Self-Publicity: Radio Airplay and the Indie Artist

Self-Publicity: Radio Airplay and the Indie Artist

By Kerilie McDowall

©2021 Kerilie McDowall All Rights Reserved

The musician faces such extraordinary financial challenges these days. From the booking agent, to publicity and the record company-- it just seems everyone is taking a slice of you.

Thankfully there is a hidden world of do-it-yourself elbow grease approaches that can help you achieve and build solid success with radio airplay. It takes some work, but it is well worth the payoff. I suggest considering the following options and for each month put in a practical plan of action figured out for one year before your album release date. This is some of the work I do with coaching my recording artist clients.

In Canada if you are an independent artist you should always plan a strategy for the USA. Why? Simple. First off, Americans are very wonderful supportive music fans. Second: the population of Canada is only 38 million. The US population is 333 million. “Spock logic,” says you should spend some cash or time getting yourself into both markets and especially the USA. Check out the North American and Latin market take advantage of self-publicizing through Yangaroo at https://yangaroo.com/music/ Target your product towards radio, TV broadcasters and others in the industry. Join SOCAN. Get royalties for your compositions and performances. Then do your national targeting and the CBC/public radio.

Targeting

Check out your favourite shows on Sirius, CBC, NPR, BBC, commercial and university/community station formats and make a plan of action and a press and mailing list. Add your fan email list. Establish good relationships with radio djs and producers. Request an interview or a performance spot. Try to generate press interest at the same time as radio targeting for the US and Canada.

Send in your materials to magazines…

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