Radio Promotion: Essential Assets For Indie Music Artists
Radio promotion is one of the most effective ways for indie music artists to raise their profile and gain fans. However, getting your tracks on the airwaves isn’t just about having great music; it’s about presenting the right assets.
Let’s explore the essential materials you need to provide to radio promoters to increase your chances of getting your music played.
Why Radio Promotion is Important for Indie Artists
Radio airplay can be a game-changer for indie artists. According to a report by Nielsen, 70% of listeners discover new music through radio. This means that if you want to reach new fans, radio is a vital component of your marketing strategy. Not only does airplay increase your visibility, but it can also lead to higher streaming numbers, more social media followers, and increased ticket sales for live performances.
The Essential Assets for Radio Promotion
When hiring a radio promoter, providing a well-organized package of essential assets is crucial. Here’s what you need:
Wav & MP3 Files of the Song
First and foremost, you need to provide high-quality audio files of your song. This includes both WAV and MP3 formats with complete metadata.
- WAV Files: These files are uncompressed and offer the best sound quality. They are essential for radio stations that prioritize audio fidelity.
- MP3 Files: While not as high-quality as WAV, MP3 files are smaller and easier to share. They are often used for quick listening and evaluation by promoters.
- Physical: For campus radio campaigns you will need to provide physical CDs with a minimum of 4 songs.
Single Artwork For Radio Promotion
Your single artwork is the visual representation of your music. It’s important to include high-quality artwork that captures the essence of your song.
- Size and Format: Make sure the artwork is at least 3000 x 3000 pixels in JPEG or PNG format. This ensures it looks great across various platforms.
- Branding: Your artwork should reflect your brand as an artist. Consistency in branding helps build recognition and makes you more memorable.
3-4 Hi-Res Photos of the Artist
Visuals play a crucial role in marketing your music.
- Diversity: Include a mix of candid shots and professional portraits. This gives promoters and media options to choose from depending on their needs.
- Quality: Provide high-resolution (300 DPI with file size under 3MB) and low-resolution (72 DPI for websites).
- Credit: Be sure that the files include the photographer credit in the metadata.
Artist Bio
Your artist bio is your opportunity to tell your story. It should be engaging, informative, and reflect your personality.
- Length: Aim for a bio that is around 150-300 words. This is long enough to provide details but short enough to keep readers engaged.
- Content: Include your musical background, influences, achievements, and any interesting anecdotes that set you apart from other artists.
Links to Website and Social Media
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial. Include links to your official website and all your social media platforms.
- Website: Make sure your website is up-to-date and includes your music, upcoming shows, and contact information.
- Social Media: Radio stations will want to see your engagement with fans. Include links to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.
Detailed Song Information For Radio Promotion
When submitting your music, it’s essential to provide detailed information about the song itself. This includes:
- Songwriter: List the primary songwriter(s) to give credit where it’s due.
- Composer: If the song has a composer, include their name as well.
- Producer: Mention who produced the track, as this can lend credibility.
- Album Title: If the song is part of an album, include the title.
- Copyright Year: This protects your work and shows that it is legally yours.
- Label: If you’re signed to a label, include their name.
- Publisher: Mention your music publisher, if applicable.
- Distributor: Include the name of your distributor to provide context on how your music is being shared.
- ISRC Code: This unique identifier for your song is essential for tracking airplay and sales.
- UPC Code: If applicable, this code helps with the cataloging of your music.
- Link to Video: If you have a music video, include a link. Visual content can enhance your chances of getting airplay since it offers more for promoters and radio stations to work with.
Canadian Content MAPL
Remember – 35% of the music played on Canadian radio MUST be Canadian in content. MAPL is the code that is followed in the industry and to qualify for Can-Con (Canadian Content) you must have at least 50% of the MAPL standard.
M= music (this is the composer of the song – the person who wrote the music)
A=artist (the artist must be Canadian, or a permanent resident of Canada)
P=producer (the producer must be Canadian or a permanent resident of Canada)
L=lyrics (the person who wrote the words to the song)
If you record your music in another country and co-write with people from another country, your song may not qualify for Can-Con.
Putting It All Together
Now that you know the essential assets to include in your radio promotion package, it’s time to put it all together.
- Create a Folder: Organize all your materials in a Dropbox or Google Drive folder. This makes it easy for promoters and media to access everything they need with links that do not expire.
- Label Everything Clearly: Use clear, descriptive file names for all your assets. For example, “Song_Title_Artist_Name_WAV” and “Artist_Name_Bio.”
- Fill out ALL METADATA! Audio, video and photo files need to have the metadata filled out with all credits.
Securing radio airplay as an indie artist may seem daunting, but with the right radio promoter and assets, you can make a strong impression on radio stations. AM to FM Promotions has a 20 year track record of success with getting indie artists played and charted on Canadian radio stations.
