Getting Started.

As I've said, I have had no experience at all in commercial radio, I'm not even the sort of person who enjoys standing up in from of people and having to talk, so working on and producing my own radio show was an extremely daunting prospect. So how have I gone about it.
Well first off I needed to get some music in. So I went on Amazon and ordered in loads of compilation albums, just to give myself some variety to choose from.
Secondly, I decided that the best way forward was to take a step at a time, and try and come across as professional as possible. What must be remembered is that I listened to Country music as a child and knew the names of some artists that my parents followed, however they were mainly from the 1950's through to the 1970's, mainly artists of the Nashville Sound era. But I hadn't followed Country for the best part of thirty years.So I had to start learning quickly.
The format for the shows became thus, I would introduce an artist, and then give some background information on that artist. It could be something like where they were born, how they got into singing, what they aspired to do before they got into music (a lot of male singers had promising sporting careers ahead of them, before injury forced them into a different line). Or I might try and find an interesting story about an episode in their life, some sort of anecdote, just so the show wouldn't become just one song after another, after another, after another. So I started to develop a catalogue on the stars as I went along.
For each show I produce a play list of the songs I'm going to play and for the most part I follow the play list religiously. However, I do leave myself room for any changes on the day. I then get the information on the artists on that play list. Doing it this way has enabled me to build up a catalogue of over 150 country artists, and that is a catalogue that is growing weekly.
But music isn't all that is on the show. Riviera FM is a local community radio station, and so I try to highlight things happening in the bay area. Due to the show being aired on Friday afternoons, what's happening over the weekend and following week are ideal events to highlight, be they concerts, shows, festivals, family days, exhibitions or charity events, if it's happening in the community I want to put it on my show.
So that's two aspects to the show, but I wanted to add more, to give listeners a bit of variety. So I started to read out the Billboard top ten country songs each week. At first these were just read out , and then I gradually stated to add music in the background, Just to make it easier to listen to. This went on for a few weeks, then I thought why not get hold of some of the tracks to play on the show. So that's what I did. Now when you listen to Riviera Country, you will listen to music ranging from the 1920's and 30's, through the Nashville Sound Era of the 60's and 70's right up to hit music of today including the current number one hit from America.
I also decided to highlight certain artists and each week I play three of the best from a featured artist. For these I pick out three well known tunes by the given artist and play them back to back, no talking, no interrupting, just straight music.
Something I've started adding in is relevant country news. Who's doing what, and where and to whom, that sort of thing. If it's of interest to the listeners, I'll try and include it.
But its not just American music that is played. I am also trying to promote the rich vein of talented country artists that we have on these isles. Singers like Pedro, Middi, Double JR and Chris James and a whole host of others.
Another segment I've recently introduced is the ''It happened today in History'' segment. Each Friday I read through a list of important historical events that happened on that particular day. It's something that appeases the history buff in me. I'll also read out a list of people celebrating their birthdays on that particular day.
So all in all it's quite a packed show. In fact after typing it all out, I have to wonder how I find the time to get it all together. But that's a story for another day. Thanks for reading.