Getting played on the radio

There's no doubting that getting played on the radio can do wonders for your career. Unfortunately, that means pretty much every act around is trying to do it, which can make getting that precious airtime one heck of a battle. However, by following a few simple rules and targeting the right people and stations you can definitely improve your chance of success.

Getting played on big national stations is a competitive business. Not only are you battling against local and up-and-coming acts, but also national and internationally renowned artists. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t try to contact people that you think may be interested but, DJs and producers get sent hundreds of records every week, sent to them by individuals as well as from radio pluggers who work on behalf of labels and bands.

Target the stations, specialist shows and DJs who play the music you make. Send your stuff to as many suitable stations as you can, big and small. If you need some fresh ideas of which stations may work for you, or want contact details check out sites like Radio Now or MediaUK.

Send a copy to the show's producer and presenter. These days a lot of stations only accept MP3’s, do your best to research this before you send anything. You can get more tips on sending out your CDs from Tom Robinson here.

A good way to get your music to the BBC Introducing shows is to upload your tracks to us via the website. As our shows focus on new and unsigned music you've got a better chance of getting that first play and, by using the Uploader, not only will your music be sent to the team on your local Introducing show, but also the national show that suits your style best.

It's worth knowing which local, student, regional and online radio outfits may play your music. Often shows focusing on music by unsigned acts will be presented by someone who is active in the scene themselves who can help you in other ways and the more organised ones will be more likely to record sessions and interviews with unknown acts which means more exposure.

Web radio is a good place to get some plays. Many bloggers have their own regular podcasts and there are plenty of online stations who focus on unsigned music like Kooba . You can find a list to start your search for online outlets on Radio Stations.