Want to make a radio show that could go national or international? Perhaps you already have a successful podcast? Mike Yunis and Chris Krause, hosts of the nationally syndicated VR2 Show in the USA, talk about how to get your content syndicated on the radio.
Stitcher Smart Radio
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What’s Great About Radio Syndication?
You can make your own show, play the music you choose and talk about any topic that you’re passionate about.
How To Syndicate A Radio Show – The Secret?
Be wealthy, no seriously, around $2000 – $4000 US dollars will buy you in as part of radio syndicators recommendations in the United States. They know the places and people to send your show out to and they’ll help to market your product.
OK, but what if I don’t have that kind of money? Mike Yunis says “you can never stop marketing yourself”.
Social media and digital media have opened up whole new avenues to promote what you do and get noticed. If you’re doing something you love and are developing a community at the same time there’s no reason why big radio stations shouldn’t consider taking your content.
What you don’t hear on the VR2 Show with Mike & Chris is all the work that happens off the air. They are constantly making appearances in their flagship market of Findlay, Ohio to get the world out there by kissing babies and signing autographs in the hope that more people will discover their show.
Radio syndication is different from market to market and even from country to country but it is possible to go global. Look at Ryan Seacrest!
Marketing Your Podcast or Radio Show
There are three steps you should follow:
First – Make a great marketable demo of what you do. Have it well produced and make sure you’re showing off your best bits.
Second – Make your content lucrative and attractive to radio stations so that they can sell advertising spots and have a revenue stream from your broadcast.
Third – Get as many people as possible exposed to your show using digital marketing.
Remember that radio stations have to find a place for your content and that stations in smaller markets will be more likely to take external shows especially if you can provide a barter service. The radio station can sell radio commercials and you can get a sponsor to fund production and syndication costs. If you make it easy radio stations will jump at the chance of a good quality show in their schedule. “It’s like outsourcing talent”, comments Chris, “the show, hosts, music selection and audio production are all done”.
Formatting a Syndicated Radio Show
Get a niche you’re passionate about and plan the show, the music, what you’ll talk about and all the production elements. Some radio stations may take a risk on a wide format with obscure songs but the tighter and more mainstream you can make it the better.
Get good radio imaging elements for the show. Keep a consistent sound. The audio imaging helps to connect the music, what’s being said and the commercials all together and give your show a brand. Look to have a show sound or theme tune.
“If the listener has a great experience they’ll come back; it’s like retention through entertainment” says Chris.
Can You Make Money from Radio Syndication?
Yes.
In order to succeeded…
- You will need passion.
- Don’t listen to others who say it won’t work
- Be a sales person and sell your show to others.
- Find sponsors and sell airtime units on your show.
Next time on the podcast you’ll hear part two of my interview with Mike and Chris where I go further into detail about the jingles on their show, digital marketing and the future of podcasting. If you enjoyed this episode and have a question about syndicating your own audio content please leave it in the comments section. I do my best to reply to every single comment. Also, this episode (number 10) is a double digit episode! Please leave a review on the iTunes store it really encourages me to keep podcasting and bring interesting guests and info from the world of radio, podcasting and jingles!
