How to get your song on the radio

If you’re a musician who’s not represented by a major label, getting your track played by the big stations will be hard – maybe even impossible. So how can you get your music onto the airwaves before you make it big?

The trick is starting small. You can submit music to radio stations looking for new artists like you, and we’ll explain how this independent market works below.

You can also bolster your odds by making a name for yourself on social media. Before you even try to get your new songs on the radio, build a following on popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram and drop new tracks for your fan base there. Some of the industry’s biggest names started this way.

Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music are also a favorite way for fans to get music, and you can get your start there while you’re working on pitching your songs to stations. This will help you build a larger fan base, and you can present impressive stats about your following to stations.

Even if you’re an independent artist still waiting for a record deal, there’s a way to make sure your song gets radio play, and we’re going to show you how. But first, let’s talk about the different kinds of radio.

Commercial vs. non-commercial radio

When we said it was near impossible to get your latest track on a major station, we were talking about commercial radio.

Commercial radio stations make money through advertising. And if they want listeners to stick around, these stations have to balance ads with tunes their audiences want to hear. Commercial stations won’t consider playing your music if you’re not a popular enough artist to increase their ratings. This is where having the power of a record label behind you helps – they’ll promote and sell your music.

Non-commercial radio, on the other hand, is a bit more indie. College and public radio stations fall into this category. This type of station is far easier to approach. If you’re just starting out and not affiliated with a label, you could try talking to smaller stations about playing your tracks. If you get traction with non-commercial radio play, more opportunities could open up, including getting your songs played on smaller commercial stations.

5 tips for running a successful radio campaign

If you’re ready to submit your tracks to a non-commercial radio station, congratulations on taking this first step. Here’s how you should approach your first radio campaign.

1. Research radio stations and select a few to target

Think about the non-commercial radio stations you adore. That college radio station that plays eclectic indie folk rock? The local station that focuses on emerging hip-hop artists? Target the stations that would be into your music, and read up on any contact guidelines they may have. Also, find out what format they require for submissions so you can prepare your tracks correctly. Stations may take several weeks to make a decision, so be patient but resilient, following up to make sure your materials were received. And if you still haven’t heard back, follow up to see if the radio station wants to work with you.

2. Prepare your music for distribution

Use your research on the radio stations you plan to approach to decide how to “package” your content. Do they ask you to drop off a physical recording, or do they prefer that you send them a digital file? Be sure your Soundcloud, YouTube, social media accounts, streaming platforms, and anywhere else you host music videos or audio content look sharp and are up to date. This way, if a station is interested, they’ll be able to learn more about you and get a fuller picture of your content.

3. Compose a press kit

Before the rise of digital music, musicians sent out physical press kits to give radio stations a sense of their music and identities. Press kits are as important now as ever, but they’re now digital, often hosted on a website. Your press kit is a kind of calling card that should include a simple cover letter and biography, band photos and album art, social media handles, and links to your music and videos online – anything that might provide a radio station with a window into who you are. You can also include your press kit when approaching event spaces about gigs.

4. Stay active on social media

When you’re trying to figure out how to get a song on the radio, staying active on social media can expand your reach to new fans, building the overall popularity of your music. A strong social media account also shows prospective radio stations who you are. They’ll be able to see what kind of reach you have and how excited your fans are about your work. And when you include a Linktree URL in your social media bios, you’ll make it easier for stations to jump from your Instagram account to your YouTube channel to your merch site, allowing them to get a sense of your entire web presence in just a few clicks.

5. Consider teaming up with a radio promotion service

Radio promotion services like iPluggers blast your music out around the world. You have to pay to play, but if you want a helping hand in getting your music to as many stations as possible, consider signing up for one of these services.

Be persistent

Our take-home point for how to get your music on the radio? Be persistent and confident. You’re passionate about making music and good at it, too. It’s only a matter of time before your dream of hearing your song on the radio comes true.