How does a song gain mass radio play?

Question

What's the process involved for getting a new song on air? Who decides whether a song is good for the radio or not?

Answer 1

Depends...

Most new songs are a process like this:

Artists solicits to or is heard by a record exec who decides to sign artist to record for their label

A decision is made after listening to all the tracks recorded by the artist to which one is "marketable" or which one they think would attract people to buy the song and listen to the song.

It is "released" or basically a copy is given to radio, it's put on artist and music websites for people to listen to it

As the song gets popular , more people request the song and/or buy the song and the popularity grows as more and more hear the song .

But basically on a local level it's the Music director of the station who usually decides when it's popular enough to play on the air.

Some have bypassed that and gotten radio play from friends requesting for it on the radio in record numbers. Basically this is how 3 Doors Down was found.

Answer 2

KNOW SOMEBODY who is a program director at a fairly decent station in your(hopefully) market that "reports" their playlist to Radio & Records or any such industry "bible"... get them to play & report the song,(that goes nationwide--at that point every other station sees it and 'may' pick up on your song)...Thats the 'fastest' way...it's getting the first reporting station to play it...that's where a manager/producer or whoever is pushing your song comes in..that's their job-to get you that initial airplay. Usually the recording company has a 'gopher' that calls the stations pushing your song...depending on how s**y her voice is and how horny the program director is, you 'might' get some airplay!

Answer 3

Hmm well I guess people just request it