generating revenue from listener donations (starting at £1 via PayPal), individual show sponsorships (£50-£200/month packages with presenter read-outs, social promotion, and interviews), station-level sponsorships (exclusive partner Wave Community Bank since April 2025), event sponsorships tied to the annual Reverbathon fundraiser, and occasional grants (e.g., £1,000 from The Rainbow Fund for HIV Hour). The customer base is a long tail of Brighton & Hove residents, a rotating slate of local SMB sponsors (pubs, vets, restaurants, credit unions), and annual Charity of the Year partnerships (e.g., The Clock Tower Sanctuary in 2025). Reverbathon 2026 raised approximately £3,000, and total annual revenue is unlikely to exceed the low six figures GBP.

Name

Radio Reverb

Legal name

RadioReverb Ltd

Website

https://radioreverb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

RadioReverb is a not-for-profit community radio station in Brighton, UK, broadcasting on 97.2FM, DAB+ and online, with 50+ volunteer-produced shows serving Brighton & Hove residents and under-represented communities via donations and show sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Not-for-profit radio station
• Live radio programming
• Podcast streaming services
• Show sponsorship advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations: RadioReverb is 100% independent and ad-free, relying on donations from listeners starting from as little as £1. Donations processed via PayPal.
2. Show Sponsorship: Local businesses can sponsor individual shows. Packages include presenter read-outs, live endorsements, social media promotion, and interview options. Rates negotiable from £50-£200 depending on show and package type.
3. Station Sponsorship: Exclusive station sponsor (Wave Community Bank) provides financial support in exchange for prominent branding and association with community values.
4. Event Sponsorship: Reverbathon annual fundraiser offers sponsorship opportunities for local businesses - £100 for sole exclusive sponsorship with interview and social media benefits, £50 for joint sponsorship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

RadioReverb is a not-for-profit community radio station that broadcasts live programming on 97.2FM, DAB+, and online streaming at radioreverb.com. It produces over 50 specialist shows spanning music, speech, and community-focused content, and is funded primarily by listener donations and show sponsorship from local businesses.

