How to get played
their music on the radio
Track prep, press kit, emailing programme directors, accessible radio outlets and mistakes to avoid — the complete guide to getting your music on the radio in 2026.
Why get your music played on the radio in 2026
In the streaming era, radio may seem secondary. That’s a mistake. Get your music played on the radio Radio remains one of the most powerful credibility drivers — and one of the least competitive channels for independent artists.
What radio brings
- SACEM royalties — each broadcast generates automatic royalties
- Credibility — editorial validation that advertising can’t buy
- Audience beyond algorithms — reaches people who don’t follow you
- Streaming uplift — a spike in Shazams and streams within 24–48 hours after a broadcast
- Interviews and sessions — reusable content for your social channels
Misconceptions to abandon
- "You should aim for the big national FM stations" — wrong; local and specialist stations are far more accessible and often more relevant
- "Radio is for signed artists" — webradios and local FM stations regularly programme independent artists
- "You can pay to get played on the radio" — illegal (payola) and damaging to an artist’s reputation
Which radio stations should you contact to get your music played?
The first mistake artists make is targeting the wrong radio stations. Here are the types of radio, ranked by true accessibility for a artist independent artist.
| Type of radio | Accessibility | Impact | How to access them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic web radios | Very accessible | Target audience, SACEM royalties | Direct contact or via Groover |
| Local FM stations | Accessible | Local audience, regional credibility | Direct email with press kit |
| Community radio stations | Accessible | Engaged niche, open to indies | Direct contact |
| Student radio stations | Accessible | Young audience, eclectic formats | Direct contact |
| National thematic FM stations | Medium | Strong — large, credible audience | Press kit + agency PR |
| Major national FM stations | Very difficult | Exceptional — massive audience | Via label or press officer recognised |
Recommended strategy: start with thematic webradios and local FM stations. They are accessible, programme independent artists and generate real SACEM royalties. It's the solid foundation for getting your music on the radio without intermediaries.
Prepare your track before contacting radio stations
Before getting your music on the radio, your track must be technically and editorially ready. A poorly prepared track is rejected before it's even listened to.
Technical checklist
✅ What radio stations expect
- WAV file 44.1kHz or MP3 320kbps
- Finalised mix and master — broadcast quality
- Ideal duration 3-4 minutes
- Short intro — max 15-20 seconds
- Long outro — min 16-32 bars for mixing
- Consistent audio level (no clipping)
- Complete metadata — ISRC code, credits
❌ What gets a track rejected
- Poor technical production quality
- Intro too long — impossible to mix
- Track sent as MP3 attachment
- Duration over 5 minutes without justification
- Genre not suitable for the station's programming
Radio press kit: what it should contain
For getting your music on the radio, the press kit is your calling card. Without it, your email is ignored.
| Element | Format | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Artist bio | 50-100 very short words for radio | Essential |
| WAV download link | Private Dropbox or Google Drive | Essential |
| Spotify link | Direct URL to the artist profile | Essential |
| Release date + embargo | Exact date | Essential |
| Genre + BPM | Short text | Essential for radio stations |
| HD press photo | JPG minimum 300 dpi | Recommended |
| Track pitch | 2-3 lines — emotion, context | Recommended |
| Direct press contact | Essential |
→ Full guide: Music EPK — guide + free template
How to get your music on the radio: a 6-step method
Finalise the track and the press kit
Finalised mix, WAV available, complete press kit with bio, genre, BPM and download link. Without these elements, it’s pointless to contact radio stations.
Identify radio stations suited to your genre
Each station has a specific editorial line. Listen to the stations you’re targeting before you send — make sure your genre fits their programming. Poor targeting is the number one reason for refusals.
Send 2–4 weeks before release
Programmers plan ahead. Sending after the official release reduces your chances to almost zero. An embargo (release date) gives the programmer the option to schedule the track as an exclusive — a decisive advantage.
Write a short, personalised email
Under 100 words. Mention why your track fits the station’s editorial line. Include a direct WAV download link — never an attachment.
Follow up only once
7–10 days after the first send, a short, professional follow-up. Only one. Multiple follow-ups harm your reputation with the programmer.
Log airplays and register with SACEM
Each radio broadcast generates SACEM neighbouring rights. Register your track with the SACEM before sending to stations and log every play to collect your royalties.
The perfect email to get your music played on radio
Hello,
I would like to submit my new track "[Title]" — [genre in 3 words], [BPM] BPM, release on [date] (embargo respected).
[2 lignes maximum : l'émotion du titre, le contexte, ce qui le distingue]
⬇️ WAV download: [Lien Dropbox/Drive]
🎵 Spotify : [URL]
Kind regards,
[Prénom Artiste — Email — Tel]
What sets this email apart: the subject includes the genre and the BPM — the programmer can tell in two seconds whether the track fits their editorial line. The phrase "embargo respected" reassures them and increases the chances of exclusive playlisting.
📻 Want to delegate radio promotion?
Beathoven handles the entire process — professional ePresskit, editorial targeting, personalised sends and full follow-up.
Mistakes that prevent radio airplay
❌ Sending after release
Programmers plan ahead. A track already released has very little chance of being scheduled — pre-release exclusivity is a decisive advantage for getting your music on the radio.
❌ Targeting only major FM stations
Major national FM stations operate via labels and established press officers. For an independent artist, thematic webradios and local FM stations are much more accessible and often more relevant.
❌ MP3 attachment
Never send an audio file as an attachment. Programmers delete those emails automatically. Always use an external download link.
❌ Email too long
A 300-word email telling the artist's whole story will never be read. Subject line with genre and BPM, two lines of pitch, a WAV link — that's all.
FAQ — Getting your music on the radio
For getting your music on the radio As an independent artist: 1) Finalised track in WAV. 2) Press kit with genre, BPM and download link. 3) Target thematic webradios and local FM stations suited to your genre. 4) Short email with subject genre/BPM, 2 weeks before the release. 5) One follow-up only after 7-10 days. To outsource: Beathoven radio offers.
For an independent artist, the most accessible radio stations for getting your music on the radio are thematic webradios, local FM stations and community and student radio stations. Major national FM stations mainly operate via labels or press officers — very difficult to access directly. See our full guide: music radio promotion.
For getting your music on the radio, send a 44.1kHz WAV file or 320kbps MP3 via a private download link — never as an attachment. Ideal length is 3-4 minutes with a short intro (max 15-20 seconds) and a long outro for mixing.
Send your press kit to radio stations at least 10–14 days before release for webradios, and 3–4 weeks for local and national FM. Programme controllers plan ahead — getting your music on the radio After the release, it has very little chance of working.
No — 'payola' (paying to secure radio airplay) is illegal and damaging to an artist's reputation. However, hiring an agency radio promotion like Beathoven is legal: the agency prepares the press kit and professionally contacts programme directors. See our radio packages.
To go further
Get on the radio
Our two radio packages from €500 excl. VAT.
See the offers →Radio music promotion
Comprehensive guide — method and strategy.
Read →Music EPK
Free template for radio stations.
Read →International radio
Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Worldwide.
Discover →Send your music to the media
Press + radio + blogs.
Read →Release a single
Schedule + checklist: 30 days before to 30 days after.
Read →Useful links: SACEM · CNM · Médiamétrie · Groover · TuneLockr
