Marketing
For many upcoming artists, getting played on mainstream radio can seem like an impossible dream to achieve. Luckily, there are plenty of other available radio stations that focus on playing local and talented musicians, many of these being college radio stations. And though it can still be difficult to get played on college radio your chances are still much better than getting played on mainstream radio. So here are some helpful tips to get you started on your college radio.
For those artists that can afford it, it can be very beneficial to hire an independent promoter to work your new album. Many of these promoters have valuable relationships with influential stations and can really make a difference. Unfortunately, independent radio promotion can cost anywhere from $1000-$4000 per project so it may not always be a viable option.
You may also want to list any songs with profanities so the station knows what is appropriate to play at certain times of the day. Be sure you’re targeting the right stations as well. You don’t want to send your hard rock cd to a station playing singer/songwriters. If you know of a dj that plays your style of music, try and submit directly to them.
One of the most important things to do is to follow up with stations several weeks after submitting your music. Sometimes your music may just get lost in the shuffle so you’ll want to call and make sure that someone has actually listened to your cd.
If you do start getting some plays, you may want to check back after several more weeks to stay in contact, and maybe even offer to do a live performance on air, or invite the DJ or Program Director to one of your next shows. Remember, perseverance is the key to success!
By: Ryan J. Colburn