What's the best way to get an unsigned band radio air play?

Question

We've tried and had no such luck.

Answer 1

Submit your music to college radio stations, particularly the ones in your area. College radio is a lot more friendly to unsigned, non-mainstream and underground music.

Answer 2

First of all, are you really any good?
What's the quality of your recording?
Are you tape, cd, or MP3?
A good quality recording has a better chance of airplay than a poor recording. A balanced recording, where the guitar solo does not drown out the lead vocals, has a good chance. Good lyrics get more notice as opposed to foul language. Musical singing has more chance than plain screaming. And content is still important - devil worship heavy metal still won't be played on Christian rock stations.
You might want to do some networking and some homework. First, listen to all of the radio stations in your area, write down their call signals, and find out their physical location. Be aware that most Rock and Country stations are owned by major radio networks such as Comcast or Radio One, and create their playlists at their headquarters in New York or where ever their main offices are located. Radio DJ's play the assigned lists and merely add their own voice to the mix, but many stations are given pre-recorded programs and the station managers add local advertising to the recordings. That's why you can't just break in without a major label funding your support. It's not supposed to be 'payola' but it is - major record labels pay big business radio stations to play certain artists by giving money money and freebies like concert tickets and cd's in exchange for radio play.
You might want to find some college stations and the last of the independent radio stations, and see if they will give your band a tryout for their late-night or weekend late night programming. Some independent stations have programs dedicated to local music. You might also want to build up a following by playing regular gigs. Most of the Heavy Metal bands in the 80's got very little airplay at first but got noticed playing at one or two clubs on Sunset Strip in L.A. when they started packing the house on a regular basis. Very very few artists are instant hits. The ones most respected are the serious artists who put in their time and work for what they get.

Answer 3

Depends on whether you want to get actual radio play or internet radio play or sattelite radio play. I'll tell you right now it's a whole lot easier to do the internet and satellite thing. Look up XM Radio or Yahoo! Music. They both have channels for unsigned bands.