don'ts of submitting music
So you want to send us your music; great! That said, there are some things you should be aware of. The following is not meant to be harsh or exclusionary in the least; instead it is meant to make things clear and easy for you, get your music heard, maybe save you a bit of money, and, above all, save music directors the world over from being overrun with garbage they can't use.
Digital submissions
CJSW does not accept digital submissions of any kind. This includes links to websites, myspace accounts or full album downloads from yousendit. Most importantly, never, under any circumstances, email MP3 files to a music director; it's the quickest way to have you blacklisted. If you're serious about having your music heard on the radio, then send us a hard copy of your music.
Album packaging
Though this may sound obvious, your record should come in packaging. Don’t send it loose in an envelope. Don’t send it and the artwork that would normally go in a jewel case loose in an envelope. And above all, don’t send it in a plain, unmarked white paper sleeve. If you must, take a jewel case or slimline case of your own, remove the artwork and lay it on the desk in front of you. Imagine if you bought CDs like this. That would suck. Imagine if that disc you’re looking at came with absolutely nothing but a white paper envelope, with no information on it at all. That would suck even more. Now, take that disassembled jewel case, put your disc in it and send it in. Oh, and if you're sending in a burnt CD, don't forget to mark it with the artist name and record name so that when it gets separated from its packaging we can figure out which of the thousands of records it is.
The "press package"
Anyone who tells you to send a 8”x10” glossy photo and a fancy brief cover with 10 pages of press clippings that date back three years and a three page bio hasn't worked in the music business. It is a waste of your time, money and resources. Industry standard is one sheet (see what a one sheet is here); anything above this is usually ignored and discarded.
Followup
Following up on whether your record is getting played at radio stations is an important part of any good radio campaign and is a large part of most music directors jobs. However, there are a couple pet peeves all of share. First of all, give time to have the disc go through the mail, reviewed and possibly put onto the playlist. This usually takes about two to three weeks. At the same time, don't wait too long to follow up on your mailing. Most discs don't stay on the playlist any longer than two months, and with the amount of records coming into a station every day, there is no way the music director will be able to tell you how the record you sent in six months ago is doing. Phone is usually better than email in terms of receiving a response (we're busy people), but do be sure to call during designated tracking hours. Most importantly, be courteous. This may sound obvious, but some people seem to think they understand a radio station better than it's employees. If your music did not get onto the playlist, chances are that it just didn't fit the sound of the station. Arguing isn't going to get you anywhere.
Miscellaneous
One-song singles never get listened to or played, so don't bother wasting your postage. Don’t email and ask permission to send your disc, or who to send it to. This information is all on this website. Never, ever, ever request your own songs on the radio (and don't have your mom or best friend do it either); this is quick way to have your disc removed from the station. And above all, listen to the station, even for five minutes, to make sure that your music fits our format. Want to be the next commercial nu-metal sensation? How about the next diva? Don’t bother sending it to us. Just because the "new rock" or "top 40" commercial station won’t play you because you’re independent doesn’t mean we will.
Now that you know everything you shouldn't do, click here to find everything you should do.
