Whether you’re a singer-songwriter, a member of a self-contained band, or writing for other artists, your songs will only attract interest from music publishers, A&R reps, record producers and artist managers if you give them what they’re looking for.
And what they’re looking for is a single that is commercial enough to be played by mainstream radio.
The same criteria apply if you plan to sell your music direct to fans through your own website or via online music retailers such as iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby. To achieve maximum success, you need to have the broadest possible appeal. Even in the ‘connected’ digital age of social media, YouTube, Vevo, blogging, online music streaming and mobile entertainment, good old radio airplay is still the key that can open the doorway to a big hit single.
Radio remains by far the main way consumers discover music, according to a 2012 study by research company Nielsen. The Nielsen consumer survey found that 48% of those questioned discover music most often through radio stations, compared with 10% from friends and relatives and 7% from YouTube.
That’s why what the music industry wants is the same as what the radio stations want.
For record labels, getting a single added to a radio station’s weekly playlist is like winning a crucial football game every weekend.
All of which means you need to be constantly aware of what is currently being played on the radio. It is essential to take the commercial market—and the radio listener—into consideration when writing your songs. Don’t just write for yourself.
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