Jefferson resident is Web Radio entrepreneur
Young Jefferson Township resident Kevin Pattky, Jr, has always been interested in the technical side of things. While a student at Jefferson Township High School, Pattky was involved with the in-school broadcasting network, and he was a volunteer for years at the Art Bonito Amphitheater at Camp Jefferson, working on the summer concert series. since graduating in 2011, the now 20-year old Pattky has become a web radio entrepreneur, co-founding iNCO Radio on the Internet at incoradio.com.
“I’ve always been interested in radio,” Pattky said, “as I think it is better than seeing because your use your imagination more.”
That interest led him to create the iNCO network with his partner Nick Orbe, a Montgomery, N.J., high school student he met through a counseling program. iNCO boasts four live, 24-hour channels, with two more scheduled to be up by February 2012. The network uses both automated technology to ensure a continuous playlist of music on its channels, but it also hosts live shows. Its programming covers everything from classic rock to the newest musical stars such as Lady Gaga, and the live shows feature talk, sports, weather and commentary.
Pattky and Orbe began the network in late August of 2011, with the initial pop music channel going live on Sept. 2. since then, his audience has grown to nearly 1,000 listeners, and has taken advantage of a wide range of social media to reach out to people. Pattky said the network uses Facebook, Twitter, its own website and other methods to connect to listeners. Listeners can interact with the station through texting, Skype and old-fashioned telephone calling.
“I listen to all kinds of music, but I know you have to provide your audience with the programming they want to hear,” Pattky said. “That’s why we want our listeners to communicate with us.”
The four channels iNCO currently hosts are: Pop/Top 40, Pop/Top 30, Oldies (from the 1960s and 1970s) and a holiday music channel. The live shows are performed by Pattky and Orbe, as well as other local talent. For example, recent Jefferson Township High School graduate and former Class President Matt Barone hosted a sports program for several months. Pattky himself has his own show from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Orbe does a 7 to 10 p.m. slot from Sunday to Thursday. The network just signed another DJ, Zach Sang, to be their Pop/Top 40 personality. By February iNCO will add two new channels: Indie Music and Soft Rock.
Pattky said iNCO uses the very latest technology in producing the channels, and they pay an Internet service about $100 per month to provide the actual music. He programs the website himself and also provides the technical know-how to run the operation which is based in a studio in the basement of his home in the Milton section of Jefferson. Partners are tied in through the Internet, allowing Orbe to be a full participant from his home in south Jersey, or come to the home studio to record their shows.
Being web based gives them the freedom to program the music they want to broadcast and interact with fans and listeners in real time. It is both a more broad-based venue and more intimate at the same time. The web radio is not regulated by the Federal Communications Commission either, cutting down on potential red tape and formalities.
“I would not want to go over-the-air as I really love the opportunities and freedom the web gives you, especially the ability to work from anywhere,” Pattky said.
Creating and running the radio station does cost money, both for the equipment and music services. up until now, that money has come mostly from Pattky, with a lot of generous support from his parents, Kevin Sr. and Michele. both are very proud of their son and behind him completely. Pattky is working to build a team of advisors, both financial and legal, to create a business plan to allow the network to start earning money and become a profitable venture.
