GET HEARD
So you’ve worked, tweaked, re-tweaked, thought some more, tweaked, mastered, and now? Time to release the music! Maybe locally at your next show or shows! It’s a great feeling to be performing your own tunage! But you want to touch people all over your town, state, province, country, and yes…The World! So let's chat a bit about getting your music played…Everywhere! Hence the Tips that follow.
Tip #1 -Make sure your music is in mp3 form. Why? Because most radio stations whether corporate or Indie want it that way. There are tutorials you can punch up to find out how to do that. If you’re not savvy? There are other Indie artists out there that will be willing to help you! That’s where your networking comes in. You are part of a large and helpful brotherhood of Indie Artists!
Tip #2 -Make a list of radio Stations you want to upload to. Preferably internet Indie Stations. We have some nice examples in our Radio Station section right here at Keltstache that you can join and contact. (XRP and Banks Radio Australia (BRA) are two who always welcome uploads. ) Join? Yes! Do you want your art supported? They want their station supported. That makes for a good relationship, and inevitably more plays for you.
You can also Google Indie Radio Stations, and you’ll find a plethora to peruse. If you punch in College Stations, there are tons, including one site that harks on The 50 Best College Stations in this Galaxy and indeed the universe, Just kidding, but you get the idea. College Stations? Yeah, that’s another blog buddy.
Tip #3 -Know which stations are most likely to appreciate your genre! Uploading Doom Metal may be a waste of time if you try it with a Gospel station. Makes sense? Just trying to save you time. A suggestion is that you join and listen in, and get involved in their chat section. You’ll get a good feel for what’s played by that station. Some stations are not one genre exclusive, and present many DJs with many differing shows. Again, you’ve got homework to do! If and when you do upload, the station manager will usually ferry your genre style to the appropriate shows that feature that genre.
Tip #4 – Realization! Your music may or may not be played on some stations. Or maybe any for that matter. That calls for you to ‘Cowboy Up’ …. Try a different song, or, maybe your production ain’t up to snuff. The lyrics are great, and the riffs sublime, but the tone is mud. ( The tone on one of my releases was called just that…MUD. “They call me Mud”- Primus) Again, ask for help from your fellow artists, ask for realistic advice, and suggestions, and don’t be afraid to TAKE that advice. To you it may be the best tune ever, but the opinion of the listener is important, why? Because they… have …to… listen…to...it… or not! That’s just common sense. Don’t be too proud, be gracious, and always thank folks for advice. It’s how we learn, ya know?
Tip #5 – Don’t drink Absinthe while eating refried beans…just DON’T
I will say this, hearing your music for the first time, on-air is phantasmic and surreal!!….. It’s worth the effort! Just remember, like everything, there is a learning curve…Embrace it! Contact us here too! We love to share what we know….Till next time, Rock Onward!!
Kim Groff