Emergency Fundraiser Saves Melbourne Youth Radio Station SYN

Melbourne (Naarm) youth radio station SYN FM has been saved following an emergency fundraiser that raised over $60,000.

In early October, SYN (the Student Youth Network) took to Twitter/X to express the radio station’s uncertain future, revealing that the station was in danger of shutting down.

“SYN and our community have just six weeks to save our station or face closing our doors for good,” SYN wrote on Twitter on 4 October. “To stay on the air, we need you to donate now. Without your support, SYN will close its doors forever, destroying a crucial community for young people.”

After six weeks of rigorous campaigning, the Save Our Station - Keep SYN Alive drive has succeeded, with community donations securing the station’s financial position into 2024.

SYN FM General Manager Ruby Smith said in a statement, “Thanks to your support, SYN will be able to continue providing a platform for young people across Naarm/Melbourne, uplifting their voices and creating spaces where they are celebrated for being themselves.”

On Sunday (19 November), SYN volunteers hosted Save SYN Fest, an enormous day of live music and exciting raffle prizes at the Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy.

The SYN FM statement about its remaining on the air continued, “We want to give the warmest thank you to the artists, venue, venue operators, raffle prize donors and all involved who volunteered their time, expertise, and products to make this outcome possible. As well as all industry professionals, artists, listeners, alumni and volunteers who supported us throughout this campaign.”

SYN – the Student Youth Network – is run by the student-run not-for-profit SYN Media at RMIT University in Melbourne’s CBD. The radio station is presented by volunteers aged between 12 and 25. SYN broadcasts on FM (90.7) and DAB+ (9B).

Since the station launched in 2003, presenters under 26 years old have led programs for 12 weeks at a time on flagship shows and seasonal shows.

As well as its radio shows, SYN produces television programs on the Melbourne community broadcaster Channel 31. Up to 1,500 volunteers have contributed to SYN, with thousands of young people incorporating the platform’s training and education programmes into their studies and futures.

SYN FM was in danger of shutting down due to “the already catastrophic hit our station took in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation and an unexpected loss of grant funding”, forcing the station to dip into its cash reserves.

For two decades, SYN FM has been a home for young people to express themselves, as well as a community platform and training ground for Australia’s young voices in the news, culture and music sectors. SYN has championed local music and has been an essential source of local news and entertainment.

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