News / community radio
New independent queer radio to launch at the end of the month
2024 looks to be the year of independent radio, as yet another Bristol-based community station promises to begin broadcasting at the end of this month.
Kunt Up Music FM (or K.U.M FM as it’s colloquially known) claims to be “the first independent queer radio station in Bristol which provides a space for artists and creatives to showcase their work.”
While there is already a vibrant queer community within the city, the team behind the station feel that the majority of spaces can be “sometimes intimidating or inaccessible for the queer community.”
is needed now More than ever
K.U.M FM will be broadcasting from a central location just off Stokes Croft – photo: K.U.M FM
It hasn’t been plain sailing for the K.U.M team to date. They’ve run into issues surrounding registering their name under Companies House, as it was initially deemed inappropriate.
Now they’ve had the green light, but they’re “months behind schedule.” Because of this, they’ve decided to start a Gofundme in order to secure vital equipment required for the day to day running of the station.
The money raised is also intended to go towards “ensuring we don’t require subs from show hosts” – a policy not often used by small independent stations whose whole business model is usually to charge a subscription fee to their artists – but a policy that no doubt encourages inclusivity.
Alongside the fundraiser, the station is also hosting a party at Strange Brew on February 22, filling up the back room with the thundering, hedonistic techno/electro sounds of peoplelikeusdj, Dani Whylie and Ohana.
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When K.U.M FM officially hops onto the airwaves on February 29, they’ll be broadcasting on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The station wants to ensure the sonic diversity matches that of the vibrancy of Bristol’s music scene, so expect everything “from indie punk bands to hard dance DJs and collectives”, alongside “discussion, debate and promotion, [which] may include shows highlighting events and opportunities available within the community.”
Main photo: K.U.M FM
Read next:
- Inside Bristol’s legendary drum and bass scene
- New community radio station launches from undisclosed location
- ‘Dear Young Monster’: The debut show from Bristol trans writer and actor Pete Machale
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