Are you an aspiring musician? Do you want your songs to reach a larger audience? It’s time that you start being proactive.
If you’re clueless about what to do, read on and learn how to submit music to radio stations. You might not hear being played on the radio overnight, but soon, your efforts will bear fruit.
To get a song on the radio, you must start by picking the right station. You also need to prepare promo materials and the music itself. Plus, it helps to build your network.
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5 Steps to Submit Music to Radio Stations
If you’re an independent artist, you probably know how difficult it is to get your music on the radio. You don’t have a management team to work with. It’s all a solo effort.
Luckily, it’s possible to submit your music, although success won’t be apparent overnight. With determination and perseverance, it won’t take long before you can hear your song on the radio.
What To Prepare
- Your Music
- Online/social media presence
- Press kit
- Personal connections
1. Choose the Right Radio Station
Avoid wasting your time. One way to do this is to approach the right station. Choose one that is most likely to play your song. You will generally have two choices:
- Commercial Radio: It’s a large station owned and operated by a corporation. They tend to have long and aggressive commercials, which is where the radio gets its money.
- Non-Commercial Radio: Also called independent radio, these stations are smaller, often run by volunteers or small groups.
For new musical artists, non-commercial stations are better. These can include college radio stations and other stations run by small groups of people who are usually passionate about music.
More so, you should also do your research, making sure your music matches the genre of the station where you will send your music. For instance, you should never submit to hip hop radio stations if your music is pop, jazz, or another genre.
2. Prepare Your Promo Materials
The goal is to convince music stations to play your music. One way to convince them is to build a solid reputation and loyal following.
Before submitting music to radio stations, make sure to work on building your online presence. Include links to your social media accounts during your music submission.
Whether you’re sending your music to Florida or to New York radio stations, you might be required to send a press kit. It can include a cover letter, biography, fact sheet, and focus tracks.
3. Get Your Music Ready
This is one of the most important steps before you send music to radio stations. Spend time doing this to convince radio stations that your song is worth the airtime.
Once you’re done, you can now proceed to the submission to a radio station briefly after recording. Make sure it passes all the station’s requirements, if there’s any.
You can submit your music in different formats. For instance, you can save it in a physical CD and hand it out to the radio station. Alternatively, you can also send it in a digital format.
4. Consider the Different Ways to Submit Your Music
Depending on the radio station’s requirements, there are different ways by which you can send them your music.
You can send it as an independent artist. Alternatively, you may also need to upload music to radio stations, platforms or websites.
For example, to send your music to Atlanta radio stations, you need to submit an email with your music or via snail mail with a CD containing the recording.
Another thing to do is to use a PR company for the submission of your music. Plus, you can do it by using a third-party music distribution platform.
Hiring a radio plugger can also help. The latter will work as a middleman between the artist and radio station. They are industry experts who can help connect you to the right people.
5. Build Your Connections
Growing your network is another thing that can help if you want to submit your music to radio stations in the USA.
One of the best things to do is to follow the social media accounts of the radio stations, including their DJs and hosts. This can also be an opportunity to personalize your submissions.
You can also reach out to anyone personally connected to the radio station. However, don’t be too aggressive, as it can end up hurting your chances.
Tips and Tricks to Submit Music to Radio Stations
Aside from following the tups mentioned above, below are some things that can help get your music played on the radio.
1. Use Free Platforms to Raise Awareness
There are many platforms where you can submit your music for free. Create a profile and stay active. This can help you build your audience and reach more people. As a result, you can build a large following, which can help convince radio stations to play your music.
2. Connect to Your Audience
Take advantage of your social media presence to connect to your target audience. Be active in social media and answer questions your followers may have.
3. Play at Local Events
Look for local events where you can play and showcase your talents. In the end, the radio station may be the one coming after you, instead of you chasing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost for a radio station to play a song?
Different factors can impact the answer to this question. For instance, it can depend on the location and specific radio station.
In the United States, a single play of a song in a commercial radio station can range from $4 to $7. The exact price can depend on the popularity of the radio and the song.
Meanwhile, in some countries, the artist or composer may not get paid at all. It’s especially the case in places where there’s no respect for copyright laws.
Can independent artists get on the radio?
Yes, even independent artists can get on the radio. It can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to play music on a commercial radio, but there are ways to make it for cheap.
One of the best things to do is to start with stations that are not as popular. You have to start at the bottom and work your way up.
Also, rather than going straight to commercial radio stations, it’s best to start with independent stations. The likes of Capital FM are already established names, so it’s best to avoid them and start with smaller radio stations.
Conclusion
Now that you’re done reading, we hope you learned a thing or two about how to submit music to radio stations. It may not be easy, but it’s worth trying.
From choosing the right station to building your connections, consider the things earlier mentioned. They can help you reach the reality of your dreams!
Hi, I am Amaro Frank – the Wind Up Radio’s content editor and writer. Working with Adam is so much fun, as his stories and experiences enrich my knowledge about radio communications and radio accessories. My main tasks in Wind Up Radio are building content and generating great articles on different topics around radio accessories.