Radio Promotion Services Include:

Unique, personalized promotion to Americana, Triple A, Roots, and International radio

• Customized promotion to AMA, and Triple A Radio (with service to FAR Reporters, Texas, International, and significant Non-Reporting radio stations)

• Radio play and chart progress will be tracked beginning the week of radio adds and throughout the life of the record.

• Weekly tracking reports will be compiled and sent to artist's team.

• Phoners, in-studios, and ticket/cd giveaways will be scheduled during the artist's tour.

• Artist news/add dates/buzz will be sent to all trade industry/radio media outlets (AMA, Triple A, FMQB, and in the Jenni Finlay Promotions Newsletter which reaches over 16,000 industry folk and fans.)

• "Win It Before You Can Buy It" promotions will be arranged when logical.

• Station IDs and liners by artist will be arranged and sent to supportive stations.

• Jenni Finlay Promotions' Street Team and artist fan club will be coordinated to promote record/single and tour.

• Tools will be provided to help with grassroots distribution and tours in each market.

Beyond Radio:

Long-term social and digital strategy campaign, promotional events, and consultaion to promote artist, album and ticket sales

• Jenni Finlay Promotions Anniversary Party is hosted annually, which features performances by select JFP artists.

• The monthly digital Jenni Finlay Promotions Newsletters (which reaches over 16,000 people) will be sent, highlighting artist's most recent achievements.

• Weekly digital blasts will be sent to radio stations promoting artist/record/tour.

• Individual webpage will be designed and updated for artist on www.jennifinlaypromotions.com for the Life of the Project

• Specialty blasts (when applicable) will be sent, focusing on artist's single or video, etc.

• Weekly Spotify playlists will be created, featuring current JFP artists and projects.

• Performance Showcase Suite will be hosted at the International Folk Alliance Conference exclusively for JFP artists (which can result in interviews, radio adds, and international bookings).

• Each year, an artist's track(s) will be selected for the annual JFP Valentine's musical ecard.

• Interviews will be set up for artists attending the Americana Music Association Convention, SXSW, and other international conventions.

• Artist will be accompanied to all local (Austin) instudios and instores.

• Updates will be sent about artist via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, et al.,when necessary.

• Research and consultation will be provided on new trends and tools (Social Media Band Page design, Digital QR codes, FanBridge, TopSpin, Instagram, ReverbNation, etc).

• Tips will be provided to help Artist use social networking tools effectively to gain exposure and build fan base.

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Things You Need To Do To Make The Most of Your Promotion:

• Manufacture a "radio-friendly" physical CD. This can be the actual finished "ready-to-sell" disc, or an early promo package specialty made for the radio mailout (which includes all pertinent information (Artist, Album Title, Track names and times, etc). DON'T BE SPINELESS - As you think about the design of your packaging, PLEASE be sure to use a jewel case or digipak with a spine - Otherwise, radio will lose your brilliant record in the stacks and on the shelves.

• Create and design your Radio One-Sheet (I'll be happy to send any JFP artist or team member a one-sheet template and/or examples of the radio sheets other artists have used):
The One-Sheet should include a brief thumbnail sketch bio, pic, add date, website, and contact info.
Other info you may include is: focus tracks, quotes/press clips, & tour dates.
**Any FCC-Sensitive track must be noted and flagged on one-sheet (and, if possible, on the cd itself).**

• When you prepare for your radio mailing, be sure to remove the shrink wrap and drill or mark through the barcode.

• Please schedule the mailout two weeks prior to the Radio Add Date.
(I recommend these envelopes: ULINE S-9985)

• Be willing to participate in radio instudios/phoners/station ids, etc. especially during release week (your promoter will coordinate your radio schedule in viable markets around your in-stores, cd release parties and other bookings).

• When meeting, interacting, and being interviewed by radio djs (and any other music business professional or potential fan), be nice. The road is long and hard - that is completely understandable,... but there's no excuse for thoughtless behavior. Memories are very long in this business. If suddenly you become known as a no-show or bad interview, you may find you will be fighting your ghost for many years to come.

