To all my artist out there let’s just keep it real, if you want any mainstream success you have to find radio airplay time and I’m not just talking the local college, and underground radio. The key to any type of success in the music business starts with solid promotion! Now that doesn’t mean you just put your press kit in an envelope with a demo and hope the radio station takes pity on you, No! That might have worked in the 80’s but don’t be fooled, it will NOT work today. I’m sure a lot of you have heard the same line from the Radio station Program Directors when you call. They say “Send it and if we like it we’ll put you in rotation.” After a few months of never hearing your music, you automatically think you’re not good enough! But never let a radio station discourage you from your dreams. You’re one of hundreds, maybe even thousands sending music into the station looking for play. Most likely, your CD will end up in the trash or on Craigslist in a one-cent CD sale. If you want to be heard and make potential sales, you have to stand out from the crowd. If you sit back relax and TRUST in the Prince, my 5 steps will change your career for the better.

#1 - Get your CD to decision makers.
The intern that’s too busy getting coffee or typing up a report for the station manager isn’t going to be the one making the airplay decision. So find out who the Top Dog is in that department and touch base with them. If the club you’re playing at charges an admission or you have a show coming up offer to send the stations tickets to give away to listeners. Now keep in mind you can’t give the tickets to the staff, since that’s illegal and called PAYOLA, but you can offer free giveaway items to your potential audience.

#2 – Don’t be afraid to name drop.
Let them know that another radio station is playing your music and it’s getting a great response. The thing about stations is that they want the competition to make the first move on an artist before they commit to you. It’s sad but station’s prefer to bandwagon rather than take a risk on fresh new talent.

#3 –Get of your butt!
You have to get out there and be on the scene. You can’t make business deals from your mom’s basement. It’s important to be in the mix with the decision makers! If you’ve got a DJ that’s got you in rotation and really likes your sound, get to know them. Find out why they enjoy it and see if they’ve received any responses from listeners. If they haven’t, ask if perhaps they might Q & A their callers about your music so you get a feel for your target audience. People help people. That’s a fact so if you treat your area DJ’s like regular people and not dollar signs, that’s a foot in the door. Another good source is club owners. If they play your music and the fans go crazy ask them to put in a good word for you at prospective stations.

#4 – Network, Network, and then Network some more!

Find out if someone you know (or someone they know) has connections to the music stations. Remember six degrees of separation - you’re only six people away from knowing anyone on the planet and yes that includes station managers, concert promoters and record execs. The trick is it takes a great deal of work and time, but if you’re serious, it’s well worth it.

#5 –Start off Local.
Don’t think you’re going to skip your local and state stations and be the next 50 cent. It doesn’t work that way. Start small and then get big. You have to create a buzz in your general area before you can fully branch out Nationally.

If you successfully apply these steps to your hustle then you will be on the road to a bright Future.