Radios and Record Stores

March 21, 2005 6:10 PM

I'm part of a Chicago-based band, and we're on the cusp of releasing our first full-length studio album. We're not on a label, so we have to find radio stations to play our stuff and record stores to carry our CD's ourselves. Are there any good resources out there to help indie bands find these? Can you share any indie-friendly stores/stations in Chicago yourself?
posted by buriednexttoyou to media & arts (9 comments total)

I can't recommend anything in Chicago, but have you checked out cdbaby.com? They're a great resource for independent artists.
posted by stefnet at 6:13 PM on March 21, 2005

I don't know Chicago, but college radio stations are usually a good place to start. Find out the name of the music director (or general manager) and send them a cd. Be sure to include a press kit, or at least a description of what type of music it is, so the music director or GM will know which DJs would be most likely to give your cd a listen. As for record stores, well...don't you know where the record stores are that specialize in your genre? Start calling or stopping by with a promo cd (don't forget the press kit). Good luck.
posted by boomchicka at 6:52 PM on March 21, 2005

college radio stations are usually a good place to start

For Chicagoland -- from the loop north to the Wisconsin border, and the Northwest suburbs -- you might well want to try WNUR. South of the loop there are stations like WHPK, but being north-side myself they are out of my area of expertise.

Talking to the music director can sometimes be hard (partly just because they are students and are not always there for predictable office hours); if you don't seem to be able to make contact, try calling the DJ during a show that plays music similar to your band's and see if they can point you in the right direction.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 8:04 PM on March 21, 2005

Couple $0.02s:

Develop ways to sell your record direct to your fan base via your website. CdBaby can be part of that strategy. Remember that *all* distributed CDs in record stores are there on consignment; at least when you sell direct to your fans the discs don't come back to you. Be sure to keep good track of anything you put on consignment at an individual store -- and be prepared to pull your stuff after 3 months if it hasn't sold though.

How large do you think your market is right now? Work stations that serve the areas where you are gigging. You have a limited window of time at both retail and radio, cause there are SO MANY albums that come out each week. As you build, better to do it town by town, coordinating store and radio coverage based on gigs. Having an event to plug helps get your band some notice, rather than just another one of hundreds of discs that come through the doors.

And good luck!
posted by omnidrew at 9:24 PM on March 21, 2005

Not that I have any expertise on the subject, but I remembered this thread in the blue about how to sell your CD on Amazon.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:29 AM on March 22, 2005

As a friend of several Chicago bands who are on the indie side, I second the college radio suggestion .I know my friends have taken advantage of the air time and gotten some pretty good results, especially with Northwestern's station.
posted by zombiebunny at 5:31 AM on March 22, 2005

I was just in Chicago, and found WXRT (92.3, I think?). They happened to have a local-area band showcase on Sunday night, and the DJ was talking about how he bases almost his entire playlist on submissions from local bands.

They're rock only, but actual good rock (not just classic or metal; they seemed to have the broadest playlist of any non-college station I've ever heard, from Solomon Burke to Lynard Skynnard to Elvis Costello to Green Day).

The show's Local Anesthetic.
posted by occhiblu at 8:47 AM on March 22, 2005

I'm in the process of getting some airtime at WIIT, once I get a slot I can give you some play, although there might not be very many listeners.

Also WXRT is 93.1
posted by borkencode at 10:08 AM on March 22, 2005

I help run a micro-label/art collective thingy in Chicago. We have had some success selling on consignment at local stores. Dr. Wax, Reckless, Planet of Sound all took our stuff. College Radio is a great place to start too-- WNUR, WLUW, WIIT, WCRX all have good local programming.

Carrot Top has a very good primer on getting distributed; consider contacting them or Choke (both are local) about getting your records out.

That said, the best way for small bands to sell records is at shows. The musicians on our little label have been well reviewed, our music is for sale online, we have distro via Choke, local radio plays us a bit, but we've found that hands-down the best way, by far, to reach an audience is by playing out.
posted by verysleeping at 10:45 AM on March 22, 2005