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Sending homebrew CDs to radio stations for possible airplay

K

Keith_Lake

Guest
I visited a local big-stick FM recently gathering information for a newspaper article. During our Q&A they showed me a large pile of promo single CDs from the major labels. They recieve dozens every week but maybe one in fifty stood any chance at all of getting on the air. Most would go into the dumpster or be given away at remotes.

Also in the pile were some homebrew CDs sent in by independent local musicians. The discs ranged from impressively packaged to simply labeled with a felt-tip marker. I listened to a few of them. Some might have had a chance further down the road with a bit more polishing and marketing savvy, while the others... well, I wouldn't advise them to quit their day jobs. Nevertheless I was sort of touched by the enthusiasm and optimism they showed by sending them to the radio station.

In this day of centralized programming, does a local independent musician have a snowball's chance in hell of getting their music on the air by such methods? I understand it still occasionally happens on college stations or LPFM "community"
outlets, but from what I saw, sending your homebrewed music to the local 100-kw
Clear Channel station in the hope of getting it played is a lost cause. Save your postage for the college FMs or LPFMs. Then again, would those stations give it a second look, given copyright and royalty issues and all that?

KL

<a href="http://home.nc.rr.com/gttyson/lastradio.html">The Last Radio Station<a>

<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> In this day of centralized programming, does a local
> independent musician have a snowball's chance in hell of
> getting their music on the air by such methods?

One word... No. (Unless it's a "Local Rock" show on a rock station, but those are usually buried sometime on Sunday when no one is listening, except for the bands that sent in music)

> Then again, would those stations give it a second look,
> given copyright and royalty issues and all that?

As long as they're paying their ASCAP, BMI & SESAC (and SoundExchange if they webcast) playing homebrew music from a local, independent artist is no different than playing music from one of the big lables. In fact, I'd be inclined to say that most if not all college / community / LPFM stations that are running a music format would be willing to run local artists.

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
I had no problem NOT playing an Artist who was unpublished or unsigned at an L.A. County New Wave/Modern Rock Community Station I worked with in the early 80's. A possible exception, when I would invite a local band to the station for an interview. And what really got me once, members from a local band called me all night long waiting for their song. I told them I couldn't locate their Record (which I disliked) and apoligized. They told me no problem, it was in the music cabinet on a Cart. I played it for them, then ripped the tape out of the Cart!

> As long as they're paying their ASCAP, BMI & SESAC (and
> SoundExchange if they webcast) playing homebrew music from a
> local, independent artist is no different than playing music
> from one of the big lables. In fact, I'd be inclined to say
> that most if not all college / community / LPFM stations
> that are running a music format would be willing to run
> local artists.
>
> -A
>
 
> I had no problem NOT playing an Artist who was unpublished
> or unsigned at an L.A. County New Wave/Modern Rock Community
> Station I worked with in the early 80's. A possible
> exception, when I would invite a local band to the station
> for an interview. And what really got me once, members from
> a local band called me all night long waiting for their
> song. I told them I couldn't locate their Record (which I
> disliked) and apoligized. They told me no problem, it was in
> the music cabinet on a Cart. I played it for them, then
> ripped the tape out of the Cart!

Oh trust me.. there were some really crappy bands back in college... At least for the first 2 years I was only required to play 4 songs an hour from the station library... Sadly that went up to 25 songs a show Junior year. (Actually Junior year we had an "independent" format on the station meaning we didn't even get to play our own CDs anymore... It lasted a year (and then we went back to free-form) but it got us the most listeners I'd ever had during a show)

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
The station where I board-op isn't 100kw signal by any stretch...divide by 33 and you'll be close. But our most popular show is the show where we spotlight local talent -- live interviews occaisionally, no ads (!), lots of music, and untalented talent dee-jaying. We don't even limit it to the country genre (although we only solicit music from "country" artists. Currently it is only one hour, but the local people would like to find a slot to add a second hour.

I'm not sure what ya'll consider a LPFM station (a good 3kw station gets about a 40 mile radius, and that's what we get), but there is no reason why a 100kw (with a 70 mile radius) station couldn't do local talent. The stuff we have is /really/ good (except that some of them are literally home-brew and there is noticeable noise). And we have drawn talent from 3 states.

