What To Do Immediately After Getting Radio Airplay
So, let's say that you have successfully managed to get a few
radio stations playing your music. What's your next step?
Are you simply waiting on the charts to come in each week in
order to learn if your single is moving up (or down)?
If you would like to get a bit more yardage out of your
airplay, here are two ways to, not only capitalize on your
current airplay, but to also (possibly) move up radio charts
even faster.
1. Station IDs
I venture to say that most musicians who are promoting
themselves probably never consider asking the stations that are
playing their music in regular rotation for an opportunity to do
a station ID.
Now, if you are unfamiliar with what station IDs are, a station
ID sounds something like...
"Hi, I'm Kenny Love, and you're listening to WBLS 107.5."
OR...
"Hi, this is Kenny Love, from the band "Burned Out Baby."
Whenever I'm in Houston, I tune my dial to KBXX 97.9 FM."
Now, chances are listeners have already heard your music, since
you are in rotation, and the station ID will serve to make you a
bit more familiar to them while the station also benefits from
having a familiar artist's voice identify it.
And, you get the obvious benefit of, potentially, enjoying more
station music requests, which translates into more spins and
airplay, increased sales, more performances, etc.
And, most stations are glad to coordinate station IDs with
artists whose music they are playing. And, if you become really
popular with their listeners, stations may even bring you to
town on a bill.
2. On-Air Interviews
Here is, yet, another area where most independent artists don't
spend enough time pursuing. Yet, on-air interviews can also
dramatically increase your exposure, notoriety and sales.
On-air interviews broadcast on stations that are already
playing your music allow your listeners to become even more
enamored with you and embrace your music while they learn a bit
more info such as:
* The background story as it relates to your music overall
* Your personal background
* Your professional background
* The meaning behind certain songs
* Where you are performing
* More, more, more...
And, one of your primary goals during on-air interviews should
be to turn the average listener who merely likes your song into
a lifelong dedicated buyer of your music who, not only picks up
this particular release, but who also eagerly awaits your next
release.
To me, the best interviews are the ones that are live and have
call-in listeners.
The great thing about on-air radio interviews (whether live or
taped) is that, in most cases, you are not required to travel to
stations in order to do them, regardless of where stations are
located. You can simply do them from the comfort of your home or
office.
I have, personally, been interviewed on over one hundred
occasions by television, radio and print media, and most of them
have been wonderful experiences.
So, by all means, don't allow this opportunity to increase
exposure, sales and income exponentially, to slip through the
proverbial cracks.