The following activities from 24/25 are some examples that reflect the priorities and purposes of the company:
Strategic Partnerships & Business Development
The CMA continued to develop and strengthen relationships with key sector partners. A particularly significant development was the CMA’s partnership with Radioplayer, enabling community radio stations to be more accessible on connected devices, apps, and in-car entertainment systems. This partnership reflects our ethos of ensuring that community media remains discoverable and accessible as IP and internet-based platforms continue to grow.
The CMA also worked closely with PPL throughout the year, maintaining a constructive relationship that has saved community radio thousands of pounds in licence fees. This collaboration continues to ensure that the specific needs of the not-for-profit sector are recognised and addressed.
The CMA also engaged with TuneIn following the removal of a number of stations from the platform, successfully supporting stations to be reinstated and ensuring that community radio services remain accessible to listeners on this important distribution platform.
Advocacy & Sector Representation
The CMA continued to represent the sector through consultations and policy engagement. We supported Witham Radio in Lincoln following the University of Lincoln’s decision to give up its community radio licence, ensuring that Lincoln retained the same number of community radio stations and that community access to the airwaves was protected.
We also prepared detailed responses to Ofcom consultations, including the review of procedures for investigating breaches of broadcast licences and the process for managing changes to key commitments. Alongside this, we supported several members facing investigations into potential breaches of their key commitments, ensuring stations were well-represented and supported throughout.
In December 2024, the CMA responded to the government’s amendments to the Community Radio Order, welcoming the extension of licence terms and the relaxation of advertising and sponsorship rules as a historic milestone for the sector. We also held a constructive meeting with Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, to discuss the needs and future of community radio.
CMA Festival 2024
In October 2024, the CMA held its annual Festival in Poole. Building on feedback from the Leicester event, the Festival placed a strong emphasis on networking, peer-to-peer sharing, and optimism for the future of community radio. The event once again provided a vital space for members and stakeholders to connect, share knowledge, and celebrate the sector’s achievements.
Consultation & Policy Influence
Throughout the year, the CMA prepared sector responses to Ofcom and government initiatives, ensuring that the voice of community radio was strongly represented in policymaking. Notably, the CMA contributed to early discussions on Ofcom’s Measuring the Social Gain of Community Radio report, published in June 2025, by engaging with members and policymakers during the reporting period.
Member Engagement
The CMA continued to support stations in applying to the Community Radio Fund, providing advice and guidance to dozens of members to help them access essential financial support for staffing and sustainability. This work ensures that community radio continues to thrive across the UK by building capacity and strengthening local services.
Operational & Governance
The Board held strategic discussions during the year to address the future of staffing and the sustainability of the organisation, ensuring the CMA remains well positioned to meet the needs of its members.
Financial review
Principal Funding Sources
The principal funding source for the CMA is the income generated by the sales of ‘Canstream’ online streaming services. This amounted to £42,600 or 57% of the CMA’s income for the year, with community radio stations making up the majority of the Canstream customers. Canstream sales in the year were down 11% relative to 23/24.
The other main source of funding was from membership subscriptions. These totalled £20,000 (27% of total income) which is an increase of £6,000 (40%) relative to the previous year. This increase was due to an increase in membership fees from 1 January 2024; the number of members in the year was steady (2024/25 = 215; 2023/24 = 214).
Reserves Policy and Going Concern
The CMA’s reserves policy is that unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets should cover between 6 and 9 months of core expenditure. The core operating budget for 2025/26 is £20,000 (not including Canstream operating costs) so the reserves target is to hold from £10,000 to £15,000 in general funds. Reserves at this level would allow current activities of the operation to continue for a period in the event of a significant drop in funding.
There was a funding deficit of £4,500 in the year, and free unrestricted reserves at 31 Mar 2025 were £8,300, which is below the minimum reserves target. Canstream income continues to decline but we have reduced costs by ending the relationship with our communications consultancy.
The CMA directors appreciate that the trading and operation of the CMA need significant development to enable the organisation to grow and continue to deliver its aims and objectives.
Investment Policy
An interest-paying instant access savings account is used for funds that are not needed on a day-to-day basis. There are currently no significant funds available for long-term investment.