The suits at HQ want to cancel it because there are no ads, so the local management have agreed to find sponsors. 2 minutes of ads surely isn't the end of the world, canceling the most popular show would be.

I'm told that some 50-kw stations nearby throw in an occasional local song, although I haven't caught them personally.

> In this day of centralized programming, does a local
> independent musician have a snowball's chance in hell of
> getting their music on the air by such methods?

Even sattelite stations can put on local talent. Find a spare advertising cluster (even if it is at 2am).

> I understand it still occasionally happens on college stations
> or LPFM "community"
> outlets, but from what I saw, sending your homebrewed music
> to the local 100-kw
> Clear Channel station in the hope of getting it played is a
> lost cause.
Clear Channel doesn't have a good reputation for public service, correct? Most of the conglomerates just don't care enough about any individual community to try local talent.

The legalities are another can of worms that I don't care to get into.
 
Let's do the Time Warp Again!

Looking back on all my paid days behind the Microphone, it was the unpaid days that meant the most to me Adam. Playing the Carpenters and Barry Manilow for money gave me gas!

> Oh trust me.. there were some really crappy bands back in
> college... At least for the first 2 years I was only
> required to play 4 songs an hour from the station library...
> Sadly that went up to 25 songs a show Junior year.
> (Actually Junior year we had an "independent" format on the
> station meaning we didn't even get to play our own CDs
> anymore... It lasted a year (and then we went back to
> free-form) but it got us the most listeners I'd ever had
> during a show)
>
> -A
>
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

> In this day of centralized programming, does a local
> independent musician have a snowball's chance in hell of
> getting their music on the air by such methods?

It's not an issue of centralization, which is a great lie. Music selection is pretty much a local thing, based on the programmer and the local research.

What makes unknown and unsigned acts difficult is the way PDs usually pick new songs.

1. Establishd star artist with staying power gets first slots if the song is good.

2. Newer artist that has had some previous hits. Gotta be a good tune, too.

3. Incredible debut song, coupled with being on a label that will back it and, maybe, get the aritst for station presentations, etc.

4. Local band that has done somehting spectacular... like opened for a big act, created acult following, etc.

So the issue is that the available openings on the playlist are usually filled before a station gets to the obsucre stuff.
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

>
> It's not an issue of centralization, which is a great lie.
> Music selection is pretty much a local thing, based on the
> programmer and the local research.
>

A station I worked at subscribed to the Century 21 music service. We first recieved a library of about 150 CD's, with updates arriving every other week or so. There were four rock songs, four R&B songs, and four C&W songs on the updates, which led to some interesting miscues in the pre- automation days. There was no selection on the local level. When the station switched formats, we simply subscribed to a different service which used the same method.

On what basis were those songs picked, aside from being the latest release by someone who had already sold forty-seven bazillion copies of their last record?
Very few new or unknown names ever appeared on the update discs. I kept thinking how, out there somewhere, the best song ever written was getting turned down by such a service, lost in the shuffle, and if it were heard it would sell umpty-bazillion copies and the band would be the next Beatles. But it ain't gonna happen due to the microscopically narrow music selection processes in use today.

KL

<a href="http://home.nc.rr.com/gttyson/lastradio.html">The Last Radio Station<a>
 
Even though stations pay those royalties to BMI et al, doesn’t the homebrew artist need to register their material through the copyright office, and include the copyright registration mark on the CD they send in to the station? Would it be wise on the station’s part to play the material on the air if no copyright registration info is present?

R

> As long as they're paying their ASCAP, BMI & SESAC (and
> SoundExchange if they webcast) playing homebrew music from a
> local, independent artist is no different than playing music
> from one of the big lables. In fact, I'd be inclined to say
> that most if not all college / community / LPFM stations
> that are running a music format would be willing to run
> local artists.
 
> Even though stations pay those royalties to BMI et al,
> doesn’t the homebrew artist need to register their material
> through the copyright office, and include the copyright
> registration mark on the CD they send in to the station?
> Would it be wise on the station’s part to play the material
> on the air if no copyright registration info is present?

Actually... From copyright.gov...

The use of a copyright notice is no longer required under U. S. law, although it is often beneficial. Because prior law did contain such a requirement, however, the use of notice is still relevant to the copyright status of older works.

So therefore, there's still a reasonable expectation that it is copyrighted. Anyway, as long as they've sent you a CD, you should have their permission to play the CD.

