MDRN Fund for Community Radio

Seeking community broadcasters connecting musicians and audiences through independent radio, podcasts, livestreams, and local music culture.

The MDRN Fund for Community Radio supports the people building the future of independent music distribution. We believe community radio stations, online broadcasters, DIY venues, podcasts, and local music platforms are essential cultural infrastructure that help artists find audiences and communities discover one another. From neighborhood FM stations to internet-native radio collectives, we champion projects that strengthen local music ecosystems through broadcasting, collaboration, and shared ownership.

medium:music-performance

Eligibility

We welcome community radio stations, internet broadcasters, podcasts, DIY venues, listening collectives, music communities, and creators building new ways for music to reach people. We are especially interested in projects that strengthen local music scenes by connecting artists, audiences, and communities through community-owned broadcast and distribution.
To qualify for this fund, projects must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Community Broadcast: Projects should operate or develop a community-focused radio station, internet radio platform, podcast, livestream, broadcast network, or other public music distribution initiative.
- Support Musicians: The primary purpose should be to help musicians reach new audiences, strengthen local music scenes, or create meaningful opportunities for independent artists.
- Music First: Music should be at the heart of the project. We also welcome interviews, talk shows, educational programming, and cultural content that meaningfully supports music communities.
- Community-Centered: Projects should prioritize local communities, independent creators, cultural exchange, and public participation over purely commercial objectives.
- Independent Distribution: We especially encourage projects exploring new models for music distribution, community media, cooperative ownership, open technology, or decentralized broadcasting infrastructure.
- Original Programming: Preference will be given to projects creating original broadcasts, live performances, DJ sets, interviews, artist showcases, educational programming, or other unique cultural content.
- Strengthen Local Culture: Projects should preserve, celebrate, or expand local music ecosystems by creating new opportunities for artists and deeper connections between communities.
- Collaborative Spirit: We value broadcasters that actively collaborate with musicians, venues, festivals, labels, nonprofits, educators, and other community organizations.
- Build Lasting Infrastructure: Above all, we seek projects that strengthen the long-term infrastructure of community music by creating shared platforms, broadcast networks, and cultural spaces that help independent artists and communities thrive.

Projects (23)

12 submitted · 11 curated

Project	Status	Raised
Grandmatopia	curated	$128,014
subcult	curated	$145,111
The Palestine Music Space	curated	$106,832
MusicaW3	curated	$52,007
Hip-Hop Africa: Building Pan-African Hip-Hop Infrastructure	curated	$111,237
Form Free Radio	curated	$76,216
OnlyJams	curated	$2,105
KINDA - Kindhearted Innovation Nurturing Daring Artists	curated	$36,997
Onda	curated	$2,966
Harmonia at TDF	curated	$36,475
TDF Music Studio	curated	$220,078
adopt a tree	submitted	$14,777
We Them Media: The Voice of the Voiceless	submitted	$10
Tuneport	submitted	$50
Akuya	submitted	$234
Baraza TV	submitted	$7,581
The International Artists Project Documentary	submitted	$563
Element of Chawaza	submitted	$1,356
Shine! / direct-to-fan music platform	submitted	$140
SHUKRI - DIY Berlin Music Art & Community Space	submitted	$470
das Y radio	submitted	$10
Touring Musician's Resource Map	submitted	$19
Hands of Hope Foundation	submitted	$0