Celtic Music Radio 1530AM has begun its second Radiothon to lead up to the city’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in March, culminating in two days of live broadcasts from the Merchant Square, Candleriggs, Glasgow.

Celtic Music Radio held its first Radiothon in the summer 2012, based on the American fundraising model. The support from the community of musicians was beyond expectations and from listeners was very heartening indeed. The focus of the event was to encourage listeners and supporters to make small monthly donations.

The station”s second Radiothon is underway with the focus being to put

the charitable community radio station on a firm footing for their upcoming transfer to the FM dial later this year.

Celtic Music Radio is looking to raise £22,000 by the end of March to allow it to move ahead.

Chairperson, Alex Jenkins says: “Celtic Music Radio is a registered charity and relies on donations from listeners and members of our musical community to survive.

To run the station costs around £20,000 per year with nobody taking a wage. Our advertising income has not covered this, therefore over the years, a historic debt has accrued. We need to address this soon and need your help.

In order to address this and to move forward before our transition to FM later in 2013, we need to raise £22,000 in the next couple of months.

Alex added: “We will then be in the position to move forward with our plans to swap our 1530AM transmissions for a better quality FM signal.”

Celtic Music Radio has undertaken some unusual fundraising events including one by Ross Macfadyen, a presenter and director, learning the accordion and performing on the Danny Kyle Open Stage during Celtic Connections.

Many musicians have donated items for auction on the station’s eBay site and one listener bid £195 for the chance to produce their own show on Celtic Music Radio.

Liz Clark, director said: “We believe Celtic Music Radio to be unique in the service it provides to both practising musicians, who have no other outlet for their music, and to our supporters and listeners, who seem very appreciative of the station. During Celtic Connections we registered our highest online audience ever at 39,000 online listeners. We are hopeful that each listener will make either a one off or monthly donation to Celtic Music Radio.”

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