Btw.. All you want to know about the basics of copyright:
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html>http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html</a>

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

>
> A station I worked at subscribed to the Century 21 music
> service.

Century 21 is a real estate company. I believe you mean "TM Century." TM has a variety (7 I believe) of weekly HitDisk (tm) services for smaller markets.

Small makrets, and statiosn that are not reporting or monitored for the trades do not usually get record service. So, TM and several other companies compile all the new releases each week in a genre into one CD with 15 to 20 cuts.

If you are rhythmic, you use the rhythmic service. And so on... there are country, CHR, AC, Latin pop, r&b, rock, alternative and so on available.

The stations is under no obligation to program the songs. It is just getting a service that makes available the new releases that are either breakers or have some chance of being played.

> We first recieved a library of about 150 CD's,
> with updates arriving every other week or so.

TM also has libraries (As do RadioPlay from Radio Express and RPM) that allow a station changing format to have all the charting songs in a format to start. Usually, you will have to get some additional stuff on the side, but you are nearly 95% covered in most cases. Obviously, you do not play all the songs.

> There were
> four rock songs, four R&B songs, and four C&W songs on the
> updates, which led to some interesting miscues in the pre-
> automation days. There was no selection on the local level.
> When the station switched formats, we simply subscribed to
> a different service which used the same method.

Now, the CDs are exclusive to each format. YOu can also download the songs if you don't want to wait for the mail or FedEx.
>
> On what basis were those songs picked, aside from being the
> latest release by someone who had already sold forty-seven
> bazillion copies of their last record?

First, breakers. Meaning that the song got some advance airplay somewhere, which might mean out of the USA. Second, good sound, recognized artist, etc. To find 20 cuts in a format each week, it means 75% or 80% of the songs will be stiffs anyway...

There is actually a format specialist who listens to each cut, looks at trades and airplay monitors, and tries to make available the songs that have the greatest potenital appeal. It is tedious work! I know... I do one of these weekly disks for RadioPlay, and have listend to perhaps 50,000 songs in the last 12 years to select the 18,000 songs we have used.

> Very few new or unknown names ever appeared on the update
> discs. I kept thinking how, out there somewhere, the best
> song ever written was getting turned down by such a service,
> lost in the shuffle, and if it were heard it would sell
> umpty-bazillion copies and the band would be the next
> Beatles.

Not likely. Most smaller market stations that get these disks use the trades to determine what songs to add. They use the services to make sure they have the songs that start charting int he trades.

So the purpose of the disks is to have all the songs available, not to start the career of some new artist. Stations that don't report or are not monitored will not be able to break an artist, anyway.

> But it ain't gonna happen due to the
> microscopically narrow music selection processes in use
> today.

Actually, these services get more music in the hands of smaller stations than was ever possible before.

Stations that are monitored or report to trades get more service than they can stand. And these are the stations that can affect airplay elsewhere. Add in MP3 delivery, and more stations have access to more songs than they ever did in the past.
 
Commercial radio not the best place for new music

What you described just solidifies the fact that commerical radio is no longer the best place to discover new and independent music. Even new music from established stars on big labels can get ignored.

I've discovered more new music in the last few years from sites like Download.com, internet stations, and the Music Choice channels than I have from contemporary broadcasters. Way too many quid pro quos involved in the music selections of the local FMs, in my opinion. <P ID="signature">______________
"Not fixing [New Orleans'] levees before Katrina struck will now cost us untold billions. Not resolving the nation's issues of race and class has and will cost us so much more."
--Wynton Marsalis
</P>
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

Whoa, major brainfart there, I did mean TM Century. My bad.


Okay, next question. An engineer friend of mine has a rack full of modems and tuners and servers, a T1 line, several FM yagis on the roof, the whole deal, in his home. As he explained it, the rig monitors airplay at all of the company's stations in the eastern NC cluster, and reports back to the home office in Colorado. Everything broadcast on the stations here has data encoded into the audio so the folks in CO can tell at a glance what any of their stations are doing at any given moment.

Does this mean if an employee inserts a song not on the playlist at 3 AM, he will likely be shown the door? Damn, I'm glad I got out of radio when I did. When I did overnights back in the day I would sometimes sneak on a Lyle Lovett or a non-hit Carpenters album cut, mostly so people would say "whoa, what's THIS?" and turn it up. Guess I couldn't do that now and keep a job.

