Simple and Effective Guide on How to Get Your Song Played on the Radio
aaamusic | On 23, Nov 2020
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The song ‘’Video killed the radio star’’ by the Buggles was released back in (what feels like forever ago) 1979, talking about the concerns and the impact that modern inventions could have on the music industry.
Seems like in the world of modern technology and numerous platforms this phrase is more true than ever.
For precisely that reason, some people find the radio to be just an outdated form of musical promotion.
However, getting your original song played on the radio is still a rather significant accomplishment. And the thing is, it doesn’t happen on its own.
If you strive to get your music recognized and included in the still relevant radio charts, here are some suggestions to help you get started.
Create and record
Construct a plan that would serve you as a guideline throughout the whole process. It is important to think about your goals and aspirations from the start.
It is needless to say that creating a good song is of paramount importance. Granted, what constitutes a good song is always going to be the subject of a debate, but there are some objective parameters that need to be followed.
After that, it is mostly a matter of personal taste and preferences.
Once you written a song it has to be adequately recorded. This is a step that could potentially require some additional expenses.
In this particular situation, that well-known saying time is money is undoubtedly accurate, and acquiring a studio will cost you.
In case you are on a tight budget but have enough skills and experience, another option is to record and create music at home.
Whatever option you go for, the recording itself needs to poses certain quality factors and to sound professional in order for your music to be taken seriously.
Time to stand out
In the huge, hectic, and highly competitive (not to say ruthless) music industry it is absolutely crucial to find a way to stand out.
It is not just about good music, it is about the whole package.
What is it that you have to offer to your listeners? What is the thing that distinguishes you from everyone else?
Sounds like such a simple, banal notion, but it requires a lot of thought.
Once you know what you want to achieve and what your brand would be it is time to develop a proper marketing strategy around it.
So, it is not enough that you have good music and specifically created visual identity, it is important to know the best way to present it to others.
A well-thought-out marketing plan can get you a long way.
Advertising
Start thinking about different methods of advertising from the very start.
Sometimes that will require legwork and promoting your music on the local music scene (bars, coffee places, etc). Making the right contacts is something that can make or break your music career.
Branching out to different people takes skill and patience so don’t get discouraged if you start small.
You can even get familiar with how professional promotions work by consulting expert advertising services such as Carrot and Stick to gain a clearer picture. Knowing as much as possible about the whole industry could help you make the next step.
Approach different radio stations
Try focusing on certain types of radio stations.
For example, the ones that are primarily concentrated on the specific music genre (the same genre you are interested in), or the smaller ones that are open to collaborating with independent artists rather than playing commercially recognized hits.
So, do your research and make sure that you are familiar with the work and brand of various radio stations. That way you will know the best approach and increase your chances for a feature.
Don’t get discouraged by the rejections. After all, it is a numbers game.
Additional note: Submitting your carefully selected music (while respecting the proper radio format) should be accompanied by important information about you (or your band, project, etc).
Choose the right platform
For most people that are trying to share their music with the world thinking further than just radio stations is something that goes without saying.
In all honesty, with so many options out there why limits yourself to only one?
Seems like quite a logical notion to expand your ambitions and efforts in different directions, rather than just focusing on a few major radio stations.
There are internet stations that, although smaller than a commercial radio station, still generate large groups of listeners. These music enthusiasts are likely to share non-mainstream music with their friends.
Also, there are various popular music streaming platforms that allow you to upload your track either for free or for a small cost. By doing so, your music is accessible to so many listeners around the globe.
Social media presence
As mentioned before, in today’s music industry the radio is not the only way to make a name for yourself and promote your music.
Take full advantage of all the opportunities modern technology has to offer as there are different platforms that allow anyone to play their original tracks.
Even platforms that are not strictly music-oriented can be quite useful in achieving your goals.
A strong social media presence generates reach, making sure that more and more people know about you and your music.
And with a proper marketing strategy in place, you already know who is your target audience and the most effective way to attract them.
By building up your reach and your online community, it is more likely that a radio station will be interested in featuring your work.
However, with countless independent artists being able to stream their new tracks that also means that the competition is tougher than ever.
It takes hard work and perseverance to make your way into the music industry. But with a lot of time, effort, and just a little bit of luck you can hear your original songs playing on the radio.
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