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Why Radio will not play my song (Updated)

6/25/2012

10 Comments

 
Last year I wrote about this subject and I wanted to add some new information. So check out what I wrote and peep the new information at the end.

written:
06/18/2011

Hey, I got this banging song and radio will not play it, is a question that a lot of new artists have? The answer to the question is both simple and complex at the same time. It is simple in the fact that you need a hit, it is complex in the fact that you believe you have a hit, who is right?

The public is right! Every new artist must work their record and gain a buzz either online or on the street. No radio station will play your records without a buzz. What I mean by buzz is, you must have the general public talking about you. People must be talking about you everywhere, (i.e. have you heard the new song from "?"). Your name must become the next hot topic at school, at the club, at church (if you are a gospel artist) or online. Once you have an established buzz, radio will take a chance on your record, not before. Having friends and family call radio stations to request your song DOES NOT WORK! That is a myth. Think about it, you work at a station and you know all of the artists that have hits, then all of a sudden out of the blue you get 50 requests for MC Ray Ray's song  "hot mess". You as a DJ, have never heard of this artist but they are getting a lot of requests out of the blue! You know those calls are not real and they will be discarded. Legitimate requests are for artists that people know or who have started to create a buzz.

So to that end, nothing happens overnight, you must grind and put in work. Then and only then, will your record get played.


P.S. Also QUALITY DOES MATTER! Have your song Professionally mixed and mastered because even the most banging song will get overlooked at a radio station if it sounds bad. Also do not send in CD'R copies with the title written with a sharpie that is just plain ole' unprofessional and will immediately get thrown away.

Update:
6/25/2012

In addition to the above don't do's, never flood a program director or music director's email box with your music if you have not put in the work to create a buzz.  PD's and MD's get hundred's of songs per month via email as most people send their music that way now. Your songs will get passed over and never opened if they have not heard of you and sending them every week or every month will not get you noticed but it will get your address blocked.  Just sayin' 

Keep Bangin'
Crazy C.
10 Comments
Nee
7/16/2012 03:43:51 am

Man... Thats kinda harsh... So what are the best steps then?... seems like you should have a record deal to be on the radio

Reply
Cee
7/16/2012 04:23:15 am

It's not really harsh, it's just reality. But I understand your concern, it can feel that way, it all depends on the way you look at obstacles. You can look at them as harsh blocks that you will never overcome or you can look at them as stimulators that will get you to think outside the box and give you motivation to push them aside to obtain your goal.

You don't need a record deal, there are many artists that have done it on their own. Drake, got noticed off mixtapes and grew a buzz online so large that radio played him without a deal at first. Then, once radio started to play him, the deals came, with him eventually signing with cash money.

But his airplay came first without a deal because of his grind and creating a buzz. The steps you take are the ones mentioned above. There are no short cuts, you MUST work your craft. No matter how good you "think" you are, there is always someone who may not be as good but they have "great" work ethic, so sometimes, work out plays talent. But if you have talent combined with good work ethic, you have the winning combination for longevity in the industry, whereas the not so talented with often have ONE hit then they are gone!

Hope this helps,
Cee

Reply
Nee
7/16/2012 04:39:03 am

My Plan is this... Make some good club songs... I Will have them for sale on itunes and stuff like that.. Post them on youtube also promote them on youtube... If i sell a hefty amount then i will send them radio stations and let them kno about my songs and how there being listin to/downloaded. Hopeing they play it on the radio. Then i will go sign with ascap If my song takes off. Then i will register it with the RIAA. Do see any flaws in my fairytale?

Reply
Cee
7/16/2012 06:14:32 am

No, that is a good plan. Youtube is a great 1st place to start but don't end there. Promote it on facebook, twitter, reverbnation, soundcloud and other social networking sites. You have to blanket the net much like in the 90's and early 2000's artists had to blanket the streets with flyers and mixtapes. The game hasn't changed, it just has gone digital. You have to promote everywhere to have an impact.

Reply
Nee
7/16/2012 09:43:30 am

Thanks for the advice and the great article... I Will Surely Keep this website bookmarked... Also one if you can, Can post a article about publishing forms and stuff that nature... But thanks tho

Reply
Cee
7/18/2012 05:58:19 am

No problem homie. I am glad the site was helpful to you. If you need any mixing or mastering don't forget to give me a shot. Also, refer some people to the site. I will most def post some publishing info.

Cee

Reply
Mike
2/27/2013 12:29:16 am

I really love your advice. Most of the radio stations love playing circular music and not gospel music. As a gospel artist, what do I need to do to get music hear about my music?

Reply
Cee
4/2/2013 10:05:51 am

What up Mike. As a gospel artist you will have to work a little harder but it can be done. You have to build a fan base in your home church first, once that is accomplished then start to venture out to other churches. What radio stations love, is a strong buzz (people talking about you) on the net or on the street. The stronger the buzz, the better chance to radio will give you a shot. Without a buzz, radio will not touch a new artist because no one knows who they are. Listeners will change the station most of the time when an unfamiliar song comes. So radio needs a buzz, to ride on, so they can prop up the song to the listeners. That is how Lecrae and the whole reach records crew is building. It won't be long before Lecrae gets some secular radio love because he is working the net, churches and the streets at the same time. On the singing side of gospel, Kirk Franklin, did it the same way, building a buzz with the mississippi mass choir then starting the family and then going solo.

You build a buzz and they will hear you! I hope this helps... Be Blessed.

Cee

Reply
alex
1/5/2014 06:31:20 pm

Love the advice I will use it...

Reply
alex
1/5/2014 06:32:51 pm

Do you know about optimo radio?

Reply



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