Radio U (Campus Brest)

What Radio U (Campus Brest) does

Radio U is a French non-profit associative radio station (association loi 1901) headquartered in Brest, Finistère, broadcasting 24 hours per day on 101.1 FM and via an icecast internet stream. Founded on October 22, 2001 at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale campus in Kergoat, it produces approximately 30 hours of original weekly programming — music shows, magazines, cultural coverage, and podcasts — generated by a small paid staff of around 8 employees (coordinator, technician-programmer, communication and mediation officer, antenna and media education officer, and administrative coordinator) plus 70+ active volunteers. The station is a member of the national Radio Campus France network and the regional CORLAB coordination, and operates an open volunteer pipeline with no prior radio experience required, offering training in montage, reportage, interview, and sound recording.

The product portfolio centers on the FM/streaming broadcast and is supplemented by a podcast library, an interactive sound-mapping project (Murmures) covering Brest-area cultural and civic sites, educational radio workshops delivered in schools, youth centers, and retirement homes, and decentralized sub-radio projects such as MélaRadio (a rural community radio at Le Mélar Dit bistrot in Locmélar) and GuelmeuRadio (a neighborhood radio in Brest's Guelmeur quartier). The station also produces the Ohlala Cinema and Ohlala Muzika podcast series in partnership with the Institut Français de Serbie and conducts live outdoor broadcasts at regional festivals including Astropolis, Longueur d'Ondes, the Festival Européen du Film Court, and HELLFEST.

Radio U's revenue model is fully consistent with its non-profit status: voluntary membership/adhesion fees at three tiers (€5, €30, or €50 per year), public and institutional funding from DRAC Bretagne, Ville et Métropole de Brest, CROUS, and other governmental bodies, and donations collected through the HelloAsso platform. Distribution is hybrid — FM radio for the Brest metropolitan area, global icecast streaming and podcast downloads, festival/event coverage, and on-site radio workshops for partner institutions. In November 2023 the station secured ARCOM regulatory approval to extend broadcasting to Quimper and Morlaix, with deployment planned for 2026 alongside the new Brest tram line, signaling the most material strategic expansion in its two-decade history.

Name

Radio U (Campus Brest)

Legal name

Radio U

Website

https://radio-u.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Radio U is a French non-profit associative community radio station in Brest, broadcasting 24/7 on 101.1 FM and online, serving students, local cultural associations, and the wider Brest metropolitan public with volunteer-produced programming, podcasts, radio workshops, and outdoor event coverage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Local Radio Stations (MPABACAD), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Associative student radio
• Local FM broadcasting
• Podcast production services
• Media education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Brest

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership/Adhesion Fees: Volunteers and supporters pay annual membership fees with three options: 5€, 30€, or 50€ at the member's choice. Membership provides access to facilities, training, insurance coverage, and voting rights in the association's governance.
2. Public/Institutional Funding: Radio U receives support from public institutions including DRAC Bretagne, local municipalities, CROUS, and other governmental bodies as part of the associative radio sector.
3. Donations and Support: The station accepts donations and support through HelloAsso platform for specific projects and expansion initiatives (deployment to Quimper and Morlaix).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Radio U is a non-profit, associative, student-founded community radio station that broadcasts 24 hours a day on 101.1 FM in the Brest metropolitan area. It produces approximately 30 hours of original weekly programming created by volunteers, alongside podcasts, educational radio workshops in schools and community centers, participatory community radio projects (MélaRadio, GuelmeuRadio), and live coverage of local cultural events and festivals.

Product overview

Radio U operates as a community radio station with a multi-product portfolio centered on its 101.1 FM broadcast service. The station offers approximately 30 hours of weekly programming through its core FM radio broadcast, supplemented by podcast distribution, educational radio workshops (Ateliers Radio), and specialized sub-products including MélaRadio (participatory radio at Le Mélar Dit bistrot), GuelmeuRadio (neighborhood radio at Maison Pour Tous du Guelmeur), Ohlala Cinema (French cinema podcast in partnership with the French Institute of Serbia), and the Murmures interactive sound mapping project. The station also provides outdoor broadcast services for cultural events and festivals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MélaRadio: Community radio project at Le Mélar Dit bistrot in Locmélar village, Monts d'Arrée region
• GuelmeuRadio
• Ohlala Cinema / Ohlala Muzika
• Papot'âges

Products and services

• Radio U 101.1 FM Broadcast Local associative, student, independent radio station broadcasting 24 hours a day on 101.1 FM from Brest, France, featuring approximately 30 hours of original weekly programming including music shows, magazines, news, and cultural content for the Brest metropolitan area.
• Radio U Podcasts

