Whether it's programmes about first love or tips for dealing with exam stress, MainBeat has already covered almost every topic that could be of interest to students. That's because all of the student radio programme's broadcasts are produced by the students themselves. They are free to choose their own content.
Published on 02 February 2026
From idea to institution
MainBeat originally emerged from FH Radio, which was founded in 2009. At that time, a few students were interested in doing radio and encouraged Helmut Göb, then head of the THWS Media Center (HMZ), to set up a student radio station at THWS. In those early days, there were still technical limitations. For example, the programmes could only be listened to by a maximum of 50 listeners. This restriction has long since been lifted, explains René Anderl, who supervises the student radio today. "Since the modern expansion of the studio in 2013 in the THWS building on Münzstraße, there are hardly any limits to the technology."
When the student radio first began, there was a very committed journalism professor, Professor Dr. Gabriele Goderbauer-Marchner, who strongly encouraged the students, René Anderl continues.
Connecting link between students and THWS
Since 2015, Anderl has been teaching at THWS and acting as the interface between students and the academic director, Professor Dr. Dagmar Unz, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences. He takes care of many organisational matters, such as forwarding invoices and paying GEMA and GVL fees. He also supports students if something does not go as planned.
MainBeat hasn't always run as smoothly as it does now. After the pandemic, there was a short break, says Anderl: "But now, since Franziska Comes and Leonie Engl joined, and before that Sebastian Schoenebeck and Sebastian Schultze, things have been going really well again."
Dual leadership: student management
Sebastian Schoenebeck and Sebastian Schultze acted as MainBeat's student managers last semester. Today, this position is filled by Franziska Comes and Leonie Engl. They are both in their sixth semester of their Media Management studies. Franziska has contributed to MainBeat's management since her fourth semester and took on responsibility early on thanks to her previous radio experience. "I did two years of voluntary service at a radio station and then, of course, I thought it was incredibly cool that I had the opportunity to do radio during my studies," she says.
Franziska and Leonie work as a team to ensure the structure and organisation of the editorial team. Their tasks include regularly inviting people to editorial meetings and approaching new interested parties. All communication with the HMZ is also handled by the two managers. "I coordinate tasks internally, contribute ideas, keep the team together and take care of new people – Franziska is mainly responsible for external communication," explains Leonie. In addition, the two coordinate larger events such as the "MainBeat Marathon", a live radio broadcast in the foyer of THWS. The managers are the central contact persons and represent MainBeat both within and outside THWS.
MainBeat Marathon
For the two student managers, but also for René Anderl, the MainBeat Marathon is a highlight. "With the MainBeat Marathon, we really went out into the world with the radio. It showed even more that we exist – that's also a real highlight," says Anderl. The idea: to broadcast live for a whole day – directly from the foyer of THWS. Between the running crowd, coffee and spontaneous guests, radio suddenly becomes visible, tangible – and a communal experience. "We always sit in this radio studio, which many people don't even know about," says Franziska. During the marathon, the team broadcasts for eight hours with prepared topics and lots of improvisation. "Everyone has prepared their topics, and we just have a good time," she says. For the team, the day is not only a major organisational challenge, but also a real opportunity to raise their profile on campus. To Anderl, such activities strengthen cohesion: "This group does the marathon and afterwards they eat pizza or go to a pub together. I think that's great." Especially after the pandemic-related cutbacks, the resurgence of such experiences is a strong signal – for the radio station as well as for student life.
Why it works and what remains
What students learn at MainBeat has hardly changed over the years – and that's meant in the best possible way. Whether in 2009 or 2025, the core skills taught through working at the radio station remain the same: personal responsibility, teamwork, and spontaneity.
The radio station is not a compulsory seminar, but a project that you only participate in if you really want to. This is precisely what ensures a high degree of reliability within the team. Franziska sums it up: "I think the most important thing you learn here is to take responsibility for what you have promised someone else from your studies." Anyone who prepares a programme or plans contributions with someone else must be able to rely on each other, just like in any real editorial team.
René Anderl also emphasises the special learning atmosphere at MainBeat: "The radio station is 100 per cent voluntary. You promise your fellow students that you will be there at a certain time to do radio with them. Or you promise to work with them on a feature. And then you stick to it."
The fact that involvement with MainBeat can also pave the way into the media industry is demonstrated by the numerous alumni who now work at radio stations such as Radio Gong or Bayerischer Rundfunk. Names such as Tim Schumacher and Pirmin Breninek are examples of this path. "There are definitely people who get hooked here," says Anderl happily.
