Band Management: Blog 42: Hear it on the radio…

I am managing “Band A” for a year – to see how far I can promote this band within the music industry. On Monday evening I got a message from a friend that WNCW had announced they were going to play “Band A” during that hour. “Band A” is a little out of WNCW’s genre focus – but the band can write songs and WNCW plays songs. I’d sent the station a CD in the summer and they’d already played one song in August.
So I was driving with Cinnamon Kennedy down i40, at 8:30pm on Monday, still some light in the western sky. I felty uncomfortably nervous. I had never heard “Band A” on the radio. We listened to WNCW play all these Americana and blues and folk songs and they sounded so rich and full on the car stereo. Finally, I heard the opening chords to “Band A’s” song. It wasn’t a song I would have chosen. It wasn’t a song I’d been promoting. It was a slower song about one brother leaving town and the other brother being left with all the family ghosts. And it sounded true and real.
Everything stopped and goosebumps rose up on my arms. A massive smile fixed on my face – and I had this surge of endorphins. I want everyone who makes music to have this blast of positive emotion.
This how it happened: I wrote an email to WNCW and Joseph Kendrick responded. Then I sent in a CD and Renee Denton with “Local Color” played “Band A.” That was it. I know radio is really intimidating – but people who are involved in radio love music…
The evening was great. “Band A” played at Static Age-Records with Klazo – one of their best shows. Scott Sturdy jumped on stage to play some bass, and Sophie Hull made sure the sound was great and the smoke machine was cranking.
In other news – Holy Crap Records has released a single from “Band A” and a single from The Styrofoam Turtles. Whereas I am not naming “Band A” I am all about promoting The Styrofoam Turtles. They are having an album release party at The Mothlight tonight, 9pm, with Tongues of Fire and Sane Voids. This is the best of the best of underground music – and these bands put on wild live shows. Also, the Styrofoam Turtles write GREAT songs!
(Photo of “Band A” by Scott Sturdy.)