"Todd, dude, how do I get my band's music spun on CFOX?"
I wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard that.
I also wish I had an easy answer. But the truth is, getting your music played on a commercial radio station is hard work. Bottom line, radio is a business. Companies are in it to make money.
And that means playing familiar "hit" songs that the majority of people love.
The question is how do you get YOUR BAND to be one of those "familiar" bands? This five-step "how-to" guide should be a push in the right direction!
1 Write awesome songs! Plain and simple, right? What do Coldplay, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Linkin Park, Kings of Leon, Carrie Underwood and Beyonce all have in common? They all write hook-laden, catchy radio-friendly pop songs. A good song, is a good song, is a good song. It doesn't matter the format.
2Flood the Market. Send your music EVERYWHERE. Beyond radio, send it to booking agents, labels, publicity companies, distribution companies and production houses. And get to know the music directors and program directors you send to. Soon programmers across the country will have a vested interest in your band. And that's massively important!
3 Build your "team". Hire management, PR, radio tracker. Nothing says "we're for real" like having a respected publicity company supporting your tour, getting your band appearances on local TV morning shows, radio shows and newsprint articles.
A good radio tracker is paramount. These guys will call all relevant radio stations to speak with music directors (like Cory Price at CFOX, cprice@cfox.com) and work diligently to get your band feature spins, interviews, performances and full on "adds" to the station's play list.
4 Get a booking agent. Sure, you can book your own shows across Canada, but let's be honest, most bars, pubs, venues won't care you are the "next big thing outta (insert city here)." And consequentially, they probably won't give you what you're worth.
If you really want make inroads with respected venues across the country (and continent), you need to get a reputable booking agent. Reach out and stay on these guys. Keep them updated. They all want to see if your band has the drive to win without them in the picture. Devote your attention to The Agency Group and SL Feldman & Associates. They are two of Canada's elite agencies. Set up "industry showcase" shows and make sure booking agents make it out. They are not going to book your band without seeing you live first. It goes without saying you need to be an incredible live band.
5Tour. Tour. Tour. Talk to any of today's biggest bands and they'll tell you they wouldn't be where they are without relentless touring. Most Vancouver bands (no offense guys) I've talked to have it all wrong, "Oh, we're going out on the road for three weeks, come back home ... and maybe go out again in three or four months".
Sounds like it might work, right? Wrong.
In reality, you need to do the opposite. Be on the road for four months, back for three weeks. Look at local boys Theory of a Deadman. They've got it right.
These guys have become touring juggernauts! They are on the road for three or four months at a time, back to Vancouver for a week to 10 days, and then out again. That is what it takes to make it in today's competitive marketplace. The same things can be said about local guys The Veer Union. They get it. And of course, Nickelback. They get it.
Look to the bands you respect and strive to be like them.
Emulate successful bands with a strong work ethic. Notice the hard work it takes them to get to the top and see the perseverance needed to win.
But most of all, refer to step No. 1. Write awesome songs. This is key! Without the songs, it doesn't matter how much you tour, or how good your publicity campaign is or how many music directors you know.
Once you have the songs, never give up! Stay positive and think positive. There are so many undiscovered Vancouver bands worth their weight in gold!
Now, how do you go about showing the rest of the world what some of us already know? Good luck on your rise to the top! Don't forget us little people.
Rock Report, Todd Hancock
E-mail: thancock@cfox.com
Listen to Todd and Karen weekdays 3 to 6 p.m. on 99.3 The Fox ... The Fox Rocks!
