How to Get Radio Airplay (Indie Music Chronicles) – Part 2

Honey Nut Cheerio!

This has been a whirlwind of a year, and it’s not even done yet.  At times, I’ve felt like the biggest opportunities of my career were unfolding.  I’ve been performing and recording with many artists who I’ve admired for years.  And despite it all, I’ve felt like quitting.  I had grown tired of investing so much creatively, financially and etc. and seeing, what I felt, were minimal results.  The business is becoming increasingly more about making a quick buck and NOT about the music per se.  When you don’t have thousands of twitter followers and Facebook “likes” as an independent artist, it can seem like the key people who can help move your career forward are uninterested, despite your level of skill or talent.

So, after a few self-help sessions, encouraging words from colleagues and friends, I emerged from my funk (no pun intended).  I had to refocus my energy on what inspired me to become and artist in the first place:  music and it’s powerful affect on people.  I always wanted to create music that made you feel something, and took you on a journey of discovery of love, life, purpose and empowerment.  So, now I’m doing more smaller shows and putting less energy into the business side of things so I can get my inspiration back.  I think if I didn’t have a full time job, it might be easier to compartmentalize my creative self and my analytical self.   But, since my time is so limited they have begun to fight one another and the analytical Ken was in it to win it…

Back to life, back to reality….  I hope you’ve enjoyed my swan song, now I will divulge the remainder of the radio piece…

There is no formula for indies-on-a-budget to get radio airplay, but google the following and your life will be made whole:

-college radio promotion (is cheaper than mainstream radio promotion; there are tons of companies out there)
-CMJ (the “billboard” of college radio; research it and the artists who chart there)
-internet radio stations (are eager for great music; beware of the ones asking for pay)
-DJs (are your BEST friend, find all of them you can who dig indie music in your genre)
-XM/Sirium radio (does throw indies into their lineup from time-to-time)
-Blogs (all of the above folks probably read somebody’s blog, so send your stuff to bloggers who might be interested)

If your songs chart on college radio, you can have something to bargain with when setting up tour dates.  Happy hunting.

Signing out,
Soulful Nerd™

PS:  I have two shows at Blues Alley in D.C. this Wednesday, July 18 – come hang with us! [TICKET INFO]