Radio Boulder

BOULDER – If you’re looking to find live local music or where to go for that uniquely Boulder gift, tune in to Radio Boulder – Frank Eriksen, owner and operator, has done the legwork for you.

With a radio background that ranges from program director to disc jockey, Eriksen was missing the on-air buzz but not the day-in day-out routine of showing up in the studio.

Plus, he stays wrapped up in a day job doing narration for industrial films and commercials as Frank Eriksen Voice Services & On-Hold Radio.

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An online radio station, however, fit the bill, providing him with a longed-for radio fix and minimal time commitment.

Eriksen’s Internet station, www.radioboulder.us, went live in late April from the basement of his home in Gunbarrel after a few months incubating in his head. He refers to the software that makes his station possible as easy-to-use with a learning curve.

Although he doesn’t have a clearly developed business model yet, Eriksen believes the time, effort and monetary requirement of Radio Boulder is serving the community in ways that are needed.

“Boulder has a lot of small businesses that can’t afford radio advertising so I’m putting shows together that feature local businesses and musicians and gives them a voice,” he said.

“I know I did this bass-ackwards – I’m still working on a business model,” he added.” “If I can put people first, though, the rest will take care of itself.

“I’m caught between advertising, which is good for local businesses but people don’t really want to hear them,” he said adding that banner ads, which require viewers to click on them are a possible way he’ll go. “I know I don’t want to do a bunch of ads like traditional radio.

“I’d like to make money at this, but I need to focus on the product right now and finding other people to help out down the line.”

Until the model is in place, Eriksen personally covers the monthly expense of $150 for audio streaming, music licensing and website maintenance.

The site offers one potential moneymaker through Café Press, an online store that offers personalized logo items like T-shirts and coffee mugs. “I’m the biggest customer right now,” Eriksen said. “I actually may be the only customer,” he laughed.

He compares Radio Boulder’s focus to radio station KBCO, where he was a DJ and anchored remote broadcasts for four years.

“Their notoriety came from being small-town focused and playing a broad base,” he said, referring to the station as one of the best on the planet.

“I think Radio Boulder is even more broad from mainstream.”

Music played ranges from contemporary rock, folk and blues to jazz and Americana.

“There are so many good local musicians with CDs and material but their playlist is too narrow so it could mean a lot of money,” Eriksen said, referring to costs associated with traditional radio time and promotional expenses. “Most of them just wonder where to start.”

So to boost their chances, he’s featuring them on his station.

To stay tuned in to local artists, Eriksen looks up who’s playing in town and either listens to them through their website or at a live performance.

“A lot of musicians put discs together and put on some concerts but for some people it’s how they make a living.”

The flip side of Radio Boulder supporting their music is providing the Boulder community with a glimpse of local talent.

“I want to get great music to as many people as possible and make it as entertaining as possible,” Eriksen said.

In addition to playing music and spotlighting local businesses through weekly podcast interviews, Radio Boulder links to websites like Downtown Boulder that feature local events.

“I haven’t done any promotions other than through friends, except for Twitter,” Eriksen said, adding that it’s generated about 140 followers to date.

RadioBoulder.com averages 500 hits a month. That increased to about 2,000 a day during the Fourmile Canyon Fire when Eriksen posted links and updates.

“We had people as far away as California and New Jersey who either used to live here or knew people here,” he explained, stressing that his focus is to cater to Boulder County rather than “taking on the world.”