 We may be living in a digital world where we can instantly access music, but still, getting your music played on radio stations is one of the most effective ways to promote your song and reach the masses. Radio promotion isn't easy. It actually involves a very competitive market, most especially when it comes to large commercial radio stations.
But this doesn't mean that some radio stations are unreachable. A lot of them are. What this means is that you have to get a good glimpse of how it works for your song to be heard on the radio. Why does radio promotion still matter? Despite how advanced the world is today, plugging your music into radio stations is still very important because it helps you build a human connection between your audience and your music. It might sound a little bit old, but the radio is still where a lot of curators thrive. It is also where many people discover new music. It’s also because of some connection with the voice behind the microphone that some people still listen to the radio. The audience feels familiar with the host as they have been hearing it for a long time. Here's How You Can Plug Your Music to Radio Stations Know Who to Approach The very first step that you must do when you want to plug your music to radio stations is knowing who to contact. If you want your music to be played on a large radio station, find the contact details of the person who decides on the tracks to be played. This could either be the program host, the show producer, or the station’s music director. But if you opt for smaller or local radio stations, getting in touch with them is a lot easier. You can just give them a call, or you can simply look into their social media pages for the contact details that you need. There are radio stations that accept submissions on specific formats only, so make sure you check them out before submitting them. Know How to Submit Your Music After finding out their contact details, what now? The most common way to approach radio stations is to submit a press release with links to your new track. When sending out an email, make sure that you make it as attractive and informative as possible. Make it stand out so that they can easily notice it, but go straight to the point and stay professional Furthermore, ensure that your tracks are clearly labeled. A link to the song is more favorable than an MP3 file attached to the email. It would even be better if you send out an electronic press kit with images of the band, the artwork, the lyrics, the updated biography, just in case the radio station decides to promote your music on the website as well. Start Pitching to Local Radio Stations Reality speaking, your song won't be played to large radio stations right away, not unless you own the radio station. Radio airplay is more competitive than you thought. You are not the only person trying to get their song on air; there are probably hundreds or thousands of people like you on the waiting list. There is nothing wrong with starting on local stations. Besides, a lot of famous songs are played on small radio stations first. And, pitching your song to them is way easier. There are a lot of independent stations, college radios, and web radio stations that accept submissions from up and coming artists and bands which you can use for your songs to be played on air. Also, getting in touch with genre-specific stations is a huge plus. This is perhaps one of the most effective ways to get airplay. Create a Buzz One of the most important yet most difficult steps that you must do when trying to pitch your music to radio stations is by creating a buzz. What does this mean? Creating a buzz means creating hype around your music to the right people. If product marketing has a target audience, music pitching has one too. If possible, develop a local fan base which can help radio stations notice you easier. There is no specific formula on how you can successfully create a buzz for your music. But my advice is to be active on social media: share every single news of airplay on each station you get a chance to be played on, with your fans. It doesn’t seem much, but the impression will be sensational! Wrapping It Up Getting your song played on radio stations will take a lot of your time, some rejections, and a lot of dedication. But once you hear your song on-air, everything will become totally worth it. Most importantly, make sure that you are targeting the right radio stations that are suited for your type of music. Choose a stage where you matter, and you are appreciated, because most of the time, there is nothing wrong with you or your approach, but what is wrong is that you are dealing with the wrong audience/radio. Lastly, be realistic and persistent. Do not allow rejection to stop you from doing what you love. Keep going, always! Written by Fanny Hulard Fanny Hulard is an independent publicist, multi-talented artist, and creative. She holds a long and successful musical career, from renowned musician to Grammy member music professional, she’s also an author, blogger, video director, painter, and educator. Instagram | Twitter
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