How to Get Your Music on the Radio

Every second, somewhere around the world, someone is listening to their favorite tunes. Someone else is tuning into a local radio station to hear what’s on the playlist. Another person is actively seeking out new songs and musicians they’ve never heard before. 

The ways in which millions of people discover and access the tunes they love have changed dramatically throughout the years, but just because something new pops up, that doesn’t mean the old methods disappear. Throughout time, radio has proved to be one of the top promotional tools for musicians, and it still is to this day. 

Getting your music played by radio stations can be extremely difficult, especially in an already competitive market where virtually everyone wants some time on the waves. There are a number of things you should do to have a good chance at having your music played on the radio…all detailed below.

In This Article: 

• Identify Your Target Audience
• Know The People In Charge
• Prepare A High-Quality Single
• Why Should You Consider Radio Promotion

IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

You may wonder why knowing your target audience is important and how it relates to playing your music on the radio. Well, those are fair questions. Knowing your audience can help you decide which radio station is the best at reaching the segment you want to impact. For instance, if you are a hip-hop artist, then you would avoid submitting your demo or mixtape to a radio station dedicated to playing 50s and 60s music.

If you are a new band still in college looking to impact your peers, getting your music out to local college radio stations can be the best way to reach your target audience. Furthermore, many independent online radio stations are serving different audiences. You may be able to find a station that fits your musical genre and impacts your audience.

This is all helpful info to know when you first look into a radio campaign, but if you’re not sure what your target audience is, or which stations reach those people, Planetary can help you figure all that out.

KNOW THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE

Identifying the decision makers at a radio station can help you strategize and create the best approach to have your music played on their station. Generally, the decision makers in a radio station are either the DJ, producer, music director or programming director.

Try researching what kind of music they play and at what times to get a feel for their choices, their preferences, and whether these apply to your goals. Furthermore, do some research to see whether they accept demo submissions, as that may be an excellent way to get your musical creations played.

Again, all this research is good to do on your own, but a top-notch radio promotion team already has that information ready, so hiring a company will save you a lot of time and effort.

PREPARE A HIGH-QUALITY SINGLE

If you want a radio station to play your music, make sure you have a high-quality production ready to go. No radio station will play unprofessional, half-baked material for their audiences. Taking this approach from the get-go can hurt your chances of getting your music played and damage your relationship with the radio station.

Demos have their place, but if you’re planning on releasing a new album or single and want to properly promote it, you need to make sure it sounds ready for the world to consume. That may mean hiring a mixer, mastering professional or an engineer, or perhaps all three.

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER RADIO PROMOTION

Radio stations have been in existence for decades. For newer generations, radio stations may not seem like the go-to medium, especially with the introduction of other platforms like online streaming media…however, you should not overlook the power of radio broadcasting if you are interested in creating buzz around your music and talent. Despite the presence of internet radio, podcasts, streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music and multimedia sites such as YouTube, seasoned artists and musicians understand and respect the importance of radio stations and the impact they have on an artist’s career.

One of the main reasons why radio is a great promotional tool is because it captivates its audience in a single space. Online platforms often use visual stimuli to keep your attention on their musical content. While this approach may add value, it doesn’t necessarily captivate your audience right from the get-go. Radio has a sense of immediacy other media can’t replicate, giving it a more significant edge over other platforms. 

Getting Your Name Out There

These are only a few examples to help you understand how playing your music on the radio works. However, these tips can be beneficial as they can help you set yourself up for a good start. The music promotion professionals at Planetary Group have helped many up-and-coming artists with their projects and can help you determine the best course of action to get your music playing on the radio.

Our music promotion team has years of experience working with non-commercial, commercial, and college radio stations. We can help you get the radio promotion you need to reach your audiences effectively and efficiently. Call Planetary Group in LA at (323) 925-5050.