Have you ever asked yourself how to get your music heard on digital radio?
Radio marketing aka ‘radio plug-ins’ is one of the oldest and strongest mediums of music discovery for artists. Today an artist can leverage their popularity on digital radio to climb the promo ladder.
Times may be changing and new streaming services are emerging, but radio remains a strong promotional tool that addresses the niche markets as well as the mainstream audience demographic. But if you hit big on digital radio, and your track begins to trend the shares will be international & potentially unstoppable.
For independent artists, digital radio is a great way of getting their music heard without expensive ads.
After a quick evaluation of your promo war chest, you may want to consider investing in internet / digital radio spots and ads. Promotion can run a pretty penny. Should you be able to convert that directly into dollars is usually the compromise you make for your song having the chance to go public. Having your music extended to radio is a defining milestone for any musician on their path to success.
There’s a huge difference between major radio stations and digital radio stations.
The digital radio ecosystem is focused on building niche, loyal fan bases. The bigger stations are more interested in short-term profits and pushing albums as they are accountable to advertisers for their funding.
The most accessible radio outlets for independent and DIY musicians include college/university, non-commercial/community, and online/web radio. These are inexpensive outlets that allow for huge reach potentials and have powerful loyal fans that back them up.
Many of these non-classical radio programs have passionate curators eager to meet new artists and present their work to their attentive and encouraging listeners.
Colleges Are On Digital Radio Too
The first thing you need to do is get acquainted with your target audience and decide accordingly which college station suits your music best.
Your presence on their station will give you a heads-up on the region and will insight into traffic to your channels. The purpose isn’t just to sell albums or merchandise. It is to invite fans to attend performances or share exclusive info about your songs with a community.
Keep in mind that college radio stations are always looking for new content that is local and interactive. In addition to this drive, they often work with volunteer staff that are engaged more than just “at work”. In their stead, artists are looking for ways to increase exposure and reach, so it’s a win-win situation with a community vibe.
Pitch Perfectly to Get On Digital Radio
Second, musicians need to identify who is on the digital frontier and how they can collaborate together.
Indie artists must research and find DJs that would care about the music they make. Getting to know the DJs by researching their online profiles will help you connect with them faster. Besides, it’s always preferable to get a hold of them via social media so it can feel more familiar.
From there, it is all about the proper pitch that explains your motivations, your vision, and your immediate want. Moreover, once targets are acquired, every indie artist must have a full press kit ready. Compile a portfolio of their work, and biography and give an overview of their musical audience and style.
The press kit should include:
- A brief bio
- Album name, Discography
- Awards, Milestones
- Tour dates
- References
- Website
- Social media/ streaming profile links
- Contact information: managers, agents, media rep, etc
Online radio is a powerful medium to use for independent musicians, and here’s why
- You can store and distribute your recording across various digital platforms.
- Compared to traditional radio, online radio offers a lower entry barrier.
- A multi-tiered event that features both music and an interview are simpler to put up.
- Listeners to online radio are frequently very devoted to the station and more likely to visit artist portals.
- It is simple to share on social media.
- Without using a radio producer, you can effortlessly reach out to foreign audiences.
- Finally, contacting the station again after submitting your portfolio is crucial.
Contact them by phone or email and inquire if there is any other information you can give them. It’s an easy follow-up that can mean closing the deal.
Are you interested in being broadcast globally? MPT Agency has worked to get countless artists’ radio interviews, playlist positions, morning show entries even shout-out sponsorships. If you have an objective or dream to be heard on the radio, make sure you check out our radio plugging service.
To find out what other services can further improve your radio airplay performance. Head to our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for all your DIY marketing content. We look forward to hearing from you!
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