Why your song might not be played on
radio” was put together as a result of
ideas and information gathered from
all reputable DJs I have met in a
while. I have learnt a whole lot from
the masters of the game, but this
epistle will only lay emphasis on
reasons why your song might not be
played on radio, and even if played
at all, it might not last a while.
The radio is a major source of
information and as such is a powerful
media tool. It’s estimated that
every radio station at every
instance of functioning has an
audience of over 1 million population
of audience. Imagine what happens if
this population or more constantly
listens to your song over a lengthy
period of time.
I will be quick to share this secret
with you that no song is interesting,
or better put that no song is a hit
until it’s constantly played on
every media available with the radio
as the primary and most popular
media connect. It will also be added
to this confidential part of my
epistle that radios DJs have their
tactical ways of imposing and making
their target audience enjoy a song
via constant air play. No matter how
“bad” you think a song is, if termed
good by radio DJs and constantly
played by a very good number of them,
before you know it, this song becomes a
hit. All DJs should bear me witness to
this.
Back to our discussion, which is the
reason why your song might not get
radio air-play, this can be rephrased
as why radio DJs will not play your
song. This is a critical issue which in
my opinion should be looked into by all
artistes in general.
Top of the list reason why your song
might not get radio airplay is the use
of vulgar words. It’s now a general
trend that vulgar words such as
“booty”, “ass”, “niggar” and all sorts
are often used in songs. Although this
was the selling point of some artistes,
but I must say to you that most of
these songs fade away real fast.
Secondly, I will bring to your notice
that the N.B.C [Nigeria
Broadcasting Co-operation] having
understood well that music now plays
a major role in the influence of the
life of youths, every song is listened
to, to the letters. The N.B.C has fully
assumed the responsibility of harsh
scrutiny of songs. The moment a
vulgar word is detected in your song,
it’s termed to contain NTTB and
unfit for radio airplay. A couple of
DJs have lost their jobs and several
radio stations sanctioned reasons to
the fact that they at one point
played a song termed to contain
vulgar words or portray vulgar
meanings. With the new trend, a song
need not be banned by the N.B.C before
it seizes to get airplay. All radio DJs
have tightened up and also look
beyond the money they’ll get in order
to safeguard their jobs. The N.B.C now
keeps tabs on all radio stations in
the country as all programs are
recorded and played back for
verification.
At this time in the music scene, I
must emphasize that your song need
not be banned. I would say to you my
dear artistes that if you can, avoid
the use of vulgar words in your lyrics.
Take a clue from the likes of 2face
Idibia, Shyne, Capital F.E.M.I and
Michael Word. These dudes do good
music with the most minimal use of
vulgar words. On the alternative, if
your song contains vulgar words,
during mixing and mastering,
instruct your producer to make you a
radio edit which either silences all
the vulgar words or skips and scramble
them. The disadvantage of this is
that if there are too many vulgar
words in your song, after a radio edit,
it becomes very empty and
meaningless, so as much as you can
avoid the use or use at the most
minimum such that when edited, it
would be barely noticed.
It’s not news that some songs with
vulgar words all through have made
remarkable commercial success, but I
must say to you how this is about to
change. If you think you can avoid the
radio airplay and use the street and
party DJs, you’ll be surprised at the
next move of the N.B.C.
Another reason why some songs might
not get radio airplay is one issue I
have always talked about in all my
previous epistles targeted at the
up and coming acts, MAKE GOOD
SONGS. The cogent ingredients of
good song are good lyrics, good delivery
and superb production as I have
always mentioned in my past
articles. All radio DJs have a primary
role which is to ALWAYS satisfy their
audience, so therefore it wouldn’t
matter your budget to push a “bad”
song, it won’t be justified. Most radio
DJs that I know take into account
this factor before they decide to
promote a song. They got millions of
people to be satisfied and the
completion amidst them now seems to
be skyrocketing, anything that falls
short of good music might not be
played on radio. Even if played, it
will be done at a time when it won’t be
noticed and this would not last a
couple minutes before it’s removed
from the schedule and never to be
played again.
The next point is that all radio
stations are reputable. I have met a
couple of artistes who give names of
radio station on which they want
their song promoted. It must be said
that this is a bad idea. Although
other radios DJs download songs, it
doesn’t guaranty airplay. If at any
point you listen to your song on a
radio station on which you do not
know how it got there, there is an 80%
probability that it must have
gotten there via your promotion link
and the remain 20% is the fact that
it’s just being played freelance
because the DJ likes the song. Radio
DJs can bear me witness to the fact
that that no song is just being
played, somebody somewhere must have
talked or pleaded on your behalf
that your song be played. All radio
stations no matter how small you
seem it is have got its own audience.
It must also be brought to your notice
that most radio DJs got connect with
each other and do not be deceived by
any singular DJ that he can handle
your promo. Please spread your
tentacles. Honest DJs will advise you
to spread your tentacles as this
always compliments one another, and
honestly if he or she perceives that he
or she is the only one jamming your
song on air, he might just be tempted
to stop unless you got a strong
relationship. Only honest DJs tell
you this though.
Understandable, you cannot get to
every radio station, so it’s advisable
that you seek the services of a good
and hardworking publicist who can
always help you build a very strong
and wide connect. This is where I tell
you to pay cognizance to who handles
your promotion and publicity.
Like I always say, another very
important thing is acknowledge the
DJs. No matter how small a DJ seem, he
or she got her audience and connect
within the Disc Jockey factory. I will
rather say that DJs know how to get
in touch with one another when they
have to. The moment you mess with
one, faster than you know, it
circulates and your song is dropped
from schedule. DJs love one another,
and an injury to one is an injury to
all.
Lastly, please my dear artistes take
your time to make good interesting
jingles for as many DJs as possible. Not
only does this sell you, it is always
appreciated by all DJs as it gives
them a good sense of belonging.
Although this might cost you a studio
session, make a list of all DJs playing
your song, or who have at a point in
time played it even if just for once,
make jingles for them, it makes them
happy.