Getting radio interviews for music can be a great way for musicians and songwriters to get exposure and connect with listeners.
Radio stations can easily be overlooked by artists as a tool for promoting their work. Yet they have been shaping the world of music for over a century and are an infallible guide to navigating the endless stream of music content that is regularly released by offering new-music playlists for music lovers.
This means that getting an interview with a radio station can be a great way to boost your credibility as a musician and get your name out there in the music industry. And since most radio stations already have a well-established pool of listeners and subscribers, getting a radio interview means it’s easier to reach a wider audience and gives listeners the chance to hear your story and connect with you on a more personal level.
All you need to do is let your personality shine through and share your passion for music!
In the digital age, it’s important to make the most of the many resources and platforms available, such as traditional radio, podcasts, social media, online streaming services, and networking events.
And on top of that, there are different ways and strategies you can use to get interviews and share your music with the world. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. The first step for getting an interview on a radio station is to do your research.
One of the first steps in obtaining radio interviews is to identify appropriate radio stations that align with your music genre. So first, you need to make sure you have defined your genre. Don’t get me wrong, it can be a daunting step but it’s crucial to then be able to pinpoint the radio stations that cater to your desired listener base. And connecting with the right audience is ultimately what will advance your career and put you on the map.
With the abundance of radio stations out there, researching radio stations that play similar genres to your music will help you narrow down your options and ensure that you reach the right audience. After all, if you’re a folk singer-songwriter, you don’t want to waste time researching and contacting a radio station that only plays classical tracks, one that specializes in hip-hop, or one that only plays smooth jazz or 80s music.
Another thing to bear in mind is that it’s best to start by contacting radio stations that are known for playing music by independent or emerging artists. You’re much more likely to get a response because their aim is music discovery and they’re usually on the lookout for new talent and won’t pass up the opportunity to discover the next big thing. Local radios could be a good choice as they tend to broadcast local artists.
Ok, so you’ve compiled a list of radio stations that are suitable for your music. So what now?
Once you have identified your target radio stations, reach out to them to pitch yourself as a potential interviewee. You need to find out who to contact at each radio station. You might immediately think of the host or presenter, but it’s actually the show’s producers you need to contact. It’s part of their job to review proposals from artists who wish to be interviewed and appear on the show. Contact information for radio stations can often be found on their websites or through directories specific to radio stations, or even on social media.
Once you have all this information, it’s time to move on to the next stage and check the submission guidelines.
2. Follow the submission instructions to the letter
Submission instructions are there for a reason and it’s important to follow them to make a good first impression. The instructions may concern the information to be included or the deadlines, but also the particular format of your submission. Some stations may prefer digital submissions by email or even directly online, while others prefer by post.
Whatever the format, make sure your submission is short and to the point. Being a radio producer is a demanding job, and producers appreciate clear, direct communication. That said, avoid generic emails and instead tailor your submission appropriately by expressing why you think your music would be suitable for this radio station’s specific audience and emphasizing that you have listened to the radio show and are an active listener.
Want to contact radio stations and make sure they listen to your music and get back to you? 👇
3. Getting an interview with a radio show starts with a strong pitch
Now that you have all the information you need and have read the submission guidelines, it’s time to work on your pitch.
A pitch is a brief and powerful statement to convey key information about yourself and your work. Have you ever heard of the expression “elevator pitch“? It’s more or less the same thing, but instead of selling an idea or a product, you’re selling yourself, and you’re doing it in a very short amount of time. That’s why it has to grab the listener’s attention quickly, convey the most important information, and, finally, leave a memorable impression.
A good pitch is a personalized and concise message highlighting your music, achievements, and why you believe an interview with you would be engaging for their listeners.
But a great pitch goes even further and demonstrates your uniqueness by highlighting your individual style and what sets you apart from other artists.
Don’t forget that radio interviews for music aren’t just about the song, they also give listeners the chance to connect with the artist on a more personal level, so radio hosts are looking for someone who can share a compelling and memorable story about themselves and their music. This is your chance to show them that you’re perfectly suited to their audiences.
4. Write a press release to increase your chances of getting an interview on a radio station
Another brilliant tool in the musician’s toolbox is a well-crafted and engaging press release. And you should definitely use one to promote your work and get media attention.
Don’t worry if you’ve never written one before, press releases are quite straightforward and you can find templates online to guide you. Here are some key points to include when creating a press release to ask for a radio interview :
- A clear, attention-grabbing title.
- A short paragraph in which you introduce yourself and your music. If you can, include anything that sets you apart or any story behind your music.
