Erewash Sound

What Erewash Sound does

Erewash Sound is a Community Interest Company (not-for-profit) operating a community radio station licensed by OFCOM (licence CR171, valid until March 2030), broadcasting on 96.8FM and 103.5FM across the Erewash borough in Derbyshire, England, from studios at The Media Centre in Cotmanhay, Ilkeston. The station's core product is a linear broadcast service combining mainstream music (1950s to present), local news, sport, weather, travel, hourly national and international news bulletins (via SKY Radio News), interviews and community information. The underlying technology stack comprises FM transmission infrastructure, an online streaming platform, a free mobile application for Android and iPhone (refreshed March 2026 and sponsored by Granite AV Solutions Ltd), integrations with Alexa, Google Home and Radioplayer for smart-speaker and aggregator access, and a WordPress-based website hosting Listen Again on-demand content, news pages, the 100 Club Business Directory, and the Erewash Sound Business Show Podcast.

The station is operated by a small team led by Station Director Ian Perry, a board of non-executive directors, and approximately 41 volunteer presenters, with the Listener Panel representing community interests. It serves two primary customer segments: local residents of the Erewash borough (Ilkeston, Long Eaton and surrounding areas) tuning in for local content, and local businesses seeking community advertising reach. Revenue is generated through five streams: (i) advertising and corporate sponsorship (named sponsors include SGC Solicitors, Specsavers Long Eaton, TN Insulations, Granite AV, Orange Box Self Storage and Jaysons Pharmacy); (ii) the 100 Club Business Directory membership at £100 per year; (iii) events and roadshow services (PA hire, compere, DJ); (iv) affiliate income from The Giving Lottery, easyfundraising and LocalGiving; and (v) direct donations. The station's go-to-market is community-led, combining on-air promotion, social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp), events and direct listener engagement, with no external institutional investor backing.

Name

Erewash Sound

Legal name

Erewash Sound Community Interest Company

Website

https://erewashsound.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Erewash Sound is a not-for-profit community radio station broadcasting on 96.8FM and 103.5FM across the Erewash borough in Derbyshire, serving local residents with music, news and sport, and funded through SMB advertising, sponsorships, a £100/year business directory, and community fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

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

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music & Audio Streaming Platforms (BPAMAJAC), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Local radio station
• Radio advertising services
• Community media outlet
• Local news broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Ilkeston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Sponsorship: Revenue from local business advertising and program sponsorship. Sponsors include TN Insulations, SGC Solicitors, Specsavers, Granite AV Solutions Ltd, Orange Box Self Storage, and Jaysons Pharmacy
2. 100 Club Business Directory Membership: Annual membership program for local businesses offering publicity and priority listings on website and on-air
3. Events and Roadshow Services: Revenue from event appearances, compere services, DJ services, and PA hire for local events
4. Lottery Partnership: Partnership with The Giving Lottery offering weekly prize draws, with the station receiving support through player selections
5. Donations and Fundraising: Donations via LocalGiving page, easyfundraising commission, and direct fundraising events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Erewash Sound operates a community radio station broadcasting on 96.8FM and 103.5FM, complemented by online streaming, mobile applications, and smart speaker access. Its core offering is local radio programming including mainstream music from the 1950s to present, local news, weather, travel, sport, competitions, and specialist music shows, delivered as a free-to-listen service to residents of the Erewash borough in Derbyshire. Revenue is generated through local business advertising and sponsorship, a paid business directory membership program, event services, and community fundraising.

Product overview

Erewash Sound is a community radio station operating as a Community Interest Company (CIC), offering a unified broadcast service across two FM frequencies (103.5 & 96.8FM) and online streaming. The core product is live radio programming combining mainstream music (1950s to present) with local news, sport, weather, travel updates, competitions and community content. The station complements its live broadcast with Listen Again podcast functionality, a dedicated Business Show Podcast, and a mobile application. Specialist programming and community features like the Good Gig Guide, Erewash Sound Academy, and 100 Club Business Directory extend the station's community engagement mission. Revenue is generated through advertising, corporate sponsorship, membership programs, and community fundraising initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Erewash Sound Radio Broadcast Community radio station broadcasting on 103.5 FM and 96.8 FM frequencies, featuring mainstream music from the 1950s to present day, local news, interviews, hourly news bulletins, weather, travel, sport, competitions and chat for residents of the Erewash borough.
• Erewash Sound Mobile App Free mobile application for Android and iPhone enabling live listening, recently played track viewing, Listen Again content access, and latest news headlines.
• Erewash Sound Business Show Podcast

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Giving LotteryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership allowing listeners to support Erewash Sound while playing a weekly lottery with prizes up to £25,000. Listeners select Erewash Sound as their cause when playing.
• SKY Radio NewscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of hourly international and national news bulletins broadcast on Erewash Sound.
• Arts DerbyshireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Creative in Place for Erewash initiative featuring interviews and community arts programming.
• LocalGivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising platform allowing supporters to donate to Erewash Sound.
• easyfundraisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommission-based fundraising partner where shoppers can support Erewash Sound when purchasing from online retailers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Radio X: National digital rock/alternative music station with a strong online streaming presence. Comparable to Erewash Sound's specialist evening music shows (Alternative 80s, Rock, Soul & Disco) and to its online streaming / smart-speaker distribution model.

Regional players

• Castle Donington Radio: Small community radio station serving Castle Donington and north-west Leicestershire, close to the Erewash borough. Comparable as a hyper-local UK community radio station with FM, online streaming, and volunteer-led local programming.
• Mix 96: Local commercial radio station serving Aylesbury and surrounding Buckinghamshire areas. Comparable as a small/regional UK commercial radio operator with FM transmission, online streaming, local news, weather, and community-focused advertising — relevant for benchmarking community-radio business models outside the Erewash market.

Direct peers

• Amber Sound FM: Community radio station broadcasting on FM to parts of Derbyshire and the East Midlands. Directly comparable as a UK community radio station operating on the same volunteer-led, non-profit model with local advertising, sponsorship, and community-focused programming.
• Radio Newark: Community radio station serving Newark-on-Trent and surrounding Nottinghamshire. Comparable as a UK community radio station with FM broadcasting, online streaming, volunteer presenters, and local sponsorship/advertising revenue.
• Ashbourne Radio: Community radio station serving Ashbourne and surrounding Derbyshire areas. Comparable as a small UK community radio CIC with FM transmission, volunteer presenters, local sponsorship, and a focus on local news, music, and community engagement.

Broad incumbents

• Capital FM East Midlands: Major commercial radio station broadcasting across the East Midlands, including Erewash. Comparable in that it delivers music, news, weather, and advertising to the same listener base, but at much larger scale and as part of a national network.
• Gem 106 (East Midlands): Regional commercial radio station broadcasting to the East Midlands with music, news, and local content. Overlaps with Erewash Sound on music format, local advertiser reach, and broad regional coverage relevant to the Erewash borough.
• Greatest Hits Radio East Midlands: Networked commercial music station covering the East Midlands with a heritage/adult format. Comparable to Erewash Sound's mainstream music programming and local advertising appeal, but operates at network scale across the region.
• BBC Radio Derby: BBC local radio station serving Derby and Derbyshire, including the Erewash area. Comparable because it broadcasts local news, sport, weather, and music to the same geographic audience that Erewash Sound targets, but with materially larger reach, a public-service funding model, and a broader portfolio of programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/erewashsound
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erewash-sound-community-interest-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/erewashsound
• Xx.com/erewashsound

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Erewash Sound