Jenni Finlay Promotions Highlights:

• James McMurtry's Childish Things - Americana Music Awards' Album of the Year 2006

• James McMurtry's "We Can't Make it Here" - Americana Music Awards' Song of the Year 2006

• James McMurtry's Childish Things #1 for 8 weeks straight on Americana Music Chart

• Billy Joe Shaver's "Live Forever" hit #4 on Texas Music Chart

• Honeybrowne's "Something to Believe In" hit #5 on Texas Music Chart

• Billy Joe Shaver's The Real Deal #4 on Americana Music Chart

• Trent Summar's Horseshoes and Hand Grenades #3 on Americana Music Chart

• Gurf Morilx's Diamonds To Dust #2 on Americana Music Chart

• James McMurtry's Just Us Kids #1 for 6 weeks straight on Americana Music Chart; #2 for 7 weeks straight

• James McMurtry nominated for "Artist of the Year", "Album of the Year" (Just Us Kids), and "Song of the Year" (Cheney's Toy) Americana Music Awards 2008

• Gurf Morlix nominated for "Instrumentalist of the Year" Americana Music Awards 2008

• Eleven Hundred Springs "Every Time I Get Close To You" #5 on Texas Music Chart

• Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway #1 on Roots Music Report

• Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway #1 FAR Report

• Rachel Harrington's City of Refuge #2 Euro Americana Chart

• Ben Kweller "LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN" appearance 1/26/09

• Slaid Cleaves' Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away #2 on Americana Music Chart

• Slaid Cleaves' Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away #1 FAR Report

• Ben Kweller "LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON" appearance 6/19/09

• Gurf Morilx - Americana Music Awards' Insturmentalist of the Year 2009

• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit nominated for "Album of the Year" Americana Music Awards 2009

• Slaid Cleaves' Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away - #3 Americana Record of 2009

• Ray Wylie Hubbard's A. Englightenment,B. Endarkenment (Hint, There Is No C.) #1 Americana Music Chart

• Ray Wylie Hubbard's A. Enlightenment, B. Endarkenment (Hint, There Is No C.) #1 FAR Report

• Ray Wylie Hubbard nominated for "Artist of the Year", "Album of the Year" (A. Enlightenment, B. Endarkenment (Hint, There Is No C.)), and "Song of the Year" (Drunken Poet's Dream) Americana Music Awards 2010

• Ray Wylie Hubbard "THE LATE SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON" appearance, 5/18/10

• Joe Pug nominated for "New Artist of the Year" Americana Music Awards 2010

• Ray Wylie Hubbard's A. Enlightenment, B. Endarkenment (Hint, There Is No C.) - #5 Americana Record of 2010

• Gurf Morlix's Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream #1 FAR Report

• Rod Picott's Welding Burns #1 FAR Report

• Gurf Morlix nominated for "Instrumentalist of the Year" Americana Music Awards 2011

• Dawes "LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN" appearance 6/27/11

• Dawes "Time Spent in Los Angeles" among VH1's TOP 20 Music Videos

• Walt Wilkins' "Trains I Missed" - International Bluegrass Music Association Awards' Song of the Year 2011

• Jenni Finlay named FAR & Away 2011 "BEST IN THE INDUSTRY"

• This One's For Him - A Tribute to Guy Clark #1 Americana Music Chart

• Ray Wylie Hubbard's The Grifter's Hymnal #2 Americana Music Chart

• Dawes nominated for "New and Emerging Artist of the Year" Americana Music Awards 2012

• Corb Lund's Cabin Fever #1 FAR Report

• This One's For Him - A Tribute to Guy Clark - Americana Music Awards' Album of the Year 2012

• This One's For Him - A Tribute to Guy Clark - Grammy Nominated for Best Folk Album 2012

CLICK HERE for a recent interview with Jenni Finlay about Radio Promotion and the Music Business

What is Radio Promotion?

Lobbying and Lobbyists have been around as long as any one person has been responsible for a decision or a vote, and people have always wanted to influence that decision or vote in their favor.  Everyday, lawmakers at the national and state levels meet with representatives of special interest groups who ask them to vote on matters that are in the best interests of their groups or their clients

The same thing happens between a radio programmer and a record promoter.  The people lobbied are usually the program directors of radio stations that report their charts to the major trade magazines.  Program directors, also referred to as Pds, have the ultimate responsibility for everything that a radio station broadcasts – banter by personalities, advertising, information such as news and traffic reports, and all music played by the station Simply said, the radio programmer can decide whether a record ever gets on the air at their station.

Decisions by radio programmers are the keys to the life of a record and have become the basis for savvy, smart, and creative record promotion.  Programming decisions about music determine:
 
• Whether a new recording is added to the playlist of a radio station that reports its chart and airplay to the major trade magazines.

• Whether the recording receives at least light rotation on the playlist.

• Whether it eventually receives heavy rotation on the station’s playlist

Record promoters are lobbyists in the purest form.  They are either on the staff of a record company or they are part of a company specifically hired by the label (or artist) to promote new music.

*Excerpt from Record Label Marketing, Tom Hutchison, Amy Macy, Paul Allen, © 2006, Focal Press, Elsvier Inc.

