Top 10 Musician Questions Answered: How to Get Your Folk or Indie Track on the Radio in 2026

You’ve made the track. Now make it easy for people to hear it. If you’re an independent folk, indie or soul artist looking for radio airplay, a clear, professional submission is your best first step. Here are the ten questions musicians ask us most, and what you need to know before you email Channel Radio.

And if you run a business rather than a band, keep reading too. Every artist we champion is a local audience you could be standing in front of, and section ten and the sponsorship section below explain exactly how that works.

1. How do I submit my track to Channel Radio?

Email your music to newmusic@channelradio.co.uk. Use a clear subject line, such as Music submission: Artist Name – Track Title.

Tell us who you are, what you’re submitting and how to reach you. Take a moment to check every link before you press send. A broken download link is an avoidable reason your music might not get heard.

2. What should I send?

Make it simple for the music team to listen and understand the story. Include:

• A good-quality, streaming-ready audio file or reliable download link
• A short artist bio
• One sentence about the story behind the track
• Your name and contact details
• The track title and release date, if you have one

Don’t send watermarked promos. Don’t send a giant folder of unrelated files and expect the station to find the right song. Choose the track you most want us to hear, label it clearly, and make sure your link works.

3. How far ahead should I submit?

Give your track room to be considered. If you have a release date, sending your submission around three to four weeks beforehand is a sensible target. That gives the team time to listen and helps us understand when the track is arriving. If your release is sooner, submit anyway, just be clear about the timing.

There is no magic lead time that guarantees a play. The practical lesson is to plan ahead rather than email after the moment you hoped to build around has passed.

4. Does my release date matter?

It helps, but it isn’t a requirement. A release date tells us whether the track is new, whether there’s a particular moment you’re promoting, and how your submission fits into your plans.

Already released? Send it. A good song doesn’t become irrelevant just because the calendar has moved on. Tell us when it came out and what you’re doing now: perhaps an upcoming gig, new EP or local appearance. Give us context, not a hard sell.

5. Is being unsigned a problem?

No. You don’t need a label to submit your music. Independent artists are welcome to send relevant folk, indie and soul tracks for consideration.

What matters is whether the song fits the station and whether you’ve supplied the basics we need to assess it. Don’t wait for a label to validate your work. Take responsibility for presenting it well and making it easy to follow up.

6. How does Choice Track of the Week work?

Each week, Channel Radio selects a track for its Choice Track of the Week feature. The selected song is played every hour for a week across the station, giving it a concentrated run of exposure.

There’s no separate fee to submit, and selection is not automatic. The music team considers submissions and chooses a track for the feature. If yours is selected, we’ll contact you with the details. We may also ask for a short artist intro or outro so listeners can hear who you are and where to find your music.

Submit your strongest track; don’t assume a particular feature is guaranteed. That’s the honest way to approach radio.

7. How will I find out if my track has been played?

Keep an eye on your inbox and check the station’s updates and social channels. If you’re unsure, send one polite follow-up after allowing time for the team to review your submission. Include your name, track title and original email date.

If you do hear your song on air, let us know. Share the moment with your followers, thank the station, and make it easy for new listeners to find you: include your artist page, website or gig information. An airplay moment is more useful when you help people take the next step.

8. Can I get an interview or live session?

You can ask, and we can consider the right opportunity. Interviews and sessions depend on the show, the artist, the timing and production availability. Send a short note explaining what you’d talk about, whether you’re available live or remotely, and why the conversation is timely.

Channel Radio features presenters and programmes with distinct personalities, including The Craig Avery Show and folk programming such as Invisible Folk Club. Don’t send a vague “Can I have an interview?” Make a clear case for a good conversation.

9. What can airplay do for me beyond the broadcast?

A radio play can be a starting point, not the whole campaign. Depending on the programme and what’s arranged, there may be ways to extend the moment through a Listen Again feature, social clips, artist mentions or listener dedications. Those opportunities vary, so ask us what’s available rather than assuming every play comes with every extra.

You should also make your own follow-through plan:

1. Share the station or show with your fans.
2. Point people to one clear place to discover more of your music.
3. Mention relevant gigs or release news.
4. Save the broadcast or social link where available.
5. Thank the presenters and stay in touch professionally.

Explore Channel Radio’s Listen Again page and follow the station’s social channels. Airplay builds awareness; your next step helps turn that attention into listeners and supporters.

10. How much does it cost?

Submitting music for airplay consideration is free. Paid options, where available, are for advertising or promotional activity, not a fee you must pay to submit a song. We don’t promise airplay in exchange for payment.

If you’re interested in paid promotion, advertising or sponsorship, ask what’s currently available and what it includes. Request Channel Radio’s media kit and Advertise With Us information before making a decision. Get the details in writing, and keep editorial music consideration separate from commercial advertising.

Local businesses: support new music and build goodwill in Kent

Backing new music can help your business feel part of the community. When a Kent business supports independent artists and local culture, it can build goodwill among listeners who value real voices and community-minded organisations. That trust matters, but your campaign still needs to be clear, consistent and relevant to the customers you want to reach.

Ask us about current sponsorship and advertising opportunities. A strong local radio campaign can pair a recognisable on-air message with digital promotion, giving people more than one way to notice your business and respond. We understand that Kent businesses have different audiences and budgets, so start with a conversation and request the current media kit and advertising details.

Ways to listen to Channel Radio

You can tune in through:

• The direct Hippynet stream
• Radio Box
• The InstantRadio App
• Radio Garden
• Your smart speaker: say, “Play Channel Radio.”

Ready to send your track?

Make the email easy to act on. Send one strong track, a short bio, a one-line story, working audio and your contact details to newmusic@channelradio.co.uk. Include your release date if you have one, and give us a clear reason to listen.

Then keep building. Submit professionally, follow up politely, and make the most of any attention your music earns. Start with the song, and do the work that comes after it.