Burn FM
Encyclopedia
BurnFM.com is an internet radio station
based at the University of Birmingham
. The original name - from 1996 to 2009 - was Burn FM. 'Burn' stands for 'Birmingham University Radio Network'
, usually in October and March for 28 days each time.
A planned broadcast was missed in Spring 2002 because of an administrative error. In 2008, broadcasting had to be postponed for two semesters because of a lack of air conditioning in the studio. The basement location of the studio means that it is close to the Guild of Students boiler, and so the studio and the Guild were at risk. In the summer of 2008, the studio underwent a major refurbishment in an attempt to avoid those complications recurring. In 2009 BurnFM was rebranded and went back on-air.
BurnFM.com caters for a variety of musical tastes, and shows are particularly targeted at Selly Oak
, where many students live. Specialist shows aim to provide distinctive playlists and fewer spoken features than mainstream shows.
The studio is located at the University of Birmingham Guild of Students
- on the main campus at Edgbaston
, Birmingham
. Broadcasts are from 10am daily, with transmissions ending at 11pm, except Saturdays, when transmissions end at 9pm.
In August 2004, lightning struck the building, and damaged the transmission aerial. This resulted in damage, valued at £13 000, to the broadcast mixer and other equipment. An insurance payout resulted in a new studio being fitted for the Autumn 2005 broadcast. For the 2004-5 academic year, equipment had to be loaned.
It was during the Spring 2005 broadcast that BBC 6 Music
came to Birmingham for a one-off, outside broadcast from the studio. The Phill Jupitus
Breakfast Show on 11 March was presented from the BurnFM.com studio.
'Restricted Service Licence
s' - RSLs - last for 28 days, and only two can be held in one calendar year. This is stipulated by Ofcom
. Therefore, an internet
licence has been granted by the University for the first time; this will allow the station to broadcast for the whole semester. Before this, internet broadcasting had been offered in conjunction with FM broadcasts - a simulcast
- only.
. Any student may become a committee member. Positions are held for twelve months maximum starting in November; however, members may seek re-election. Positions available include:
Station Manager
Deputy Station Manager
Assistant Station Manager
Head of Mainstream Programming
Head of Specialist Programming
Head of Arts and Culture
Head of News
Head of Music
Head of Sport
Social secretary
Head of Marketing
Head of Technical
Head of Podcasting
All of the heads of department also have a deputy, elected to assist them in their duties and stand in for them if necessary. All Committee members complete at least 4 hours of supervision a week as part of their role. The station is an active member of the Student Radio Association
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
based at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
. The original name - from 1996 to 2009 - was Burn FM. 'Burn' stands for 'Birmingham University Radio Network'
History
The station was founded in Spring 1996, and, until October 2006, it broadcast twice a year on a FMFM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
, usually in October and March for 28 days each time.
A planned broadcast was missed in Spring 2002 because of an administrative error. In 2008, broadcasting had to be postponed for two semesters because of a lack of air conditioning in the studio. The basement location of the studio means that it is close to the Guild of Students boiler, and so the studio and the Guild were at risk. In the summer of 2008, the studio underwent a major refurbishment in an attempt to avoid those complications recurring. In 2009 BurnFM was rebranded and went back on-air.
BurnFM.com caters for a variety of musical tastes, and shows are particularly targeted at Selly Oak
Selly Oak
Selly Oak is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb is bordered by Bournbrook and Selly Park to the north-east, Edgbaston and Harborne to the north, Weoley Castle and Weoley Hill to the west, and Bournville to the south...
, where many students live. Specialist shows aim to provide distinctive playlists and fewer spoken features than mainstream shows.
The studio is located at the University of Birmingham Guild of Students
University of Birmingham Guild of Students
The University of Birmingham Guild of Students is the officially recognised body which represents around 28,000 students at the University of Birmingham. The Guild functions as a Student Union as per the 1994 Education Act. It is an independent organisation and not legally connected to the...
- on the main campus at Edgbaston
Edgbaston
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham in England. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green, Harborne and Quinton....
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Broadcasts are from 10am daily, with transmissions ending at 11pm, except Saturdays, when transmissions end at 9pm.
In August 2004, lightning struck the building, and damaged the transmission aerial. This resulted in damage, valued at £13 000, to the broadcast mixer and other equipment. An insurance payout resulted in a new studio being fitted for the Autumn 2005 broadcast. For the 2004-5 academic year, equipment had to be loaned.
It was during the Spring 2005 broadcast that BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
came to Birmingham for a one-off, outside broadcast from the studio. The Phill Jupitus
Phill Jupitus
Phillip Christopher Jupitus is an English stand-up and improvised comedian, actor, performance poet, musician and podcaster....
Breakfast Show on 11 March was presented from the BurnFM.com studio.
'Restricted Service Licence
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event...
s' - RSLs - last for 28 days, and only two can be held in one calendar year. This is stipulated by Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
. Therefore, an internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
licence has been granted by the University for the first time; this will allow the station to broadcast for the whole semester. Before this, internet broadcasting had been offered in conjunction with FM broadcasts - a simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
- only.
Positions
Volunteers run the station. All of them must be enrolled students of the University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
. Any student may become a committee member. Positions are held for twelve months maximum starting in November; however, members may seek re-election. Positions available include:
Station Manager
Deputy Station Manager
Assistant Station Manager
Head of Mainstream Programming
Head of Specialist Programming
Head of Arts and Culture
Head of News
Head of Music
Head of Sport
Social secretary
Head of Marketing
Head of Technical
Head of Podcasting
All of the heads of department also have a deputy, elected to assist them in their duties and stand in for them if necessary. All Committee members complete at least 4 hours of supervision a week as part of their role. The station is an active member of the Student Radio Association
Student Radio Association
The Student Radio Association is a representative body which supports and acts on behalf of the UK student radio community, comprising radio stations that are associated with or linked to a place of education...
.