Where Indie Artists Aim for Airplay

It used to be a radio station's music director would choose which songs to add each week. Those days were filled with multiple record reps sending each station copies of albums and singles; then crossing their fingers hoping to hear it played.

"...any artist who tries what's been built at RRadio Music will get a fair shake at reaching radio station programmers..."

Today we have hundreds-of-thousands of artists acting independently. Each sends songs to a variety of services and stations, then crosses their fingers hoping someone, somewhere, decides the song is worth playing or downloading. It's a hugely different system for distribution of music which ultimately shares the goal of selling music.

Those who read what's written here know I keep a running tab on all that's offered. Yesterday I received an email from another service claiming to help artists. This latest says it's "Your #1 Online DJ Network!" I'm not going to name it because it's only been in business since 2011 and I find that claim a bit overboard, as well as being unsubstantiated.

All indie artists share one goal, exposure of their music. Some are at a stage in their career where selling a song would be nice, but it's the exposure that's more valuable now. Others believe every move they make needs immediate compensation, even if they've not proven their worth by attracting audience or creating buzz.

I've been involved with helping artists for over a decade. Audio Graphics' RRadioMusic.com matches artists with stations, and also creates programs in a variety of music genres for stations to play. My goal is simple: Get the artist's song on a radio station. If the listener likes what they hear, there's most probably a sale ahead.

But there are problems with some music. 1) Songs featuring a long building intro don't grab a programmer's ear (this is essential, within a few seconds); 2) Audio, compression and limiter levels are many times outside parameters; 3) Lyrics make no sense. The end result from any of these is the song being passed over for others, and the artist placing blame on the service for "not delivering" stations that want to play their song.

It would be nice if every creative attempt we made ended up being brilliant. I'd settle for every article appearing here being one that goes viral, but I know that can't be. You don't hit a home run with every swing in baseball and the same happens in the writing of articles or the production of a song.

Recently I've spent time understanding the details of placing AG's "Intro to Indie Artists" series of programs on iTunes. There were about 3 months of reading, working code, submitting, and doing all three again. After a while I uncovered a service that helped, but it didn't reduce the amount of work or the need to produce quality programs. Now I'm in the process of installing the code at RRadio Music to allow subscribing to an RSS feed of each program.

When completed, I will have reached another step in the many required to help artists have easier access to radio stations and fans. (This objective will never disappear.)

There are so many artists trying to get the attention of so few outlets (radio stations) that the crossing of fingers will always be part of this equation of getting a song on the radio.

As an independent artist you have your hands full trying to create the best songs possible, and avoiding the problems described above. RRadioMusic.com may be your answer or it may appear a time drain, but it has been in existence since 2003 and has helped thousands of artists reach hundreds of radio stations - for exposure.

I won't claim it's #1 in anything. I will, however, claim any artist who tries what's been built at RRadio Music will get a fair shake at reaching radio station programmers (and my direct phone number, should they have a question).

Indie artists aim for airplay. I aim to help them. If you want a shot at reaching the ears of fans and programmers, I'm not aware of any service that has a more honest attempt at making that happen.












While the broadcast side of radio has a near lockout on indie artists, introducing music is open wide to internet stations.

Here's a Country artist to consider: Lisa Mowry

sample song

Some Things Are True Download Song Tweet

We listen for songs that evoke emotion; fast, slow, female, male, group, it doesn't matter. When an artist has the power to please, they should be given a chance to be heard.

Give Lisa Mowry - "Some Things Are True" a listen.

Add it to your playlist, free! Such is the new world of music distribution.

The radio industry had its shot. It's time internet radio programmers take a chance and reach into a huge pile of talent. It is there that new hit songs will increasingly be found.





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