Radio Making a Difference

A Melbourne radio station is making a difference. 89.9 LightFM has been on the move over the past 12 months and has been breaking new ground on their way. The listenership, the connection with Melbourne and the overall impact have all increased.

The latest McNair Ingenuity survey of all people aged over 15 … shows the total number of people listening every week has grown to 242,000 – up 69,000. On a monthly basis, it’s now 394,000 – an increase of 66,000. Every number, of course, means another life influenced and more than half our audience has no Christian connection.

We need to be good friends to these Melbourne families … we need to influence Melbourne positively … we need to see lives changed – forever! 

There are more people calling the Care Line – 30% more than last year.

More people are contacting us by phone or email – traffic through our Reception Desk – the office of First Impressions – has jumped 300% in the past year.

Radio has to be seen as well as heard – so we’re deliberating seeking to get out more – and this year started an OB campaign to be seen by 10,000 listeners; unique visitors to the LightFM website has jumped 36% in the past year.

Apart from the worst economic conditions in decades, Victoria suffered its most deadly bushfires ever – and LightFM mounted an appeal in the form of an all day OB at Eastland Shopping Centre which raised more than $30k

Our annual Compassion Day appeal rescued 184 children from poverty.  Another example of lives being changed.

We’re involved again in Operation Christmas Child, and so far more than 27,500 shoeboxes have been filled – but many more are yet to be processed – could surpass last year’s total.  Another example of lives being positively influenced.

LightFM is licensed to serve the Christian community of Melbourne – and some of the many ways we do that is via our free Community Connection announcements – plus there are so many individuals, churches, missions, organizations and other community groups who’ve been able to share their story – another example of sharing the Message of Hope and serving others.

The nightly simulcast of 9 News has continued – and for the first time we’ve simulcast the national Easter Sunrise service through Channel 7.

TMWU featured in Channel 9’s new ‘Money for Jam’ show – a story about a mother with a Premature baby who set up a website to help other women in her situation.

The newspaper with Australia’s largest circulation featured LightFM in a story on Christmas – regarding the annual Carols service at the City of Whitehorse.  This sort of publicity is priceless.

One of the things LightFM has long sought to do is encourage new Christian talent. We’ve continued to do that with programs such as The Green Room and the Hot 25 Countdown. The way our new Musical Challenge is growing, it’s evident there is much support and interest in new Christian talent.  5000 SMS messages has to say something!  And who knows how far Vita Adam’s career may go – but we’ll always know where it started.