- A short paragraph in which you explain your interest in a radio interview and why you would be an excellent choice for this particular station.
- Contact details, either for yourself or for anyone representing you.
- Any relevant media, such as high-quality photos and links to your professional social media profiles.
Don’t forget to adapt the press release to the format and audience of the specific radio stations you are targeting. This may not seem important, but it can considerably increase your chances of standing out and landing an interview.
5. Put together a press kit designed specifically for radio interviews
To increase your chances of securing radio interviews, consider creating a press kit.
A press kit or media kit is a promotional file that provides radio stations with essential information about the artist including your bio, music samples, high-quality photographs, and press clippings, if available.
While some radio stations may specifically request a press kit, others may have particular instructions on how to send music for review. But it’s best to be prepared and have a well-organized press kit that can be easily shared when an opportunity arises. After all, the aim is to make it as easy as possible for radio stations to find out about you and decide whether or not to feature you on their show.
Now, it can take a little time to put together a well-organized press kit but believe me, a well-presented press kit can make a lasting impression on radio station hosts or programmers and demonstrate your professionalism and dedication to your craft.
6. Podcasts: an invaluable medium to get listeners listening to your music
In addition to conventional radio stations, consider exploring the world of podcasting.
Now it’s important to differentiate between online radio, also known as internet radio, and podcasts.
Online radio refers to the streaming of radio programs over the Internet and has become very popular in recent years as a replacement for traditional radio broadcasting. Popular internet radio services include Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and others but unlike podcasts, these cannot be paused or replayed.
Now let’s take a look at podcasts.
The podcasting industry is huge and offers a unique platform to share your music and connect with listeners by telling personal stories. Users can access these through various devices, including computers, smartphones, smart speakers, and internet-connected audio devices, making it convenient to enjoy a vast array of audio content over the internet.
To find the ones best for you, search for podcasts that focus on music or feature artist interviews. There are many podcasts out there that have for main goal to discover new music tracks and that focus on a new artist each week. The next step is to create your own compelling pitch that suits the format and theme of the show and contact the right people. Check out podcasts that have a lot of subscribers but also those that are starting out.
Finally, take a look at online music streaming services and their associated radio features. Platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or even Google Play Music, can all be found on the App Store and have radio stations and playlists that cater to different genres. Submitting your music to these platforms and promoting it through various channels can attract the attention of their curators, who may consider including your songs in a playlist or even inviting you for an interview.
7. Networking to attract radio shows
Success in any field depends to a large extent on the people you know and, with that in mind, it’s important to start building genuine relationships. To achieve this, it’s important to remain authentic and engage positively with people.
Attend music industry events, such as conferences, showcases, and music festivals as well as live music shows. Those events can be an excellent networking opportunity to meet and connect with radio broadcasters, DJs, and other music professionals, and expanding your network as well as establishing personal relationships can open doors to future radio interviews.
It’s important to stay active on social media and use it to interact with the radio stations that interest you so that they get to know you. It can be worth interacting directly with radio station accounts and personalities who can help make connections and be sure to follow and tag the stations you want to collaborate with in your posts.
Posting regularly is another great way to catch the attention of radio stations and you should utilize platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to showcase your music, engage with potential listeners, and actively promote your desire to be featured on radio shows.
It’s also a good idea to have a professional website and a strong professional online presence so that radio stations can easily access all the necessary details about you.
Securing radio interviews for music requires a proactive approach but with persistence and a unique musical style, you can increase your chances of being featured and reaching a broader audience.
8. You’ve secured a radio interview. What’s next to ensure people listen to your music?
I’ll start by saying that if you haven’t received a reply and a certain amount of time has passed, it’s perfectly acceptable to follow up in a polite manner. And if the response is negative, you can move on to something else.
But let’s say you’ve landed a radio interview for your music. What do you have to do now?
You’ll want to be as prepared as possible so that you can promote your work as effectively as possible.
If you’ve done your homework and researched the radio station thoroughly, then you already know the audience and the interview format. It can be useful to watch previous interviews to familiarise yourself more with the style.
Another thing you need to do is decide how you want to present yourself as an artist and what message you want to get across. Write down a few memorable anecdotes to share that could help you stand out from the crowd.
Think about the types of questions the host might ask and practice answering common interview questions so that your answers are clear. If you can make yourself available for pre-interview discussions, this could be very useful during the interview itself.
An important point to bear in mind is to carry out a technical check to ensure that your equipment is in good working order and that your internet connection is working. Radio shows are all about creating a good listening experience so with that in mind, check your sound quality as radio interviews are generally conducted over the phone, and ask the show’s producers what their preferences are.
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