Government Introduces New Regulations to Support Community Radio Stations’ Long-Term Growth
Written by Grace Genevieve Stewart-Piercy on 12th December 2024
The government has unveiled a set of new regulations aimed at strengthening the long-term sustainability of community radio stations across the UK.
Announced by Media Minister Stephanie Peacock, the measures will come into effect from April 2025 and are designed to provide greater financial stability and operational certainty for community broadcasters.
Key changes include:
- The renewal of more than 300 community radio station licenses for an additional 10 years, ensuring continued service to local audiences.
- An increase in the annual revenue cap from advertising and sponsorship, allowing stations to generate up to £30,000—double the current limit of £15,000.
Media Minister, Stephanie Peacock, said: “Community radio has a valuable role on our airwaves, producing truly local content that keeps people connected, engaged and entertained.
“We want to provide community radio stations across the country with greater stability and financial flexibility. It will mean they can continue doing what they do best – whether that’s delivering language specific programming or offering training opportunities to young people interested in a radio career.
“I am sending a clear signal that this government has community radio’s back, and we want it to thrive for years to come.”
The amendments, set to take effect in April 2025, aim to provide long-term stability for community radio stations. One of the key changes is the extension of operating licenses for an additional 10 years, significantly easing the administrative and financial burden on stations, which previously had to reapply every five years.
When asked about the role of community radio in nurturing young talent entering the media industry, Minister Peacock emphasized its significance.
“I think it’s really, really important,” she said. “I’m passionate about supporting people from all over the country to pursue careers in journalism and the media.
“One of the things I talk about is that I represent Barnsley and Michael Parkinson who ended up being one of the most famous interviewers, one of the very famous journalists in the world came from my area, you know I’m not sure whether that would happen today.
“He trained on the Barnsley chronicle my local paper and so I think it’s really important to provide a training ground for young people.”
UK Community Radio Network Co-Founder Martin Steers said: “The UK Community Radio Network welcomes any measures by the Government to relax regulation on Community Radio, and especially welcome the move to extend licences even further allowing established Community Radio stations to continue to do the fantastic work serving their communities across the country.”
These changes will reduce the administrative burdens and increase the financial stability of community radio stations.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy recently announced plans to develop a local media strategy, which will help ensure the sector can continue to keep communities informed on the issues that matter to them.
Community Media Association Chair Terry Lee said: “The Community Media Association welcomes the amendments to the Community Radio Order as a significant milestone in the evolution of community radio in the UK.
“As the voice of community radio since 1983, we remain committed to ensuring these vital, not-for-profit, and volunteer-led stations continue to thrive in serving their communities. We look forward to working with the Government to build on this progress and secure an even brighter future for community radio.”