Tuesday
Dec022014
December 2, 2014 Properly sending your music to commercial radio stations
The first step in getting radio play is sending your music to radio stations.
Distributing music to commercial radio stations used to involve sending CDs, printing cover letters, bubble envelopes, researching radio stations, finding the right contact information and paying shipping fees. Now over 95% of the music played on commercial radio is received digitally.
Each radio station has a Music Director and Program Director; together they decided what songs they’ll be playing on their radio station in a weekly music meeting.
So how do you get your song included in these music meetings?
It’s the Music Directors job to pre-listen to the music and decide which songs they will listen to in each music meeting. The first step is sending your music to the Music Director properly.
The Music Director gets bombarded with music on a daily basis and they don’t have time to listen to every song sent to them. To help decrease their workload they will generally only listen to music that has been submitted to them properly. They won’t open emails with attachments, or click download links or streaming links especially from someone they don’t know.
Commercial radio stations will not play music by artists that are not serious about their project. If music is not submitted to them properly they will typically assume it is not high quality enough for radio play. Music Directors need to know that you are educated enough about the music industry to send your music properly.
When you’re sending Music Directors your music, remember that they are also being contacted from major labels and promoters who are working for more established international artists. Give your song the best chance possible by delivering your music the same way the major labels are delivering the music of international artists. This will make your music project look more professional and Music Directors will be more likely to take your music into consideration.
So how do you properly distribute your music to radio stations?
There are a few digital services that offer this specific service. At AMP Records we use DMDS (Digital Music Delivery Service). Music Directors use DMDS almost exclusively to receive and review new music. They provide the stats on who’s streamed and downloaded the song you’ve delivered.
While no one can guarantee that proper digital distribution will result in radio play, it is a guarantee that you won’t get radio play unless you are distributing it properly. Commercial radio play is one of the most competitive areas in the music industry and it’s very difficult to get radio play. For the best result possible we recommend hiring a radio promoter once you’ve digitally delivered your music to radio stations.
This article was originally posted on the AMP Records website by Marketing & Promotions Coordinator Liz Uhl. See the original article here. Find AMP Records and Liz Uhl on Twitter @AMPRecordsCO @LizUhl
Reader Comments (7)
A relationship with the Music Director or Program Director changes everything, assuming your single is truly competitive. You can develope these on your own and be above the curve as an indie artist. Make the calls and be patient. Polite persistence is your best policy. If possible, piggy back a few of your other indie artist friend's releases with your promotion, so you don't appear to be a one trick pony. And good luck! Cultavating relationships in radio and getting significant airplay, is one of the single most difficult things to do in the music business.
nioce post bro
love music
god job bro
digital distribution is only relevant for commercial and internet radio. and unless you're on a major label (or part of a major label "family"), sending your music to commercial radio is a complete waste of time. unless it's on a tiny station and you're going to be playing in their town, they are not going to add it, and if they do happen to add it you're going to get spins at 3am because as an indie you have no clout with them. that leaves the indie artist with college and community radio, and they want CDs. and in fact, in 2014, CDs outsold downloads by about 9%.
thank you for sharing an idea and it's worth reading
I have been trying to get my gospel music that I have written to be played on the radio for a long time. I never realized that the music director doesn't open links or attachments, so that may be the reason why they never have used my music. When you think about it though, it makes sense for them not to open any links or attachments because they are sent hundreds a day, and they don't want any viruses on their computer.
Nice blog, To send music to radio station what you are using CD or DVD its quality matters and don’t rely rather than DVD Replication uk for sending this.