#294 - 4 Tips For Getting On The Radio

Pitch Yourself

Before approaching any music industry professional, you need to think “how can I make this as appealing as possible?”. You should have an electronic press kit (EPK) at your disposal. If not, a short one sheet with a biography presenting your project and notable achievements and press photos. Make sure your sound recordings are of impeccable quality (WAV, 16bits, 44100Hz) and fill in the metadata of your tracks (digital information about the music: title, performer, author, composer, producer, ISRC code).

Radio Format Files

Follow submission guidelines and take into account the length of your track. Your track should last between two and a half minuted and four minutes (2:20-4:00) long. Although we do not advise you to restrict your artistic creation, going beyond that could limit your chances of getting on the airwaves.

We recommend you produce a “radio edit” version of your song, respecting duration format and excluding any potential inappropriate material

Understand The Game

Don’t be discouraged if your song doesn’t get on air right away. Major labels heavily influence what plays on big stations, so start by pitching to smaller, independent outlets. Building a track record of airplay shows larger stations that your music deserves a spot in their rotation. Engage with DJ’s on social media and build a rapport. Highlight any momentum you have, radio wants to support music that’s already moving. And when they play your song, make sure you give them a shout out!

Target The Right Radio Stations

It goes without saying, but each radio station has its own audience and musical genre of preference. If your track covers multiple genres, reach out to stations that feature similar songs. The different types of radio stations to be aware of are: commercial radio stations, independent stations, college/university radio stations, streaming platform stations and online radio stations. Always make sure to personalise the message where possible!