How Pulse Radio keeps student broadcasting accessible with RadioCult
Pulse Radio is rebuilding its student-run station for a digital-first era. With RadioCult, the team has a simpler way to manage broadcasting, scheduling, recording, archiving, show host information, and website embeds while keeping radio accessible for students learning as they go.
About Pulse Radio
Pulse Radio is a student-run radio station at the London School of Economics. The station started broadcasting over FM around 30 years ago and now broadcasts online on weekdays.
After radio activity slowed down during the shift from FM to internet broadcasting, Pulse has been working to revive the station as a creative space for students interested in music, culture, journalism, interviews, and live programming.
- Location
- LSE, London, UK
- Founded
- Started broadcasting over FM around 30 years ago
- Station type
- Student / university radio station
- Key responsibilities
- Broadcasting, scheduling, archiving, recording, show host information, student presenter support, website listening experience
Before RadioCult
Pulse had the history, community, and student interest to bring radio back, but the team needed a setup that could work for digital broadcasting and changing student teams.
The station's original setup was not designed for internet radio
Most hosts and contributors had little to no prior radio, music, or DJ experience
Student turnover made it difficult to keep station knowledge consistent year to year
The previous software made the listener experience too complicated
The team needed to broadcast every weekday without making station management feel like a full-time job
“Our setup wasn't designed for internet radio.”
Why RadioCult
Pulse needed a platform that was simple enough for students to use, while still supporting the core work of running an online station.
Core features adopted
Broadcasting- Scheduling
- Recording and archiving
- Show host information
- Website embeds
A central place for a student-run station
RadioCult helps Pulse keep key station work in one place. Students can log in to manage broadcasting, scheduling, archiving, recordings, and show host information, which matters for a station where contributors and managers change regularly.
The platform also helps Pulse make the station easier for listeners to access. Instead of sending people through a complicated listening experience, Pulse can use customizable embeds on its website so listeners can simply press play.
Station workflow
Broadcasting, scheduling, recording, archiving, and host information in one place
Student access
Hosts can broadcast themselves with a platform that is easier to understand
Listener experience
Website embeds make tuning in more straightforward
Team reality
The station can keep running without requiring students to be available for every technical issue
“Anyone can log in and whether they're scheduling, archiving the shows, recording the show or even just having all the information about show hosts; having everything being in a central place helps a lot.”
Helping students get on air with less technical friction
With RadioCult, Pulse has a more manageable way to support student broadcasting, keep station information centralized, and make online listening easier for its audience.
| Area | Before | After | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet broadcasting | Pulse's original setup was built around FM, making the move online difficult | RadioCult supports digital broadcasting from one platform | Easier to revive the radio side of the station online |
| Student access | Many hosts and contributors were new to radio, music, or DJing | Students can log in and use RadioCult to support their shows | A more beginner-friendly way for students to get on air |
| Station management | Scheduling, recording, archiving, and host information were harder to keep together | RadioCult gives Pulse one central place for key station workflows | Less friction for a student-run team with limited time |
| Listener experience | Previous software made tuning in overly complicated | Customizable website embeds make the station easier to access | More people can actually listen without technical barriers |
“The software we used before made everything overly complicated. I think RadioCult's simplicity helped us with our listener base as well. People could actually tune in.”
Key improvements
Easier digital broadcasting
More accessible student-led shows
Centralized station workflows
Simpler listening through website embeds
Beyond daily broadcasting
With RadioCult, Pulse Radio can now:
- Support students who are new to radio, DJing, interviews, and live programming
- Keep broadcasting, scheduling, recording, archiving, and host information in one place
- Make the station easier to access through website embeds
- Broadcast regularly without making station management feel like a full-time job
Long-term impact
- More room for students to learn by doing
- More consistency as student teams change
- Less pressure on managers to solve every technical issue manually
- A stronger digital foundation for the station's next chapter
“We really had to focus on how we can do all of this, broadcast every weekday, give people opportunities, all without it becoming a full-time job.”
Read the full Pulse Radio interview
The long-form conversation with the team behind Pulse Radio — how the station started, what keeps it going, and where it is heading next.
See how RadioCult can support your student station
Every student station has its own history, contributors, and campus culture. Get a walkthrough tailored to the way your station broadcasts, schedules, and supports new presenters.
