Radio play is one of the most effective ways to promote your music and reach new audiences. It can increase streaming numbers, attract media attention, and generate opportunities for live performances. Radio acts as a trusted tastemaker—listeners often discover new music through stations they follow, making airplay a valuable vehicle for building both awareness and credibility as an artist.

• Only pitch songs that are suited to the station’s programming.
• Keep pitches concise, factual, and professional.
• Always provide hyperlinks to music, artwork, and social profiles.
• Include upcoming shows, collaborators, and future plans.
• Follow up after a few weeks with relevant updates.
• Use platforms like Unearthed for triple j/Double J and AMRAP for community radio to increase reach and credibility.

Radio airplay isn’t just about exposure; it’s about building relationships with stations and presenting yourself as a professional, credible artist who understands the landscape. Strategic, targeted submissions increase your chances of success and help you leverage airplay as a tool to grow your audience and career.

Below is a breakdown of strategies for pitching your music to different types of radio: triple j / Double J, community radio, and digital radio.

triple j / Double J

Before you pitch

• Make sure your song fits the station by listening to their programming. Only submit songs that would fit the station’s sound.
• If your current single isn’t suited, it’s okay to hold off and wait for a stronger release.

Submission essentials

Make sure you include the following: 

• Artist name, single name, release date, and label (Independent if applicable).
• Hyperlink to WAV and cover art.
• Include a concise, factual summary of your song and your key selling points -avoid long descriptions.
• Include previous airplay on triple j, Double J, or Unearthed if applicable.
• Highlight upcoming live shows (headline or support).
• Note any noteworthy collaborators (e.g. mixers, producers with notable credits).
• Outline plans for the next six months (future releases, tours, headline shows).

Pitching & service

• Target relevant presenters and specialist shows.
• Do not attach the audio file - always use hyperlinks.
• Include a link to your artist Instagram if it’s your first submission.
• Upload the song to Unearthed and reach out to staff for reviews - they liaise closely with the triple j / Double J music teams.
• Follow up after a couple of weeks with new info (streaming wins, media coverage, other radio plays).

Community radio

Before you pitch

• Check that your song fits the station’s programming - community radio often caters to niche or local audiences.
• Only pitch tracks that are suitable to maintain credibility with the station’s music directors and presenters.

Submission essentials

• Artist name, single name, release date, and label (Independent if applicable).
• Hyperlink to WAV and cover art.
• Include factual key points about the song and yourself.
• Include previous community radio airplay if relevant.
• Highlight upcoming live shows and notable collaborators.
• Outline plans for the next six months (releases, tours, headline shows).

Pitching & service

• Research each community station and send to relevant Music Directors and specialist show presenters, as the way programming decisions are made varies from station to station.
• Hyperlink to your artist Instagram if first-time pitching.
• Upload to AMRAP, which distributes music to over 300 community stations nationally.
• Follow up after a few weeks with new updates (playlist adds, media mentions, other radio plays).

Digital radio

Before you pitch

• Ensure you have a clean version of your track, as explicit songs cannot be played.
• Make sure your song fits the station by listening to their programming. Only submit songs that would fit the station’s sound.

Submission essentials

• Artist name, single name, release date, and label (Independent if applicable).
• Hyperlink to WAV and cover art.
• Include concise information about the song and your key selling points. Keep it factual; one or two sentences on the theme is sufficient.
• List previous releases to show music history.
• Highlight upcoming shows and collaborators.
• Outline plans for the next six months.

Pitching & service

• Identify key digital stations and service the track to Music Directors.
• Hyperlink your artist Instagram if first-time pitching.
• Follow up after 2 - 3 weeks with updates such as DSP wins, media coverage, or other radio placements.