Purple Radio
Purple Radio is a student-run radio station at Durham University that broadcasts 24/7 during term time and distributes podcasts via Spotify and Apple Podcasts, serving Durham students and the local community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersDurham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Purple Radio does
Purple Radio is a student-run radio station founded in 1995 and operated from Durham University campus in the United Kingdom. It functions as a student group under Durham Students' Union, a registered charity in England and Wales (charity number 1145400) and company limited by guarantee (07689815). The station broadcasts live content 24/7 during term time covering music, news, sports commentary, drama, and arts, and distributes on-demand podcast content globally via Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with the website powered by the Aiir radio website CMS.
The station runs two complementary product lines beyond live radio: Purple Magazine, a monthly online publication covering music news, artist interviews, and local cultural features; and Live Lounge Studio Sessions, which feature local artists performing 30-minute stripped-back original sets paired with interviews. Its primary audience is Durham University students, with secondary reach into the wider Durham community, while emerging local artists are featured as on-air talent and podcast guests.
Revenue mechanics are predominantly institutional: Purple Radio is funded through Durham Students' Union, supplemented by a recently launched advertising service targeting local businesses, charities, and community groups on a quote-based, pay-as-you-go basis. Listener access is free, and artist services such as Live Lounge Sessions are offered free of charge as promotion. The station does not have external investors, disclosed funding rounds, or independent incorporation.
Purple Radio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Purple Radio
- Legal name
- Purple Radio
- Website
- https://purpleradio.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Purple Radio is a student-run radio station at Durham University that broadcasts 24/7 during term time and distributes podcasts via Spotify and Apple Podcasts, serving Durham students and the local community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Purple Radio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Other Sound Recording Industries (51229)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Program Syndication (Talk, Music, Sports) (MPABAMAE)
Keywords
Where Purple Radio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Purple Radio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Student Society Operations: Purple Radio operates as a Durham Students' Union (Durham SU) affiliated student group. Funding comes through Durham SU which is a charity registered in England and Wales (1145400) and a company limited by guarantee (07689815).
- Advertising Services: Purple Radio is launching advertising services targeting local businesses to promote their products and services to Durham's student community and wider audience.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free listener access |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Local business advertising |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Purple Radio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Purple Radio is Durham University's student-run radio station, broadcasting live 24/7 during term time with music, news, sports commentary, drama, and cultural programming. It distributes an on-demand library of podcasts and audio dramas via Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and publishes a monthly online Purple Magazine spotlighting emerging artists and local voices from Durham's creative scene.
Product overview
Purple Radio is a student-run radio station offering a dual-mode service: live radio broadcasting (24/7 during term time) featuring music, news, sports, and drama content across scheduled shows; and on-demand podcast content distributed via Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The station also produces Purple Magazine, a monthly online publication covering music news and local artists, and Live Lounge Studio Sessions featuring local artist performances with interviews. The products work together to serve Durham University's student community through both real-time broadcast experiences and on-demand listening/content consumption.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Live Radio Broadcasting Live radio content broadcast 24/7 during term time, offering music, news, sports commentary, drama, and entertainment programming to students and the local Durham community.
- On-Demand Podcasts On-demand audio content including podcasts, audio dramas, and investigative series, produced by Purple Radio and distributed through Spotify and Apple Podcasts platforms.
- Purple Magazine Monthly online magazine featuring music news, artist interviews, and cultural content that spotlights emerging artists and local voices from Durham's creative scene.
- Live Lounge Studio Sessions 30-minute stripped-back sets of original music paired with interviews, broadcast on Purple Radio and available on streaming platforms, featuring local artists.
- Advertising Services Advertising services targeting local businesses, charities, and community groups to promote their products and services to Durham's student community and wider audience.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100+ student members annually participating in broadcasting, production, and creative roles
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Purple Radio
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Purple Radio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Purple Radio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Purple Radio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Xpression FM: University of Exeter's student-run radio station with live broadcasts, podcasts, and music programming — directly comparable as a UK university student station with similar departmental structure.
- Smoke Radio: University of Westminster's student radio station producing music, news, drama, and sport — directly comparable as a London university student broadcaster with similar content verticals.
- Fly FM: University of Liverpool's student-run radio station broadcasting music, news, and sports content to the student community — directly comparable in scale, audience, and student-society structure.
- URN (University Radio Nottingham): University of Nottingham's student radio station with multi-department content production and live broadcasting — directly comparable as a long-running Russell Group university student radio station.
- Leeds Student Radio (LSR): University of Leeds student radio station operating live broadcasts and podcasts with student-led departments — directly comparable as a UK university student broadcaster with the same operational model as Purple Radio.
- Shock Radio: University of Sheffield's student radio station with multi-format programming — directly comparable as a UK Russell Group university student broadcaster with podcast and live broadcast operations.
- Bailrigg FM: Lancaster University's student radio station broadcasting music, news, and sports to the campus community — directly comparable in audience size, student-led structure, and content mix.
- Cambridge Radio (CamRadio): Cambridge's community and student-linked radio station serving the university community — comparable as a campus-focused broadcaster with mixed student and local audience.
Broad incumbents
- BBC Radio 1: The UK's flagship youth-oriented radio station — competes for the same student listener demographic but operates at national scale with professional staff and budgets; serves as the broad incumbent reference point for Purple Radio's target audience.
Others
- BBC Introducing: BBC platform dedicated to showcasing emerging and unsigned artists — thematically adjacent to Purple Radio's Live Lounge Sessions, which similarly provides a platform for emerging local artists to reach audiences.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Purple Radio social profiles
Digital presencePurple Radio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Purple Radio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Purple Radio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Purple Radio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Purple Radio
What does Purple Radio do?
Purple Radio is Durham University's student-run radio station, broadcasting live 24/7 during term time with music, news, sports commentary, drama, and cultural programming. It distributes an on-demand library of podcasts and audio dramas via Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and publishes a monthly online Purple Magazine spotlighting emerging artists and local voices from Durham's creative scene.
Is Purple Radio a public or private company?
Purple Radio is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Purple Radio founded?
Purple Radio was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Purple Radio based?
Purple Radio is headquartered in Durham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Purple Radio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Student Society Operations are the primary driver. The others are advertising Services.
Who are Purple Radio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Xpression FM, Smoke Radio, Fly FM, URN (University Radio Nottingham), Leeds Student Radio (LSR), Shock Radio, Bailrigg FM and Cambridge Radio (CamRadio). BBC Radio 1 is listed as a broad incumbent. BBC Introducing is listed as an others.
Does Purple Radio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Purple Radio.
What industry is Purple Radio in?
Purple Radio's product category is Student Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAH, University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.