Radio Promotion
for Music in 2026
Getting your single played on the radio is one of the strongest credibility levers for an artist independent artist. Web radios, local and national FM — Beathoven coordinates your music radio promotion from A to Z with method and transparency.
700+ artists supported · Web radios + local FM + national FM · SACEM rights
Why music radio promotion remains essential in 2026
In the streaming era, the music radio promotion may seem outdated. It is in fact one of the strongest levers of credibility — and one of the least competitive for independent artists.
Professional credibility
A radio play is social proof that neither ads nor playlists can create. An article stating “aired on France Bleu” or “in rotation on NRJ” changes how labels, bookers and the media perceive you.
Automatic SACEM royalties
Each radio broadcast generates SACEM neighbouring rights paid back to the artist. A music radio promotion successful one therefore generates direct passive income from every play.
Audience beyond algorithms
Radio reaches an audience that doesn’t follow you on social media yet. It’s one of the few discovery levers music that works independently of Spotify’s algorithms and YouTube.
A leverage effect on streaming
Listeners who hear your track on the radio then look for it on Spotify and YouTube. A radio play generates a streams measurable spike in the 24–48 hours following the broadcast.
Interviews and live sessions
A music radio promotion a successful one often opens up opportunities for interviews and acoustic sessions — authentic content you can reuse on your social channels.
Measurable results
Number of plays, rotations, interviews obtained — the music radio promotion generates concrete metrics to strengthen your press kit and your professional pitches.
The 4 types of radio for your music promotion
The music radio promotion is not limited to the major national FM stations. There are 4 categories of radio with very different levels of accessibility.
| Type of radio | Examples | Accessibility | Radio promotion impact | SACEM royalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic web radios | Genre-specific online radio stations | Easy | Targeted niche, passionate audience | Yes |
| Local and community FM stations | Radio Campus, local stations, associations | Medium | Local audience, regional credibility | Yes |
| National thematic FM stations | France Inter, France Bleu, FIP, TSF Jazz | Difficult | Very strong — massive and credible audience | Yes |
| Major commercial FM stations | NRJ, Skyrock, Fun Radio, Virgin Radio | Very difficult | Exceptional if obtained | Yes |
Recommended strategy: for a first music radio promotion, start with themed web radios and local FM stations. These radios are more accessible, accept more genres, and let you build a credible broadcast history before aiming for national FM stations.
How to get your music played on the radio: the complete method
Getting your single played on the radio isn’t down to chance. Here are the steps in a music radio promotion structured approach.
Prepare the track in a radio-ready format
Finalised mix, master compliant with radio broadcast standards (loudness -14 LUFS recommended), ideal length 3–4 minutes, short intro (max 15–20 seconds). A radio edit may be necessary for tracks that are too long or contain sections that can’t be broadcast.
Put together a complete radio press kit
Short artist bio (150 words), HD photos 300dpi, ISRC code, Spotify link, YouTube link, 3000×3000px cover art, track pitch (2–3 lines: context, emotion), social media links. Without this kit, programmers ignore submissions.
Target the stations suited to your genre
Each station has a specific editorial line. Sending a track rap to a folk station or vice versa is counter-productive. The music radio promotion most effective approach relies on precise targeting by genre, format and territory.
Send the pitch 2–4 weeks before release
Radio programmers plan their playlists in advance. Send your music radio promotion press kit at least 2 weeks before the release date — 4 weeks for national FM stations.
Follow up professionally
One follow-up per contact, 7–10 days after the first send. No spam. Programmers receive hundreds of requests — a short, professional follow-up makes the difference.
Track and document airplay
Each radio play generates SACEM royalties — declare them via your SACEM account. Also document broadcasts to strengthen your press kit and your future professional pitches.
What radio programmers expect
✅ What grabs attention
- Radio-style title — short intro, immediate hook
- Customised pitch aligned with the station’s editorial line
- Complete press kit with all the info in a single link
- Sent before the official release date
- References to radio plays already secured
- Coherent project with a strong visual identity
❌ What makes a submission get ignored
- Track sent after the official release
- Musical genre not suited to the editorial line
- Poor technical production quality
- Generic email with no personalisation
- No press kit or incomplete information
- Aggressive or repetitive follow-ups
Beathoven music radio promotion: a 4-step method
1) Editorial audit
Analysis of the track (format, mix, length), your project and your objectives for music radio promotion. Practical recommendations to maximise airplay — radio edit if necessary, positioning adjustments.
Deliverables: audit report, radio checklist, priority targets
2) Targeting and preparation
Selection of stations according to genre, territory and editorial line. Preparation of the press kit for music radio promotion : EPK, editorialised pitch, media angles tailored to each type of station.
Deliverables: list of targeted stations, EPK, sending schedule
3) Sending and relationships with programmers
Targeted sends, controlled follow-ups, organising interviews and acoustic sessions when opportunities arise. Each send of music radio promotion is personalised to the station.
Deliverables: follow-up log, confirmations, placements obtained
4) Tracking and reporting
Monitoring broadcasts, feedback from programmers, documentation for SACEM. Full campaign review of music radio promotion and recommendations for the next release.
Deliverables: weekly reporting, final review, recommendations
What we refuse: untargeted mass mail-outs that damage your reputation with programmers. The music radio promotion Beathoven approach is based on targeting quality and pitch personalisation — not on volume.