But more to the point, if anybody wants to use my place for a similar purpose, I'll be happy to provide the space.

KL


<a href="http://home.nc.rr.com/gttyson/interview.html">Further Adventures of your humble correspondent<a><P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

> Whoa, major brainfart there, I did mean TM Century. My bad.
>
>
>
> Okay, next question. An engineer friend of mine has a
> rack full of modems and tuners and servers, a T1 line,
> several FM yagis on the roof, the whole deal, in his home.
> As he explained it, the rig monitors airplay at all of the
> company's stations in the eastern NC cluster, and reports
> back to the home office in Colorado. Everything broadcast
> on the stations here has data encoded into the audio so the
> folks in CO can tell at a glance what any of their stations
> are doing at any given moment.

Almost all stations monitor and store for some period of time. Generally, this is to be able to go back and verify spots ran for an advertiser who does not want to pay, or who claims the wrong copy ran. Sometimes, it is to verify content in case there is a listener complaint or a legal issue.

I have never heard it being used to check playlists, as most companies have other ways of insuring against payola, plugola and such (like Mediabase). It is mostly for legal and commercial related issues.

I have also never heard of stations encoding every audio item, but there could be exceptions, and it would be very expensive and time consuming. I think the engineer was yanking your chain. Most staitons record to hard disk for self protection, though.

> Does this mean if an employee inserts a song not on the
> playlist at 3 AM, he will likely be shown the door? Damn,
> I'm glad I got out of radio when I did. When I did
> overnights back in the day I would sometimes sneak on a Lyle
> Lovett or a non-hit Carpenters album cut, mostly so people
> would say "whoa, what's THIS?" and turn it up. Guess I
> couldn't do that now and keep a job.

Most companies have a procedure for firing anyone who deviates formt he playlist who is not authorized. It is just a question of getting caught. Off-list plays raise the payola flag, and with the current investigations, playing off the list endangers the license and is definitely a firing offense...
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

> Century 21 is a real estate company. I believe you mean "TM
> Century." TM has a variety (7 I believe) of weekly HitDisk
> (tm) services for smaller markets.

TM Century was formerly Century21, not affiliated or related to the Real Estate Company. Before they became Century21, the name was TM Programming.
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

> Whoa, major brainfart there, I did mean TM Century. My bad.

You were right the first time too. They were Century21 for a number of years.
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

> I'm glad I got out of radio when I did. When I did
> overnights back in the day I would sometimes sneak on a Lyle
> Lovett or a non-hit Carpenters album cut, mostly so people
> would say "whoa, what's THIS?" and turn it up. Guess I
> couldn't do that now and keep a job.

If I can't trust you to follow the list, why should you work
there?
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

> > Century 21 is a real estate company. I believe you mean
> "TM
> > Century." TM has a variety (7 I believe) of weekly HitDisk
>
> > (tm) services for smaller markets.
>
> TM Century was formerly Century21, not affiliated or related
> to the Real Estate Company. Before they became Century21,
> the name was TM Programming.
>

I believe the HitDisks were always TM Century. At least, that was on the CD labels of every one I ever programmed.

When were they Century 21? I have a total mental block and do not recall that era.
 
Well, not exactly.

> > Century 21 is a real estate company. I believe you mean
> "TM
> > Century." TM has a variety (7 I believe) of weekly HitDisk
>
> > (tm) services for smaller markets.
>
> TM Century was formerly Century21, not affiliated or related
> to the Real Estate Company. Before they became Century21,
> the name was TM Programming.

Actually, TM started out as a jingle company (I still have the master for the KAAP jingles from 1974), branched out into automated programming in the 70s, and was not part of Century 21 Programming until the latter (which started out as an automated programming service in the late 70s) acquired them in the 90s. It was after the acquisition that the two names were merged.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
Re: Playlists are local... but there is a pecking order.

> I believe the HitDisks were always TM Century. At least,
> that was on the CD labels of every one I ever programmed.

HitDiscs and GoldDiscs started under the Century 21 Programming name, around 1985.

> When were they Century 21? I have a total mental block and
> do not recall that era.

See my earlier post.<P ID="signature">______________


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