How To Get Your Songs On The Radio: Australian Edition

If you're a musician looking to get your songs on the radio in Australia, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about getting your music played on Australian airwaves. We'll discuss the different ways that you can submit your music, as well as some of the best places to start pitching your tunes. So whether you're just starting out or you've been at it for a while and haven't had any luck, this guide is for you!

There are a few different ways that you can submit your music to Australian radio stations.

If you're just starting out, it's probably best to start by uploading your song to Triple J Unearthed. This is because it's free! Plus, there are a number of Triple J staff & super reviewer’s listening & reviewing songs that have been uploaded. That can help you get your foot in the door & potentially your first national and digital radio play. As well as utilising Triple J Unearthed, you can start thinking about directly pitching to community radio stations.

It's time to start pitching your tunes! Here are a few tips on how to make sure your music gets heard:

• Make sure you're submitting to the right stations. Do some research on which stations play music that is similar to yours. Find out who the radio presenters, programmers and editorial staff are. It’s absolutely fine to submit to a specific presenter!
  

• There are over 450 community & digital radio services across Australia! Some to looking into Include:
  

  • FBi & Cada - Sydney

  • Triple R - Melbourne

  • RTRFM & Noongar Radio - Perth

  • 4zzz - Brisbane

• Follow the instructions for each station carefully when pitching. Read through the guidelines and make sure you're following all of the requirements. When emailing your songs do not attach it but rather link a downloadable file, as attachments sometimes end up in spam. Radio stations prefer a downloadable, well-labelled WAV file.

• When pitching, it’s helpful to supply all the information and resources that a broadcaster might need to play and discuss the music. An electronic press kit is helpful. At the bare minimum, include the release date of the single & whether or not there is an airplay embargo.

• Be patient! It can sometimes take weeks or even months for a station to listen to your music and decide whether or not they want to play it. Don't give up if you don't hear back right away.

• Consistently have your music played in areas where radio programmers might stumble open it. Such as through DJ’s at bars, clubs & releasing music to Spotify & other digital streaming platforms. Open yourself up to being discovered!

If you follow these tips, you'll be on your way to getting your music played on the radio in Australia! Just remember to be patient and keep at it, and you're sure to see some success. Good luck!

Do you have any other tips on how to get your songs on the radio in Australia? Share them with us in the comments below!