You're asking the right questions! Station staff have a lot on their plate, so the more you can do to make their lives easier, the better your chances of getting picked up. Here are some points to keep in mind:
- Get into newsletters from the distributor you are working with (like us at PRX)
- Build your web presence
- Make sure your demo is easy to access
- Persistence and prevalence are key
If you’ve never worked with the distributor or station before, be ready with some answers to questions, like:
- What are you doing differently from other programs?
- Why is it relevant to my listeners right now?
- What niche does this fill that I couldn’t use X, Y, or Z programs for?
- How does your production approach differ from others with a view towards audience retention and engagement?
- Is this a special, a one-off, or limited series? How long will this run for?
- Do you have a broadcast clock?
Consistency is a must- stations expect their programming to come in on time, correct length, and with any and all breaks present. You need to have a stable production force to churn out new episodes on a consistent basis without disruption.
Finally, don’t take it personally if your show isn’t picked up. It’s often about the right time and right place, but you shouldn’t hesitate to solicit feedback either way.
Radio resources
- Us! Contact us to let us know about your pieces. We like giving new producers a feature on our homepage or in our newsletter.
- Transom
- Current
- Public radio station blogs
- AIR