FYI: Getting Airplay on NZ Radio
Posted: Mon Jul 2, 2018 4:25 pm

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GETTING AIRPLAY ON NZ RADIO

NZ is lucky to have more radio stations per capita than anywhere else in the world.

It's a big challenge to get your music played on radio, but it can expose your music to many more sets of ears around the country. Make sure when you have a great song that could be a good radio single that you are organised and have a plan.

These tips come from a variety of radio programmers and NZ On Air experience with pitching to radio. They're intended to help you approach radio stations with your single for airplay consideration.

- Research - listen to the stations. Will your music fit in with their programming? If so, where?
Know your target audience and target the stations that play your genre.

- Have a release plan - If your song is on streaming platforms, then you should send it to radio (or you can send it to radio before it's released online). You can send your music to radio weeks in advance, even if it is embargoed.
If it is embargoed, please ensure you state this clearly – put the embargoed date and time where it is clearly visible (at the top of the page), in bold and red.

- Email all the stations that you think the song is suitable for at the same time but make sure you send a separate personalised email to each target station.

In your email:

- Use the subject line: NZ Artist (insert your artist/band name here). The more information you can supply in the subject line, the better (e.g. song name, release date etc.) Programmers get sent a LOT of music and this will help them to prioritise.

- Be personal - introduce yourself and make sure you include your contact details (including a phone number). Let them know where you are from and whether you have any connections to other artists/bands. Context can help. Keep it real, fresh and original.

- Send a link to play/see/hear your single via Soundcloud, Dropbox, Bandcamp, YouTube etc. If the station likes the song and want to broadcast it, then they can have the opportunity to download it.

- Ensure you also include a link to download a broadcast-quality version of your track. Use industry standard file sharing services such as Google Drive, Hightail or Dropbox, and avoid using any spam download sites or anything obscure and relatively unknown.

- The file needs to be named and tagged correctly (Band/Musician Name – Song Name). Radio stations will not play anything which is deemed to be poor quality.
NB – Most DAWS have good metadata functions now on the final mixdown render and there are a number of good freeware metadata programmes out there that work well for both mp3 and .wav formats.

- Provide artwork wherever possible.

- Attach a one-page (maximum) info sheet or EPK with an outline of the release plan, highlights from past releases, other useful information and links to your social media pages and websites.

- Don't send large files or entire albums. It will not increase your chances of being heard. Singles will get more attention.

- Follow up. You won't always hear back from every radio station you approach, but it can pay to politely follow up a week or so after your initial approach just as a reminder.

- Don't forget to email NZ On Air to let them know that your song is out and has been sent to radio stations.