ArtSound FM

Name

ArtSound FM

Legal name

ArtSound FM

Website

https://artsound.fm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ArtSound FM is a Canberra-based not-for-profit community radio station broadcasting specialist arts and music programming on FM, DAB+, and online, serving local listeners, musicians, aged-care facilities, and the broader ACT arts community since 1983.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Sound Recording Studios (512240)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Remote Recording & Online Session Services (MPAIAHAL)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Music and arts programming
• Professional audio recording
• Audio preservation services
• Radio broadcasting training

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership at $110/year with categories for individuals, families, and concession rates for students, seniors, and pensioners
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations of $2 or more from listeners supporting the station
3. Sponsorship: Sponsorship packages including airtime sponsors, program sponsors, and executive patrons who provide financial support with varying levels of on-air recognition
4. Studio Hire and Recording Services: Professional recording services including music recording ($130/hour), voice recording ($90-130/hour), podcasting, and audio transfer services with varying rates for commercial and arts-based clients
5. Government Funding: ACT Government funding support as a registered charity and community broadcaster
6. Bequests: Legacy donations through wills for supporters wanting to contribute beyond their lifetime

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ArtSound FM is a Canberra-based community radio station that broadcasts arts and music programming 24/7 on FM (92.7 primary, 90.3 Tuggeranong Valley), DAB+ digital radio, and online streaming. The station also sells professional audio services including studio recording, podcasting studio hire, audio transfer and preservation, concert recording, and broadcasting training, plus a dedicated Senior Memories streaming service for aged-care facilities. Distribution is free-to-air with revenue from memberships, donations, sponsorship, government grants, bequests, and paid audio services.

Product overview

ArtSound FM is a community radio station in Canberra offering a unified broadcasting platform combining FM radio (92.7 FM, 90.3 FM), DAB+ digital radio, and online streaming. The station operates as both a broadcaster of specialist music and arts programming and a provider of professional audio services. Its core product is community radio broadcasting, supported by a portfolio of services including studio recording, podcasting studio hire, audio transfer and preservation, broadcasting training, concert recording, and the Senior Memories streaming service for aged care. The station also produces its own programs including ArtSound Radio Theatre and specialist music shows spanning jazz, classical, folk, blues, and world music genres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Senior Memories: Streaming service designed for aged care facilities, providing nostalgic music programming for seniors.

Products and services

• Community Radio Broadcasting 24/7 community arts and music broadcasting to Canberra on 92.7 FM, 90.3 FM (Tuggeranong Valley), DAB+ digital radio, and online streaming, free to listeners and supported through memberships, donations, sponsorship and grants.
• Professional Studio Recording Professional studio recording services for solo artists, jazz groups, classical performances, choirs, spoken word and ensembles using custom-designed studios with Neumann, Rode, AKG and Shure microphones; Yamaha DM1000 48-channel digital console with Cubase and Wavelab; Genelec monitoring; Yamaha C6 Conservatory grand piano. Pricing $130/hour for the Large Studio and $90/hour for the Small Studio, including audio engineer (GST excl.).
• Podcasting Studio Hire Acoustically treated, air-conditioned studio spaces available for hire for podcast recording, interviews, and music production, with included sound engineering support and tiered pricing including concessions for arts-based groups.
• Audio Transfer and Preservation Professional digitization and sound preservation of analog media including cassette tapes, vinyl records and DAT tapes to CD or digital files, offered in Standard and Premium tiers with the Premium tier adding noise reduction and track marking. Standard rates from $49.50 (C60 cassette, LP vinyl); Premium rates from $82.50 (C60 cassette, LP vinyl).
• Broadcasting Training Presenter training programs teaching spoken-word delivery, interviewing, music programming, production and technical broadcasting skills to ArtSound volunteers and community members, with no prior experience required.
• Concert Recording Live concert recording, production and broadcast services for local, national and international performers and ensembles, with both complimentary recordings for ArtSound on-air use and paid recordings for artists' own purposes.
• Senior Memories Streaming Service A dedicated digital streaming service and program series designed for aged-care facilities throughout Canberra and beyond, delivering two hours of nostalgic music programming curated for socially isolated older adults.
• Radio Rookies School Holiday Program A school holiday podcasting program teaching children aged 9–12 years how to record and edit audio and create their own podcast series using ArtSound's professional studio equipment.
• Hit Rewind On-Demand Library On-demand library and podcast series providing access to previously aired ArtSound shows, including jazz, folk, blues, classical, world music and live concert recordings, plus poetry recordings, interviews and reviews.

