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How to submit music to radio stations?

Radio is one of the best ways to promote your music. It can be a great way to get more exposure and reach a broader audience.

However, it's also important to know how radio stations work so that you can get the most out of them and make sure your song is played on multiple stations! Here are some tips for submitting music to radio stations.

Create your own personal EPK (Electronic Press Kit)

An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is a collection of materials that helps you promote your music and gain exposure. It’s not just one thing, but rather a combination of things like:

- Your basic information (name, band name, logo, music genere).
- Your artist bio.
- Promotional photos.
- Music videos.
- Upcoming shows/tours dates and venues.
- Contact information (including all links to your social media accounts).

You should create a press kit for each song or album you release. If you’re an artist releasing multiple albums over time (i.e., every year), then it makes sense to have one master EPK that includes all your information with links back to each project so that the DJ can easily access them.

Sound quality

When submitting your music to radio stations, it's important that you make sure it sounds good. This implies that it passed all the steps involved in making music, including selecting the title, writing and arranging the song, recording the vocals, mixing, and mastering.

Sound quality

The best way to ensure this is to use professional studio equipment and a professional audio engineer. They will be able to use their experience and expertise to create a sound that will easily translate on the radio.

Aside from the quality of your music, you'll also need high-quality samples and instruments. You can create some amazing sounds with samples and instruments like Massive, Sylenth 1 or Serum.

You should also try using high-quality effects when creating new songs, as this will help transform them into something truly special! If possible, invest in some top-notch plugins such as FabFilter Pro-C 2 or Waves Renaissance Bass Bundle for maximum results.

Respect the radio format

Know the format of the station you are submitting to. If it is a commercial station, then you will need to have a strong hook in order to draw their attention. Most commercial stations like songs that have hooks that can be easily remembered and hummed by listeners.

Respect the radio format

For example, if you have a song about love gone wrong, and your hook is "this love has got me crazy", then your song will probably not get airplay on most commercial stations because it doesn't have any memorable or catchy lyrics. However, this type of song may be perfect for an independent radio station since they want musicians who sing about real-life issues and topics (i.e., heartbreak).

Today, the ideal radio format is three minutes long. Although there are some exceptions, you'll note that a popular song generally conforms to this pattern.

Target the right radio station

From one station to the next, the audience is not the same. Some have more opportunities to place new tracks than others, and some are more in line with your musical preferences than others. It goes without saying that all of these factors need to be considered.

You will need to target the right radio station, and this can be done in a number of ways:

- Listen to the radio station and find out what kind of music they play. If you have access to iTunes or another music player where you can see which songs are being played on a given station, then this will give you an insight into what types of artists they feature.
- Find out if they have a website. If so check out their playlist and any other information posted on their site.
- Check out their social media accounts as well. You’ll likely find some clues there about what kind of music they play and how frequently.

Commercial radio stations

Commercial radio stations are usually owned by a media company and play music from artists that have been signed to the label. These stations offer a wide variety of songs and genres, making them popular with listeners.

They also tend to be the first places to play new songs, so they're a good choice if you want your music heard by a large audience as soon as possible.

Commercial radio stations

Commercial radio stations are available in most major cities, and they're also found in rural areas where there are fewer options for music. If you have a song that appeals to a wide audience, commercial radio may be the best way to get it heard by an even larger audience.

It is difficult for independent musicians to guarantee that their music will be played on commercial radio stations though, because they are for-profit organizations that must keep listeners tuned in and advertising revenue coming in. Instead, they favour popular music that is more accessible to the general public.

Independent radio stations

If you are a DIY artist, find independent radio stations that are more likely to play your music. Some of the things you should look for include:

- A station’s genre. If you’re looking for a hip-hop station, then you need one that plays hip-hop music. You can find out what genre a station is by using its website or going on TuneIn and checking in their “station info” section.
- If they play music from your area or city. If they don't play artists from where you live, then it will be harder for them to give you airplay since they won't know who you are unless they hear something on another station first before playing yours (or even hear about it through word of mouth).

Think about your web presence

When it comes to choosing who gets radio airplay space, developing a strong social media presence and increasing your music's online visibility can make all the difference.

Think about your web presence

Many A&Rs won't even give your music a second glance if you aren't active on any major social media networks.

Social media is a crucial component of any plan for promoting music. Therefore, make it clear to radio hosts and DJs that you're committed to working hard to promote your music both on and off the radio.

Create a buzz

The best (and most challenging) strategy to get radio airplay is to naturally build buzz around your music, build a devoted fan base, and push the radio stations to take notice.

When trying to build awareness for your band, there is no sure recipe for success. Get out there, perform live as frequently as you can, engage with your audience and the music industry, and most importantly, create excellent music!

Create a buzz

Conclusion

It's not simple to have your songs broadcast on the radio. Make sure the stations you are going for are appropriate for your music and the stage of your musical career.

It's critical to be realistic, persistent, and, above all, to create music that will catch the ear of radio stations and influencers.

Take advantage of CalypsoRoom to create a community around your music and cultivate your super fans. They will be the key to your long-term success.

Are you a music artist and you want to give your music a further dimension? Consider to post it on CalypsoRoom listening to it together with your super fans, at the same time, connected by webcams.

Thanks for reading,
CalypsoRoom Team



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Written by CalypsoRoom Editorial Team
The CalypsoRoom Editorial Team is a skilled and diverse group of writers, researchers, and industry specialists who have access to Calypso's data and information in order to give you broad knowledge about the music industry as well as helpful advice to help you manage your music and dancing career.

Updated January 2023


How to submit music to radio stations

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