How To Mail A CD To A College Radio Station So It Doesn't End Up In The Trash

• CDs
• Radio station contact information
• A spreadsheet

1. Call the station before sending them your materials.

Get in touch with someone at the station, and have them ask for the CD. You want to give them a heads up that your CD and other press materials are on the way.

2. Clearly label your envelope as solicited mail.

Since you have talked to the station and they are expecting your CD, your mail is now solicited. Make sure that the phrase "solicited mail" appears clearly on your envelope. Also, try advertising your upcoming shows in the broadcast area of the station. This will make your mail stand out from the rest, and give them a deadline.

3. Call each station again to verify the CD's arrival and ask about review time.

About a week after mailing, call the radio stations and verify that your CD made it there safely. Ask them how long their review time is and when they expect to listen to your album. Make a note of the dates.

4. Call again after the review period to see if your songs will be played.

Follow up yet again to see if you have gotten an "Add" to the station. If calling multiple times seems aggressive to you, note that you're competing against people who try to get songs added for a living. They all call multiple times to find out if they got an add.

5. Keep track of all your mailings and phone calls in a spreadsheet.

Since this requires a lot of communication steps, it can be hard to keep track. Make a spreadsheet to track when you mail out your CDs and each phone call that you make. Google Docs let's you make free spreadsheets that can be accessed on any internet-enabled computer as well as shared with your band.

Tags: College & Indie Radio

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