Quantifiable outcome

• 57,000 weekly listeners in ACT (17% of Canberra residents)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACT GovernmentcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Government funding support for community broadcasting services in the ACT region. The station receives ongoing financial support as a registered charity and community organization.
• Creative Partners (Musicians, Artists, Arts Organisations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Creative partnerships with musicians, ensembles, artists, and venues to create pathways for arts content to get on-air and for mutually beneficial promotion. Partners enter formal agreements with clear terms of cooperation.
• ArtSound Airtime SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Individuals and businesses who sponsor air-time through 30-second announcements or program sponsorship in exchange for recognition and financial support.
• Australian Fine Music NetworkcoreOthers · 1 January 2000Network of fine music broadcasters across Australia. ArtSound is a member, promoting classical and fine music programming.
• Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)coreOthers · 1 January 1983National membership organization for community broadcasters. ArtSound is a member and Chris Deacon serves as grant assessor to the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
• National Folk FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Annual partnership for concert recording and broadcast of folk music performances. Recorded numerous concerts and interviews at the National Folk Festival in 2019.
• Canberra Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Concert recording and broadcast partnership with Canberra's symphony orchestra for classical music programming.
• National Gallery of AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Concert recording venue partnership for classical performances at the National Gallery.
• Wesley Music CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Partnership for recording classical music concerts including the ArtSong Canberra series.
• Llewellyn Hall (ANU School of Music)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Concert recording partnership with ANU's premier music venue for classical and jazz performances.
• National EisteddfodminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Annual music competition recording and coverage partnership.
• National Film & Sound ArchiveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Partnership for preservation and sharing of recorded cultural content.
• Australian War MemorialminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Concert recording and cultural programming partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 3RRR Melbourne: Long-running Melbourne community radio station with a strong arts, music, and culture focus. Comparable as a volunteer-powered metropolitan community broadcaster offering specialist programming and live recording/event support.
• 2SER 107.3: Sydney community radio station operated in association with Macquarie University. Referenced in ArtSound's management bios and operates a similar volunteer/community broadcasting model with specialist arts programming.
• 4ZZZ Brisbane: Brisbane community radio station with a strong alternative/independent music focus. Comparable community broadcaster model, member-funded, and serves a single metropolitan region with specialist programming.
• Radio Adelaide: Adelaide-based community radio station affiliated with the University of Adelaide. Comparable volunteer-driven, multi-format community broadcaster with specialist arts/music programming and university/community partnerships.
• JOY 94.9: Melbourne-based LGBTQ+ community radio station. Operates the same community broadcaster model in Australia — volunteer-driven, donation/sponsor funded, mix of specialist programming and event-driven engagement.
• 3MBS Fine Music Melbourne: Melbourne's fine music community radio station, broadcasting classical, jazz, and specialist programming. Directly comparable as a community-run, arts-focused FM broadcaster serving a single Australian city, with overlapping studio and archive capabilities.
• 2MBS Fine Music Sydney: Sydney's fine music community radio station. Explicitly referenced in ArtSound's management team bios and shares the same classical/jazz/specialist programming focus and volunteer-driven operating model as ArtSound.

Broad incumbents

• SBS Radio: Australia's multicultural public broadcaster, referenced in ArtSound's management bios. A national-scale public broadcaster that competes for multicultural arts/cultural audience attention alongside community broadcasters like ArtSound.
• ABC Classic: National public broadcaster dedicated to classical music and the arts, a much larger incumbent with overlapping content (classical, jazz, arts) but funded federally rather than via member/donation model.

Others

• Australian Fine Music Network: Network of fine music broadcasters across Australia of which ArtSound is a member. Provides shared programming, syndication, and membership support, making it directly comparable as a peer in the community fine-music broadcasting ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/artsoundfm
• Facebookfacebook.com/artsoundfm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 ArtSound FM