Funky Kids Radio is an on-line broadcast…for kids!! Our goal is to bring a MASSIVE variety of music and storytelling into family homes and care environments…jaded by the THREE HUNDREDTH repeat of the only 2 kids CD’s owned!!

Anyone can listen from their computer or their mobile devices through our FREE iOS and Android app’s. We stream at only 32 kbps so this minimises data downloads and drop out issues (though of course the internet, like us, is not perfect).

   Our iPhone App.

We play the favourites (and do find the need to “Wash our faces in Orange Juice”), but also introduce artists that don’t quite have the same marketing power in the playground. So, yes we love, The Wiggles and Hi-5…but also The Mudcakes, Kate Rowe and Barry Peters. There’s a good balance of music for the grown-ups too! We are totally focussed on supporting Australian Artists (both Children’s music and other genre’s) and are devoted to Aussie kids hearing Aussie voices.

We also have some pretty clear values on what’s IN and what’s NOT:

IN:

Fun.

Learning.

Dancing like nuts.

Songs about ducks.

NOT:

“Wash your mouth with soap” language.

Lyrics you wouldn’t sing to your grandmother.

Downers (songs or people).

Junk food.

In the last year we have created our own “Desert Island Discs” inspired interview program “Traffic Jam Trax” and have interviewed along the way Peter Combe, The Wiggles, Kutcha Edwards, Cate McQuillen (DirtGirlWorld) and music in education researcher, Dr Peter De Vries. We have also collaborated to create “Tackle Nappy” – a weekly show by Dads for Dads! We had our first event at the Churchill Island Kids Festival and have also begun broadcasting a fantastic show “Primary Perspectives” created by primary school kids in Melbourne through The School Broadcast Network.

If you want to read more about our values, pop on over to our website…

PARENT FEEDBACK

“,,, its impossible to listen to radio in the company of kids between unsuitable advertising, topics of discussion & inappropriate language & music lyrics etc..”

"I love funky kids radio!!! It appeals to all ages and is a great alternative to entertain the kids. It really lifts the vibe in the home, which is so important as a stay at home mum. I even find myself grooving along while doing the chores!. Spread the word!!"

"My ten week old baby is already mesmerised by television which I'm not too happy about. We have no CDs for him yet, only DVDs, so I went searching for an online kids radio station that I could sing along too and found you. Both Baby and I are delighted."

WHY POZIBLE?

Under our existing APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association) licensing, we are unable to receive any donations, attract sponsorship or advertise on Funky Kids without moving to a (significantly) higher cost license ($5,600 pa). Pozible crowd funding is our key to raising this boost in funds without breaking our existing license agreement. And actually, our key to develop Funky Kids Radio to the next level and continue streaming to our listeners free of charge.

This project has been self-funded since its inception in January 2012 and we have personally covered the costs (finances and time!) of web development, streaming, marketing, content and IT (and gratefully accepted the donation of a PC for streaming). We have built a great following and are encouraged by the response and the messages we get from our listeners. We are growing at an average of 20% per month and our listeners are listening up to 45,000 hours per month in total. We are still operating at a very grass roots level and would love for the amazing artists featured on Funky Kids Radio to be exposed to a much broader audience.

IT’S NOW AN IMPERATIVE

With the other demands that life has thrown at us (namely 3 amazing kids!) we have had limited time and resources to take our dream to the next level which is to build a sustainable, engaging kids’ radio station.

In fact, if we are unable to raise the funds to get us through the next financial year we will be unable to continue covering the costs of running Funky Kids Radio and will have to cease streaming from the 1^st of July 2013.

$5600 ANNUAL APRA LICENSE

This is our biggie. Once we have covered this cost, we are open to develop more commercial relationships and expand the breadth of our activities. This is also so important to us as we believe we can only support Artists (and our focus is definitely on Australian Artists) with the right licensing arrangement. 

WE ALSO NEED BASIC MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COVERED

$5500 TECHNOLOGY AND STREAMING

We desperately need a new desktop PC and back-up system to ensure continuity and security of our broadcast stream. We pay a regular fee to the providers of our radio streaming service and this will also help to cover that fee.

$1500 CONTENT

We have great variety on Funky Kids Radio, but there is loads more great music and stories we would love to share – this will help us along this year.

$3000 ACCOUNTING AND LEGAL COSTS

All that stuff, setting up our legal and taxation entity, getting the appropriate insurances and our basic legal obligations in order. We need Public Liability Insurance to attend events - one of our best marketing opportunities.

While not included in our target amount, we have also budgeted $4000 to get our marketing activities started:

$4000 MARKETING START-UP COSTS (incl staff costs)

The bigger our listening audience, the greater the opportunities we have to develop innovative and educational programming, so we need to begin investing in these activities. A. Lot. Our efforts will be focussed on events and collaborative partnerships which we have found to be the most successful in building awareness and understanding of our offer.

Please also support us by Liking our Facebook page and following us on Twitter.

ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP GUIDELINES:

Advertising will not exceed 4 minutes per hour. Because Funky Kids Radio supports healthy families and positive parenting businesses promoting junk food or other products and services considered unhealthy for children’s bodies or minds will not be advertised on Funky Kids Radio. While we respect everyone's right to their own political and religious values, Funky Kids Radio is apolitical and irreligious and will not air promotional campaigns that promote a particular position.

WHO ARE WE?

We are Rachel and Michael Cooper - a husband and wife team who have collaborated together since we met in 2005. Rachel is an experienced marketer and TV producer, having worked in community, corporate and commercial television and Michael is the Director of Performing Arts at a Melbourne P-12 school and possesses extensive experience in producing, directing and performing in musical theatre. He has taught across all year levels and is passionate about the value of the arts in education.

We are based in multicultural Melbourne –and one of our goals is to engage the cultures of this community and share their music and stories through Funky Kids Radio.

A great big thanks to Tim and Mel of Allday Pictures for our great video!