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Advice from Jenni Finlay Promotions Artists:

"Be totally obsessed with whatever it is you're doing"
- Gurf Morlix

"First, don't let the business side get you down. However, it's best to be involved & know what's happening with every aspect of your music business. Celebrate all the little victories & count all your blessings. They happen everyday!  They'll outweigh the struggle of the business.
Write a lot of songs. Play a lot of gigs. Meet a lot of people.
Enjoy yourself!"
- Shelley King

"Mellencamp once told me 'know what everyone does in the session.' Whenever you hire someone, know exactly what they do for you."
- James McMurtry

"Be hard on those songs, knock 'em around and give 'em a black eye before you send them out into the world."
- Slaid Cleaves

"You have to be involved with music for love, or from a sense of calling. it can't be for the chance of fame, because fame is more headache than reward, and celebrity is an unnatural state anyway. And it can't be for the chance of big money, because the chance of making big money is remote. Making music for enough money to make a living is the reward in itself, and that's why so few people stick with it.  There's no insurance, retirement, really no security of any kind. But its fun as hell, and most of your friends will envy you for doing what you feel like you were meant to do. And that's what you'll be doing, if you indeed have that feeling.   And that is reward beyond measure."
- Walt Wilkins

"Always be open to taking advice from people, but in the end be able to listen to yourself. Also...be nice to everyone,
... except for that one guy, he's a dick"
- Matt The Electrician

What You Need Before You Need A Radio Promoter:

So you've just recorded your soon-to-be #1 hit record. Congratulations! All of your hard work has been actualized and you can't wait for everyone to hear it! This is not the time for sitting back on your laurels - this is only the beginning! You are considering hiring a team of folks to represent you to the world. YES! This is absolutely a vital part of the process, but before you open your checkbook, READ THIS:

For Your Debut Record:

I recommend the "do-it-yourself" method for your first EP or record. This will enable you to learn and understand exactly what everyone on your team should be doing in the future (PLUS, this will give you the opportunity to make personal contacts and begin relationships with radio stations, journalists, and venue owners who will support you throughout your career). There are tons of books and resources out there to help you figure out the ins and outs.
Ask your fellow musicians to listen to your record and give you their honest opinion on where it fits in the big scheme of things. Is this an Americana record? Red Dirt/Texas Country? Folk? Rock? ...Once you've narrowed it down, research, learn, listen, and absorb EVERYTHING you can about your genre. Become a member of its national organization and a part of its community by supporting its other artists and musicians.
Find out what publications feature records in your genre, and ask to submit your record for review. Listen to every radio station you can - send your record to those you think would be the perfect match. Call the venues in your area, and when your show is booked, paint the town with posters and flyers - do everything you can to pack the house. Make a name for yourself - not only as a talented songwriter/musician/artist, but as a dedicated HARD WORKER.
Now, I understand that taking on all these tasks yourself can be daunting and overwhelming, so recruit some of your close friends and business-savvy family members to shoulder a bit of the load for you. Remember this mantra: "People will support what they helped to create."
This record and all the work you put behind it will be your introduction to the music scene, and it will help you to build your fan base, tour markets, repertoire, (and bank account) for your next release.

CLICK HERE for Call Day Etiquette to make the most of your calls to radio

Ready For A Radio Promoter to Take the Reins?

Professional radio promoters have long and strong relationships with radio stations around the world. They communicate with these people on a daily basis, so they are able to reach markets, schedule interviews, and get YOUR record played in huge markets and by extraordinary stations that you personally may not have access to. Their efforts correspond DIRECTLY to album sales and international recognition. They are a big piece of the puzzle. Booking agents and publicists will also help share your story and music with the world. Once you've learned the ropes, established some buzz, and have a steady tour schedule, you'll be ready to expand your reach. NOW'S the time to assemble your team (CLICK HERE to talk about radio promotion). Find enthusiastic professionals who not only have great reputations as hard and effective workers, but who BELIEVE in YOU! The relationship you forge with your professional team will have the potential to last long into your career, and can be a very rewarding and fruitful association.

Think Digitally:
Tips for managing your digital life:

• Even if you've hired a publicist, use your own PR skills to market yourself on and off the stage.

• Have a perspective and begin a blog, Tumblr, Twitter, etc. You don't have to do it all - begin by focusing on doing one very well. Be aware that the persona you portray on your social network page(s) will directly reflect your professional image. Make time to maintain a quality Facebook/Twitter page. Don't just bombard people with gig alerts. Instead, share info on where they can get a sneak peak of your album, or photos from your current tour. Start a conversation to encourage fan interaction.

• Release at least one song or video each year (via your website or Twitter/Facebook page) to help build your fan base. Outreach remixers.

• Befriend bloggers. They will help future fans discover YOU.

• Find a production company, website, mobile platform or brand that needs some high quality content and offer your talent and tracks.

• Play live shows. Lots of them. Don't forget to bring merch to sell. And encourage your audience to connect online.

GOOD LUCK IN ALL YOU DO!