How to put your song on the radio
On the radio

How to put your song on the radio

Jolley Frankie

Know who to contact
When it comes to contacting radio stations, you need to know who to contact.

If you’re targeting larger radio stations, you should find the contact information of the person who decides which tracks to play. This could be the station’s particular DJ or producer, program director, or music director. If you’re going to a small radio station, they probably won’t have many employees on board, so a general contact (at) radio station (dot) com should help.

Find the necessary contact information on the radio station’s website or social media, or just call them and ask for information from the producer (they may or may not give it to you, but it’s worth a try!).

Some stations will only accept material from certain sources or in certain formats, so make sure you do it right before sending anything.

For example, BBC Introbbing requires that you create an artist profile before you upload your tracks to their system. You can get started on how to submit music to BBC Introbbing here!

Know how to submit your music
Have you found contact information for decision makers at target stations, but no clear information on how you can submit tracks?

Creating an email press kit, writing a music press release, or sending out a single sheet with links to 1-3 of your best tracks is the most common way to approach radio stations, as well as press publications and blogs. The key is to make sure your email or press packet stands out and gets their attention. Make sure your tracks have clear titles and don’t send out mp3 files. Instead, include links to your songs.

Some people prefer to send or receive physical copies of their music to radio stations, but this is becoming less and less common. Typically, DJs and radio stations get most of their material and demos digitally.

But it’s okay to start small. There are plenty of independent, college and Internet radio stations that accept submissions from up-and-coming bands and artists.

Some of our favorites are…

  • Amazing Radio (UK/USA)
  • Exile FM (global)
  • XRP Radio (UK)
  • Krac Radio (global)
  • Radio Phoenix (global)
  • Radio Lodge (global)
  • Saturday New Music (UK/USA)

These smaller stations won’t be overwhelmed with material either, so you’ll have a much better chance of playing early in your career.

Reaching out to stations of a certain genre is also an effective way to broadcast. If you’re an aspiring rapper, send your track to a hip-hop radio station, or if you play thrash metal, make sure you connect with a station that regularly plays your style of music.

Think about your online presence
Creating a strong social media presence and making sure your music is visible online can work wonders when it comes to deciding who gets a coveted listening spot on the radio.

The competition for radio play is so great that there has to be some deciding factor in choosing who gets played and who doesn’t. If a DJ hears two songs and likes both, but can only choose one, he is more likely to choose artists who have put in the extra time and effort to develop online followers rather than an artist who has stepped aside on social media.

Also, social media is a key element of any music promotion strategy. So show radio hosts and DJs that you’re serious about getting your music heard both on and off the radio.

Learn the best social media music marketing strategies you can use to build your online presence!

Create an update
Ultimately, the most effective (but also the most difficult) way to get on the air on radio is to organically create buzz around your music, create a loyal fan base and get radio stations to pay attention.

There is no guaranteed formula for success when it comes to creating buzz around your band. Just get out there, play live as often as you can, connect with your fans and the music business, release music on Spotify and other outlets, and most importantly, make great music!

Hire a radio plugger.
If you make great music but are struggling to get it spun on the radio that you deserve, it might be time to hire a radio plugger.

Radio plagers act as intermediaries between you and the radio stations and usually have a long list of contacts that they have acquired over many years in the industry. These industry professionals will have existing relationships with radio trendsetters, which will give them more clout and influence when it comes to radio stations, DJs and decision makers.