Quantifiable outcome

• Broadcasts over 30 hours of original programming weekly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Radio Campus FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001National network of campus and associative radio stations in France. Radio U has been a member since its founding, benefiting from network resources, shared programming, and collective advocacy for community radio.
• CORLAB (Coordination des Radios Locales et Associatives de Bretagne)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Regional coordination of associative and local radio stations in Brittany. Radio U participates in network activities and collaborative initiatives across the Brittany region.
• Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary university partner located in Brest. The radio originated on the UBO campus (Kergoat) and maintains close ties with the university including service culturel collaborations, student support services, and campus events.
• CROUS de BretagnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic institution supporting student life and higher education. CROUS partners with Radio U for campus cultural activities and student engagement initiatives.
• Ville et Métropole de BrestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal and metropolitan government of Brest. The city supports Radio U's activities as part of its cultural policy and community media support.
• La CarènemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cultural venue and concert hall in Brest. Regular partnership for cultural programming coverage and event promotion.
• AstropolismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectronic music festival and cultural organization in Brest. Radio U provides live coverage and collaborates on event promotion.
• DRAC Bretagne (Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural authority of the French Ministry of Culture. Provides institutional funding and support for radio projects and cultural initiatives.
• SEW (Site Entrepreneuriat Ouest)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness incubator and event space in Morlaix that hosted Dub A Dub Experience 2026. Radio U broadcast live from their venue.
• SOLIFEST PleybenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetal music festival in Pleyben focused on charitable causes. Radio U provides festival coverage and the festival donates proceeds to charitable associations including ASPERANSA.
• Maison Pour Tous du GuelmeurmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity center in the Guelmeur neighborhood of Brest. Partner for GuelmeuRadio project, training local residents in radio production.
• Le Quartz (Théâtre)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater in Brest that partnered with Radio U and the Ecole Alternative des Monts d'Arrée for Theatral Radio Show project involving youth radio workshops.
• Mélar Dit (Bistrot de Locmélar)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillage bar and commerce in Locmélar that hosts MélaRadio, Radio U's rural community radio project in the Monts d'Arrée region.
• Institut Français de SerbieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench cultural institute in Serbia partnering with Radio U for Ohlala Cinema podcast series discussing French cinema with Serbian audiences.
• Médiathèque Saint-MartinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal library in Brest partnering with Radio U for Papot'âges intergenerational sound fiction project with school children and elderly residents.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FIP (Radio France): Public national French radio network operated by Radio France offering music-and-culture programming. Comparable as a French non-commercial broadcaster but much larger scale, multiple frequencies, and part of national public-service media.
• Radio France Bretagne Ouest (France Bleu): Public-service regional radio covering the same Brittany geography as Radio U, including Brest. Comparable as a local Brittany broadcaster but with national public-service backing and far larger audience.

Direct peers

• Radio Campus Grenoble: Grenoble campus radio station, fellow member of the Radio Campus France national network. Directly comparable as a student-led associative radio combining FM broadcast, podcasts, and educational workshops.
• Radio Campus Lille: Lille campus radio station within the Radio Campus France network. Comparable associative, student-driven model with FM broadcast, workshops, and volunteer-led programming.
• Radio Béton: Nantes-based associative/free radio station with similar volunteer-driven, non-commercial ethos. Comparable as a CORLAB-region French associative broadcaster focused on local culture and music.
• Jet FM: Nantes associative radio station operating as a local free/community station. Comparable as a French non-commercial local radio with volunteer involvement and cultural programming focus.
• Radio Campus Paris: Paris-based campus radio station also part of the Radio Campus France network. Directly comparable as a French associative/student radio broadcasting on FM with volunteer-driven programming and educational workshop activities.
• Radio Campus Toulouse: Toulouse campus radio affiliated with Radio Campus France. Comparable non-profit student/community radio combining FM, streaming, podcasts, and community projects.
• Radio Campus Bordeaux: Bordeaux campus radio member of the Radio Campus France network. Comparable student-founded associative station with FM broadcasting, podcast distribution, and educational community engagement.
• Fréquence Mutine: Brest-based associative radio station explicitly named as Radio U's anniversary co-celebrant. Directly comparable as a local non-commercial community radio in the same city and CORLAB member network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/radioubrest
• Facebookfacebook.com/radioubrest
• Instagraminstagram.com/radio.u101.1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/radio-u-campus-brest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 U (Campus Brest)