Broadcaster Profile
Richard Martin and Chaz Runyon
The Gulch - Jerome, AZ
What do you get when you pair two friends with a love of music and a passion for radio? You get "The Gulch"!
Richard Martin and Chaz Runyon started The Gulch in September 2002 to provide their neighborhood with an alternative to the available radio entertainment. Martin says that his neighborhood "is isolated from clear commercial FM due to terrain" and the neighbors wanted music. "Part 15 is legal with enough range to cover the area we are primarily concerned with. Our neighborhood is populated by many artists and artisans who work at home, so we provide music to work by", so Martin and Runyon are certain to have an available audience.
The programming features a format of eclectic music, which is also made available via web streaming. Martin and Runyon recognize the need to be legal with their online audio endeavors. "We stream through LoudCity who collects and distributes royalties."
The stations receives regular feedback and accolades from listeners. "Listeners are passionate and listen a lot" and "We've been told numerous times by artists that there's "Gulch Radio" in their work."
Martin and Runyon have complementary skills that make for successful radio. While both of them have an extensive computer background, Martin had previously work in the area of advertising copywriting. Runyon's background includes audio electronics, CB and Amateur radio sales and service, so he serves as the station's engineer. His carpentry skills came into play while building the studio. He also built the transmitter shack with spare parts and processing gear.
The station is operated with computers using the Macintosh operating system, "We have a main computer and a backup computer, as well as an older Mac laptop for our live show streaming. The audio mixed on a board is sent to the laptop which then puts it on the stream". "We use iTunes for our automation - it's simple, easy and free." Other transmission equipment includes MXL microphones, an Inovonics 222 AM audio processor and they are adding a Behringer SX 3040 to the AM audio chain.
While they are serving their local neighborhood well, they hope to be able to build a higher power station in the future. They learned quite a bit back in 2004 when they applied for an AM opening. Due to time constraints they didn't have sufficient time to follow through with the process. While a full service station isn't out of the question, they look forward to placing their backup Rangemaster transmitter into service and perhaps adding a third to expand their coverage area.
