Getting a song on the radio remains one of the music industry's last unsolved mysteries for many artists.While a number of artists need to understand the ins and outs of promoting their music online, building momentum on Spotify and Apple Music, and booking their own shows, radio seems disconnected. many independent artists.Although this is an area of the music industry more controlled by gatekeepers like major record labels and radio station music directors, it can still be a tool for some independent artists to promote their music. .Put your music in a formatAs a music producer and songwriter, I've helped several independent artists navigate radio in Canada and even top 40 at several radio formats.
In Canada, 35% of all music played on radio (including during peak hours between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.) MUST be composed of Canadian artists and songwriters. This is an important asset for any Canadian artist trying to promote their song to radio stations.Attract media attention with a professional website and EPK for your music. Build your EPK with Bandzoogle today!Before we look at the ins and outs of promoting your song on radio, it's important to understand the different music formats and the types of artists they play. Understanding where your music falls in terms of formats will determine how you focus your campaign.Radio formats in Canada are divided as follows: Pop (which includes Top 40 formats, Hot Adult Contemporary and Adult Contemporary), Rock (which includes Active Rock and Alternative formats), Country and non-commercial radio (such as CBC and radio) .Major pop radio artists include The Weekend, Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande. Flagship rock radio artists include the Black Keys, Metric, Arkells and The Pretty Reckless. The main artists in country radio are mostly contemporary country pop artists such as Luke Bryan, Dallas Smith, Eric Church and Sam Hunt.
Non-commercial radio is often stylistically broader and will play a mix of genres such as indie rock, hip-hop, electronic and experimental music.Choose the right songOnce you've determined if your music fits into any of the major radio formats, it's important to have the right song to hit the radio with. Radio is extremely picky about what it plays, and production and songwriting must be catchy and sonically up to date to compete in today's market (especially in commercial formats).If you think you have songs that can fit into one of the major radio formats, the next step is to consider potentially hiring a radio tracker. While most major labels have their own departments that promote their songs on the radio, smaller labels and independent artists will need to hire a radio promotions specialist to do this.