Submit Music to UK Radio Stations: Free & Paid | BlastFM
How to Submit Your Music to UK Radio Stations
There is no single place to send a song to UK radio. Every station decides for itself, and the routes range from free but highly selective to paid with a definite play. This guide sets out the main ones honestly, including the free ones, so you can choose what suits your release. We run a paid airplay network ourselves, and we explain exactly where it fits at the end.
Already bought a package?
Upload your track here. You will be asked to confirm the email address you paid with, then you can submit your file straight away.
Before you send your track anywhere
- A finished, mastered file. MP3 at 320kbps or WAV is what most stations ask for.
- A clean version if your original has explicit lyrics. Most stations will not play explicit lyrics in the daytime.
- An ISRC code, so plays can be traced back to you. Your distributor will usually issue one for free.
- Correct details in the file itself: artist name, track title and artwork.
- Two or three lines about you, and one link where people can hear more.
- An honest view of your genre. A track sent to the wrong show uses up your one chance with that presenter.
The free routes
BBC Introducing. Upload through the BBC Introducing uploader and your track goes to the Introducing show for your area, run by local BBC presenters. It is free, and it is the route to national BBC play, which is why so many artists use it. Expect to be one of many.
Amazing Radio. Create an artist account and upload your music directly. It is free and built for new music.
Fresh On The Net. You can send one track a week. The inbox opens on Monday and closes when it fills up or on Wednesday evening, whichever comes first, and the team listens to everything that arrives.
Selector Radio. The British Council's radio show accepts music from UK artists by email, for a chance of play on a show heard around the world.
Individual stations. Many community and online stations have their own submissions page. Check what they play first and follow their instructions exactly. A specialist show is often a better target than the station as a whole.
The honest catch: free routes are free because they are selective. Most submissions are not played, you are rarely told why, and you cannot see whether your track was considered.
Paid routes, and what you are actually paying for
Radio pluggers. A plugger pitches your track to the producers and presenters they know. It is the traditional route to national radio and the most expensive. You are paying for relationships and effort, not for a certain play.
Pitching platforms. Services such as Groover let you pay per pitch to curators and stations, and promise a response within a set time. You are paying for a listen and an answer, not for airplay.
Paid airplay services. You pay and your track is played. This is the category we are in, and it is where you need to be most careful, because it is also where the poor services are. Here is how to check.
How to tell a genuine airplay service from a poor one
Can they name the stations? A genuine service tells you exactly which stations will play your track. Thousands of stations with no names is a warning sign.
Are the stations licensed? Stations that play commercial music in the UK need music licences, and a genuine service lets you check them independently rather than asking you to take its word.
Can you see the plays? You should be able to verify that your track was actually played, not simply be told it was.
Is the price explained? Very cheap airplay should come with a clear reason. Very expensive airplay should come with clear evidence.
Where BlastFM fits
BlastFM is a network of seven named, licensed UK internet radio stations, and every licence can be checked from our station list. Packages start at £9 a month. Every play is counted and published on our public spin chart, so you can look up real play counts for real artists before you pay anything, and check your own afterwards. Most tracks go live within days.
It is not a substitute for BBC Introducing, and it will not put you on Radio 1. It is a fast, verifiable way to get your track on air and start building a play history while you work the other routes.
How it works
- Choose your package.
- Verify your payment.
- Submit your track.
Check the spin chart first · See all seven stations
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my music played on BBC radio?
Upload it through BBC Introducing. It goes to your local Introducing show, and tracks championed there can be passed on to national BBC stations.
Is it free to submit music to radio stations?
Many stations accept submissions free of charge, including BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and Fresh On The Net. Free submission does not mean your track will be played.
How much does it cost to get your music on the radio?
Anything from nothing, through paid airplay packages from a few pounds a month, to plugging campaigns that cost far more. What matters is what the price buys: a listen, a pitch, or a definite play you can check.
Can I submit my music to thousands of radio stations at once?
Services that promise this rarely name the stations. A small number of named, licensed stations where you can see your plays is worth more than a large number you cannot check.
Do I need an ISRC code?
Not always, but it is strongly recommended, because it identifies your recording and helps plays and royalties reach you. Your distributor will usually issue one.
Do I get paid when my song is played on the radio?
UK radio royalties are collected by PRS for Music for songwriters and publishers, and by PPL for performers and recording owners. Register with both so that anything due from your plays can find you.