How to get radio stations to listen to your CD/play it?

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mjbphotos

mjbphotos

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Any tips on getting local (indie) radio stations to listen to the comp CD you send them, and to play from it?
They must get tons of local band CDs every day, how do you get yours listened to?
 
mjbphotos said:
Any tips on getting local (indie) radio stations to listen to the comp CD you send them, and to play from it?
They must get tons of local band CDs every day, how do you get yours listened to?
Click to expand...

Don't suck. That's about all there is to it. Do you play live? Invite one of the interns or dj shmoes to a show. Does anyone even listen to radio anymore anyway?
 
With some college radio you might stand a shot...but they get hundreds of CDs sent to them, and then it's up the college DJ to decide what they feel like playing. I've gotten cases and cases of CDs from a collage station that were never touched...they just don't have the time to listen to everything.

Commercial stations are even less likely...and then there is always the fear that they would play something that was not owned by the artists or where there might be some sampling going on...etc...so they tend to prefer playing CD that come from solicited sources...people they already know/trust.
 
It's a who-you-know type situation. Maybe volunteer at the station. Or go to a show they are promoting and try to meet a DJ. Maybe get on their concert calendar and invite them to your shows. If they take requests try requesting your stuff. Pretty soon they'll catch on that you're requesting your own music, but if it's good they might start playing it on their own.

In the time I've been doing this I've met several commercial station DJs and personally know several DJs from the local community funded station. Doing live sound for local bands got me in to mix them live on the air which put me in contact with the DJs. I don't abuse it, but once in a while I'll call one up and ask to get something played if it fits the format. Have high quality audio files online for them to download and play in case they don't have your disk.
 
Commercial stations do not accept material, they will not even open it unless it comes to them from their corporate overlords.

I would start with trying to get reviews in music mags or websites, then maybe send them a whole package with the reviews attached.
 
arcadeko said:
Commercial stations do not accept material, they will not even open it unless it comes to them from their corporate overlords.
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A lot of commercial "DJs" are just announcers who read from a script, and the playlist of songs is coming from a server programmed by the corporate HQ. The "DJs" have no influence whatsoever on what gets played. The only way to get in is via the big money record company system that serves to camouflage the de facto payola arrangements. A few stations have a "local music" show that is filled with stuff so bland it could end up on a big label or so bad it makes the station's "normal" music seem attractive by comparison.

Commercial success of that kind is tantamount to artistic failure.
 
arcadeko said:
Commercial stations do not accept material, they will not even open it unless it comes to them from their corporate overlords.
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised. Many stations have a "locals" block of like 45 minutes, commercials included of course. And they'll play some of the up and coming artist from the area.

The Dj's always go out to promote events. You just need to get in contact with them, make a good impression, and start generating some buzz. If you can get big enough on the local front to generate hype from a dj there's a chance you may be put on. Of course you have to have a realistic view of your abilities. If your a band that can't pull 100 people to a show, forget it. If you can get 500+, consider yourself gold on the local circuit.

There's also internet radio, college radio, non-commercial radio stations.
 
Jesus, whatever happened to tradition? Historically, the most reliable way to get airtime requires cocaine and hookers. Of course, if you look like Beyonce, you can sleep with the corporate honcho yourself. If all that seems too tawdry, you hire a promoter who supplies the blow and the ho's, so you don't have to get your hands dirty. More airtime has been secured over the years by drugs and blowjobs than any amount of talent. Small timers stroke the DJ, and big timers buff up the suits that send the playlist to the DJ, and that's the main difference between them.-Richie
 
Just do what the Lone Rangers did in the movie Airheads!



 
Being in both radio and tv broadcasting for a number of years,I can tell you more and more stations are either programmed by a programing service that takes care of ALL their format.Or radio stations are up on the satelite which means the stations only do mornings live if even that.One satalite service might be feeding say 50 or more stations across the U.S. and they leave time for local stations to insert their local commercials.So,good luck getting airplay.Not like the old days when I actually had my 45 in top ten rotation on 3 stations in my broadcast metro area.Now if your a young person,a 45 was a record with just one song on each side of the wax!NO blowjobs and NO drugs! just hard work.
 
I wasn't referring to the big market commercial stations. Her in northern Massachusetts there is 'The River', which is a chain of stations, I know, but they play a fair amount of local music as well as the national stuff, and seem to be originating their play list locally.

BTW, I got my first radio play yesterday - a college station in NJ (I met the overnight DJ)! :)
 
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