Radio Presenter
Mike Russell Radio Presenter
Mike Russell, the radio presenter, can be heard on radio stations around the world.
Mike Russell
He started out by covering the overnight show on Thanet’s TLR 107.2 (his first freelance commercial radio gig way back in 1999). Before that he was heard on Maidstone RSL (restricted service license) 20/20 FM which later went on to win the license for Maidstone in Kent, renamed itself to CTR 105.6 FM, and he went on to become the breakfast show presenter for a year.
Mike Russell at Kool FM Australia (2001)
In 2000 Mike was hired by the GWR Radio Group to present overnights full time on Sussex & Surrey’s 102.7 Mercury FM (now Heart – Crawley & Surrey). Then, in 2001, he set off for Australia and while in the country for a working holiday ended up presenting breakfast for North Queensland radio station Kool FM. He’s since been heard on UK radio stations talkSPORT (as Mike Mendoza’s producer and sidekick Mini Mike), Capital Life (GCap UK DAB), Rock Radio Manchester, BRMB Birmingham, Southern FM (now Heart – Sussex), kmfm in Kent, Time 106.6 in Slough Time 106.8 in South East London and 107.2 Wire FM in Cheshire.
kmfm in Medway, Kent
Read on for Mike’s thoughts on becoming a radio presenter.
Radio Presenter Jobs
Radio presenter vacancies are far and few between in today’s competitive radio climate but it doesn’t mean to say landing a job on the radio is impossible. You just need to make sure that you have a great looking CV, radio presenter demo and a winning attitude. All new radio presenter job descriptions are listed regularly on Media UK. If you’re outside the UK there are websites for US radio presenter jobs, Canada radio presenter jobs and Australia radio presenter jobs too!
Radio Presenter Salaries
A radio presenter salary can vary widely from nothing (or expenses) if you’re starting out on a community radio station, commercial radio pay is variable (depending on the size of the radio station) it could be anywhere from £15,000 to £90,000 a year. Finally BBC and well known national radio presenters can earn six figure sums plus! You may wish to read this Digital Spy article on the salary for an average radio presenter to get more opinion on the subject of radio presenter pay.
How to Become a Radio Presenter
Mike started his radio presenter training in 1995 at Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells in Kent, UK where he picked up all the essential radio presenting skills. How to prepare a radio show, broadcast a radio show and invite feedback from the radio listeners. Hospital radio is a fantastic place to volunteer at if you’re looking at becoming a radio presenter. You’ll learn the basics and gain other valuable skills such as working in a team, collecting requests and meeting potential listeners on the hospital wards, fundraising for charity and broadcasting from events in your local area.
Mike is still a supporter of hospital radio stations to this day. He’s hospital radio voice over man for many hospital radio stations in Kent and the South East of England (such as Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells, Hospital Radio Maidstone) and, most recently, he attended the HBA Annual Conference 2011 at the Ramada Hotel in Maidstone to promote his radio jingle business – Music Radio Creative.
Another step, if you’re studying, would be to land some work experience at your local radio station. Mike started making radio contacts and helping out at his local radio station, Kfm in Tonbridge, from the launch in 1997.
Radio Presenter Training
If you’d like to pay for the knowledge then here’s a radio presenter course that Mike recommends.
Robin Banks Radio Training – Robin is one of the highest profile radio presenters in the UK radio industry. He has presented radio shows for some of the UK’s biggest radio stations such as Virgin Radio, Kiss 100, Xfm and Atlantic 252. Go to Robin to learn all the tricks and radio presenter tips you hadn’t even thought of before. You can read Mike Russell’s recommendation of Robin Banks on LinkedIn.
Radio Presenter Tips
If you’re looking to become a radio presenter or you’re already a professional radio presenter you should read Memoirs of a Fruitcake by Chris Evans
- Content, content, content
- Put yourself down before anyone else has a chance to
- Be yourself but just a bigger version
- Never forget music is your friend (The Beatles are always to hand if you need them)
- Empower the listeners
- Reflect the world
- Reflect the day
- Avoid your weaknesses
- Play on your strengths
- Know your audience
If you’re planning a career as a radio presenter here are two words for you. Good luck!