Music radio promotion budget 2026
The cost of a music radio promotion varies depending on the types of radio stations targeted and the scope of the campaign.
| Package | Price | Targeted radio stations | Duration | Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web radios only | From €149 | Targeted themed web radios | 2–3 weeks | First plays, SACEM rights |
| Beathoven Acceleration Pack | 900€ | Web radios + local FM | 4–6 weeks | Regional credibility + measurable airplay |
| Impact Pack (on quote) | On quotation | Web radios + local FM + national FM | 6–8 weeks | National FM, interviews, high visibility |
| International radio | On quotation | Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, International | Variable | Export, international French-speaking audience |
Note: the music radio promotion is included in the Beathoven Acceleration pack at €900 (web radios + local FM). For national FM, an additional budget via the Impact pack is necessary. See Beathoven pricing.
How to send your music to the major French radio stations
Each major French radio station has its own editorial criteria. Here's what you need to know to tailor your music radio promotion.
| Radio | Musical style | Indie accessibility | How to approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| France Inter | Eclectic, chanson, world, jazz, pop | Medium | Press kit + structured PR relations |
| France Bleu (local network) | Variety, local artists, regional | More accessible | Direct contact with the local station + full EPK |
| FIP | Jazz, electro, world, indie, soul | Medium | Carefully crafted editorial pitch, coherent universe |
| TSF Jazz | Jazz, blues, soul, world | Medium | Contact programmers, complete press kit |
| NRJ / Fun Radio | Pop, dance, mainstream urban | Very difficult | Label or agency PR recognised — almost impossible as an indie |
| Skyrock | Rap, R&B, urban | Very difficult | Label or PR agency — requires a solid track record |
| Radio Campus (network) | All genres, eclectic, indie | Easy | Direct contact with each local station |
Send your music to radio stations
Complete guide with detailed steps.
Read →Send your music to Radio France
France Inter, FIP, France Bleu — method.
Read →Send your music to NRJ
Criteria and method for approaching NRJ.
Read →Send your music to Skyrock
How to pitch Skyrock effectively.
Read →Mistakes that sabotage a music radio promotion
❌ Targeting national FM first
NRJ and Skyrock receive hundreds of tracks per week. Without an airplay history or a recognised intermediary, a music radio promotion direct to the major national FM stations is almost ineffective.
❌ Sending after release
Radio programmers schedule in advance. Sending a track that has already been released for a music radio promotion greatly reduces your chances — radios prefer to programme tracks exclusively before release.
❌ Sending to all radios without targeting
Sending a rap track to a jazz station or vice versa harms your reputation. An music radio promotion effective campaign relies on precise targeting by genre and editorial line.
❌ Track not distributed on platforms
Without streaming distribution, listeners who hear your track on the radio can’t find it again. Distribute your track before any music radio promotion.
🎙️ Get your single played on the radio with Beathoven.
Web radios, local FM, national FM — Beathoven coordinates your music radio promotion with method, precise targeting and comprehensive reporting.
FAQ — Music radio promotion
To get your music played on the radio: 1) Prepare a radio-ready track (final mix, short intro). 2) Put together a complete press kit with bio, HD photos and ISRC. 3) Target the stations suited to your genre — web radios first, then local FM. 4) Send your personalised pitch 2–4 weeks before release. 5) Follow up professionally. Beathoven handles this entire process of music radio promotion.
The music radio promotion at Beathoven starts from €149 for web radios only. It is included in the Acceleration pack at €900 (web radios + targeted local FM). For national FM and international radio, the Impact pack is priced on quotation. See Beathoven pricing.
Web radios are more accessible for independent artists and accept a wider range of genres. Local FM stations have a broader audience but are more selective. National FM (NRJ, Skyrock, Fun Radio) is very hard to access without a professional intermediary. For a first music radio promotion, start with themed web radios.
Yes — your track must be available on Spotify and YouTube before launching a music radio promotion. Radio stations direct their listeners to streaming platforms to listen to tracks again. Without distribution, radio airplay generates little lasting impact. See our comparison of music distributors.
Yes — each radio broadcast generates neighbouring rights (SACEM) paid to the artist and rights holders. This is one of the concrete benefits of music radio promotion : each play generates passive income. To benefit, your track must be registered with SACEM.
Additional resources and services
To complement your music radio promotion with a complete strategy.
360° music promotion
All the promotional levers around your release.
Discover →Send your music to the media
Blogs, webzines and music media.
Read →Music press officer
Your dedicated music press officer.
Discover →International radio promotion
Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and international.
Discover →Get onto Spotify playlists
Editorial, algorithmic and independent.
Read →Promote your music
Complete guide: 10 levers for 2026.
Read →Release a single
Checklist + schedule from D-30 to D+30.
Read →Music marketing
Complete digital strategy 2026.
Read →Beathoven pricing
Promotion packs from €500.
See →Launch my radio promotion
Free analysis of your project.
Get started →Useful links: SACEM · Médiamétrie · CNM · Spotify for Artists
| External resource | Link |
|---|---|
| CNM – National Centre for Music | https://cnm.fr/ |
| IRMA – Information and Resource Centre for Contemporary Music | https://www.irma.asso.fr/ |
| France Musique – News from the sector | https://www.francemusique.fr/ |
| Ministry of Culture – Music funding | https://www.culture.gouv.fr/ |
| SPPF – Society of Phonogram Producers in France | https://www.sppf.com/ |
| ADAMI – Performers’ rights | https://www.adami.fr/ |
| SCPP – Civil Society of Phonographic Producers | https://www.scpp.fr/ |
| SPEDIDAM – Management of artists’ rights | https://www.spedidam.fr/ |
| MAP Network – Contemporary Music of Paris | https://www.reseau-map.fr/ |
| CNRS – Musical studies and innovations | https://www.cnrs.fr/ |
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