DRN Education - Record Labels & Promoters
Record Labels and Radio Stations
Hints for record labels and music distributors:
- Provide an original track along with dance mixes.
- A radio edit is approximately 3 minutes and 30 seconds (TRT 3:30).
- Radio versions of the song generally have a slower tempo (BPM - beats per minute).
- Radio edits MUST be 'radio friendly' (clean). According to the Federal Communications Commission, broadcast music should be free of obscenities, vulgarity, and offensive material.
- Whenever possible, provide an instrumental and vocal (a ccapella) track.
Radio has always been the best friend of the music industry. Without radio playing new songs released by the record labels, there would be no ‘pop’ music. Since the early days of rock and roll, radio has helped define the culture of America and build the careers of many artists. Radio has done so much to promote their careers by playing their music frequently, interviewing them, and mentioning their concerts and events on the air. Artists make their money by record sales and performing at concerts. Without radio's free publicity for over 60 years, most artists would likely be neither rich nor famous. Please say NO to a performance tax.
The Record Labels and Promoters
- Select only ONE track of an individual song as the definitive version for radio, music videos, and overall recognition. A typical radio edit is approximately 3 minutes and Declaration of Dance Page 7 of 12 30 seconds in total running time. All other extended mixes and variation mixes by DJs should stem from the definitive version. This will create continuity and the ability to be nationally recognized for each particular song. Repetition and familiarity are the ingredients to creating a nationally known hit record.
- Provide an instrumental track of the song to your artist for their live shows. An instrumental track is sometimes helpful to the radio and club disc jockeys.
- Provide a vocal track (a cappella) so that DJs and fans can remix it.
- Every potential hit song should have a music video. Creating quality videos using non-linear editing and special effects has never been so inexpensive.
- VERY IMPORTANT: Provide an artist drop (liner) to the radio stations and DJs. This is simply a five second sound bite of the artist providing a greeting and establishing an identity. A generic example: “Hi this is Cascada and you’re listening to my favorite station.” This could also be customized to include the call letters or slogan of the station. Why is this so important? First, this allows the DJ to hear how the artist’s name should be pronounced. Since name recognition is critical, it is vital that the DJ pronounces the artist’s name correctly. Second, this can be edited for the radio station imaging. Listeners respond very favorably when they hear the artist greet them just before the song airs. Radio stations can also mix several artists saying their names with sound effects to create an image such as “From your number one party station… Hi this is Cascada, I’m Britney Spears, We’re the D.H.T., this is Madonna ... All these artists and more on the Beat of Chicago, 103.9 FM.” Find out more on our Teamwork page.