How to submit music to radio stations

Which radio is realistic first

Specialist shows, community stations, college radio and online stations are run by presenters who choose their own music and actively look for new artists. Commercial daytime playlists are decided by programming teams and are rarely the first step.

In the UK, BBC Introducing accepts uploads from UK-based artists and routes them to the local show for their area; it is free and the main public route into BBC radio for unsigned artists.

What a radio submission needs

A clean radio edit (no explicit content, usually under four minutes), the release date, a one-line description and a link to stream or download. Send high-quality files only when a station asks for them.

1. 01Prepare a clean radio edit and a short version if needed.
2. 02Find shows and presenters that play your genre.
3. 03Check each station's submission route.
4. 04Send one link, the date and one line on the song.
5. 05Thank presenters who play you and tell your audience.

When to hire a plugger

A radio plugger is worth it once a release has momentum — streams, press, a tour — and you are targeting national or commercial radio. Before that, direct submissions to specialist and community radio are usually the better use of money.

Where Virtual Publicist fits

Virtual Publicist lists radio presenters and stations by genre and country, built from public information, and matches them to your music so you can pitch the shows that actually play your sound.