Product overview

RadioReverb is a community radio station operating as a single, unified broadcasting service across FM (97.2FM), DAB+, and online platforms. The station delivers live radio programming supplemented by an on-demand podcast/listen-again service via Mixcloud. Revenue generation includes listener donations, show sponsorship packages for local businesses, and annual Reverbathon fundraising events. The station offers Alexa smart speaker skills for hands-free access and partners with local charities through its Charity of the Year programme. Programming consists of both music shows (spanning jazz, electronic, rock, world music, and experimental genres) and speech shows (covering politics, food/drink, health, community topics, and cultural events).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Radio Broadcasting Service Community radio broadcasting service on 97.2FM, DAB+, and online streaming at radioreverb.com, featuring live shows and diverse programming for Brighton & Hove listeners.
• Podcast and Listen Again Service On-demand access to previously aired radio shows via Mixcloud integration and the RadioReverb website, enabling listeners to catch up on past programming.
• Show Sponsorship Programme B2B sponsorship packages for local businesses to sponsor individual radio shows, including presenter read-outs, live DJ events, social media promotion, and interview options. Targeted at local businesses seeking community marketing.
• Alexa Smart Speaker Skills Voice-activated app for Amazon Alexa-enabled devices allowing hands-free listening to live RadioReverb, plus the Brighton Guide Flash Briefing skill providing 'what's on' guide for Brighton and Hove.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dedicated listenership exceeding 40,000 people
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brighton FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Brighton Festival 2026 Radio Show - live shows every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5pm presented by Melita Dennett and Callum French, going behind the scenes to meet artists, producers, performers and creators at one of Europe's leading arts festivals.
• Wave Community BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025Wave Community Bank is RadioReverb's exclusive station sponsor. As a credit union embedded in the local community since 2000, Wave Community Bank shares RadioReverb's passion for community engagement and ethical business practices. This collaboration celebrates both organisations' milestones - Wave Community Bank's 25 years and RadioReverb's 18th birthday. The sponsorship reflects confidence in radio as an effective medium for community outreach.
• The Clock Tower SanctuarycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 January 2025The Clock Tower Sanctuary is RadioReverb's Charity of the Year 2025. The only drop-in day centre for 16-25 year olds experiencing homelessness in Brighton. RadioReverb provides on-air promotion, social media to 15,000+ followers, trails and audio for fundraising, and podcasts of appeals.
• Evening Star PubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025The Evening Star pub became the sponsor of Rock's Rich Tapestry show from 2025. Goatee Phil continues to present music history themes with support from this local venue.
• Brighton Table Tennis ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 January 2024Brighton Table Tennis Club was RadioReverb's Charity of the Year 2024. Founded in 2007, the club uses table tennis as a tool to engage people of all ages including prisoners, people with health conditions, asylum seekers, and those with special needs.
• Emmaus Brighton & HovecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2021Emmaus Brighton & Hove was RadioReverb's Charity of the Year 2023. Homeless charity supporting people through challenging times. RadioReverb provided media partnership including promotion of their café, shops and events throughout the year.
• AudioActivecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 November 2020AudioActive was RadioReverb's Charity of the Year 2021. Youth music charity supported through radio promotion and media partnership throughout the year.
• Brighton FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2018RadioReverb continued as Broadcast Media Partner for Brighton Festival 2018, curated by Guest Director David Shrigley. Broadcast 15 live radio shows and released 69 podcasts dedicated to Festival events - a grand total of 30 hours of audio content.
• Brighton FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2017RadioReverb was Broadcast Media Partner for Brighton Festival 2017 (10-year celebration). Daily hour-long live shows from studios in Brighton's Open Market from 5pm-6pm throughout May, repeated at 10pm and 9am following morning. RadioReverb originally started broadcasting during Brighton Festival in 2004 for two weeks before gaining full community licence in 2007.
• Coastway VetsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoastway Vets kindly supports the RadioReverb Pet Show presented by Geoffrey Bowden, a programme dedicated to pets of all shapes and sizes and pet care events in Brighton & Hove.
• Casa Don CarlosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCasa Don Carlos, the original tapas taverna on Union Street Brighton celebrating 40 years, is the show sponsor for the Food & Drink Show with Karen Morton and Charlotte Hastings.
• Spirit Of GravityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpirit Of Gravity are kind supporters of The Sound Laboratory show covering experimental and improv music scene in Brighton & Hove.
• Brighton Peace & Environment CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrighton Peace & Environment Centre kindly supports Chilli Beat Science electronic dance music show.
• Lost Property Arts CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLost Property Arts Collective, the group behind Fort Process festival, produces The Damping Wells show featuring sound art, jazz, experimental and outer limits music.
• Carousel RadiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarousel Radio is an award-winning radio show and podcast produced and presented entirely by learning disabled people, one of the only places on radio where creative voice of people with learning disability and autism can be heard. Won Gold British Podcast Awards 2018.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Resonance FM: London-based community art radio station operating as a non-profit on a similar volunteer-driven model with eclectic specialist programming. Directly comparable as a UK community radio station with award-winning niche shows and a non-commercial funding approach.
• Radio Regen: Manchester-based community radio support organisation and station with a focus on training and volunteer-led broadcasting. Comparable to RadioReverb as a UK community radio operator built around volunteer involvement and local content.
• Brixton Radio: South London community radio station broadcasting on FM and online with locally-rooted, community-led programming and listener/sponsor funding. Comparable to RadioReverb as a UK community station serving an urban, diverse audience with volunteer presenters.
• Academy FM (Folkestone): Folkestone-based community radio station operating on 105.9FM with a not-for-profit structure and community-focused content. Comparable to RadioReverb as a UK community radio serving a defined coastal/southeast audience.
• ALL FM: Manchester community radio station (96.9FM) providing training, volunteer opportunities and diverse programming for under-represented groups. Directly comparable to RadioReverb's mission of giving voice to under-served communities through volunteer-led broadcasting.
• Phonic FM: Exeter-based community radio station broadcasting on 106.8FM with diverse, community-focused programming and a non-commercial model. Comparable to RadioReverb as a regional UK community station operating under an Ofcom community licence.
• Croydon Radio: South London community radio station broadcasting online and on FM with volunteer presenters and sponsorship-led funding. Comparable to RadioReverb in operating model, scale and reliance on local business sponsorship.
• Cambridge 105 Radio: Cambridge community radio station operating as a not-for-profit with volunteer presenters and listener/sponsor funding. Comparable to RadioReverb in size, governance model and breadth of local content.

Others

• Mixcloud: Long-form audio and DJ-mix streaming platform used by RadioReverb to host its Listen Again and podcast content. Comparable as a distribution and discovery layer that RadioReverb depends on for its on-demand audio reach of 500k+ downloads.

Broad incumbents

• BBC Radio (BBC Local Radio): The BBC's local and network radio stations broadcast across the UK including Brighton, offering established music, speech and news programming with public-service funding. Comparable as a UK radio broadcasting competitor with significantly greater scale, but a fundamentally different commercial model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/radioreverb
• YouTubemixcloud.com/RadioReverb
• Facebookfacebook.com/radioreverb97.2FM
• Instagraminstagram.com/radioreverb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Radio Reverb