Turn Your DJ Radio Show Into Your #1 Promo Tool (The Full Guide)

Hosting a regular radio show can be so much more than just a DJ mix, it can help springboard your DJ career. Use this helpful guide to get the most out of your radio residency, boost your content and get more DJ work.

Looking for radio stations to work with? If you are a DJ looking to host your own radio show check out our radio DJ guide here. Click here for a list of London radio stations you can apply to DJ for.

DJs: Ways To Get The Most From Your Radio Show

Most DJs simply upload a DJ mix, totally overlooking the goldmine of promotion opportunities that a radio show can provide. Here’s our list of ways you should be enhancing the results from your radio show.

Track Selection & Series Making

The cornerstone of DJing is the DJs ability to select tracks that not only weave together but paint a picture. A DJ is like a curator or sound and vibes and should decide on their set list with great care. Making sure to ground their selections in a sophisticated way, both educating and pleasing the audience. The best radio DJs know how to create a series of mixing that work together seamlessly to tell a story through the dialogue of music. Great selectors will construct meaningful sets, and often larger series of mixes that link together under a common theme. If you’re a new radio DJ start by researching some of the great radio selectors such as: John Peel, Gilles Peterson, Annie Nightingale and Marie Anne Hobbs.

Now, conceptualise your ideas and find a way of packaging your sets into a cohesive delivery model. Many radio DJs will have a naming convention, such as a catalog number or series title with individual episodes to help listeners discover the bigger picture.

If you deliver an exceptional product, or series of products, you will naturally gain more followers, showcase your art and develop a reputation as a legendary selector.

Pre-Promotion

Pre-show promotion is all tied into your concept and visuals. Define your look, your graphic identity, your logo, your fonts, your colours, your style sheet. Then create and schedule teasers such as videos clips and social media posts. You may even want to create a flyer or business card to help spread the word.

Archiving

An often overlooked, but essential part of radio DJing is to create your own archive. Each DJ set, interview and accompanying art or content is a historical document that should be preserved and not simply deleted when you run out of space. Create a storage and back-up system, ideally one that the general public can access. This helps a DJ show longevity and become a voice of authority in their respective scenes. It’s also a public duty, to preserve these valuable cultural artefacts!

Track Listings & Tagging

Correctly listing and tagging all the tracks, artists and record labels within each DJ set in a key component providing a public service but also enabling you to extract the maximum potential of the mix. After your show airs, you can upload the mix to a platform such as Mixcloud. Use your highest-quality artwork and maintain consistent naming conventions for your uploads. Now list every track, artist and record label. Tag where possible and mark the time of the track in the mix.

For further impact, video your DJ set and create separate short video files for each track and upload them into an Instagram carousel post. This way, you can tag all the artists and record labels and listeners, fans and followers can swipe through your mix rather than listen to the whole thing. This is a modern way that listeners are digesting DJ sets, by swiping through each transition. Like it or loathe it, it’s the latest trend in radio show publishing.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Large Language Model Optimisation (LLMO) are also pro skills to help your radio show show up when people are looking online. Make sure to use keywords in your posts and track listings, such as:

Radio Station

Location or City

Radio Show Title

Presenter Info

Guest Info

Series

Episode Number or Title

Genre(s) of Music

Artist Names

Track Versions and Album Info
Record Label Info

In addition, you should always include a link to your book your booking page, website, or next gig in the description of every upload. Add a ‘Call to Action’ such as ‘Don’t miss out on new music! Follow me on Instagram’ or ‘Hear it first - follow the XYZ show on Instagram’

In your Linktree or website bio you should also have a way for fans to sign up to a newsletter. it’s vital to build a valuable mailing list, which you can contact without the need for a social media platform. A mailout is still one of the best ways of promoting, along with text-out lists and community chats, such as, WhatsApp communities.

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During the Show

The show itself is an important chance to engage fans live. If you're streaming, monitor the chat, reply to messages and shout out listeners. Encourage people to share what they're listening to using a specific hashtag you created for your show or tag your main profile.

Use The Mic

Many DJs who host radio shows or mixes often overlook the mic and simply upload the audio of their DJ mix. Don’t make this mistake. We know that many people don’t like the sound of their own voice, but trust us when we say, this is all in your head! Everyone loves to hear directly from the artist. If you can conquer your fear of the mic, you’ll soon become a pro and leverage one of the most important tools in radio, the human touch. Start with a simple introduction to your mix, talk about the music and your concept, then progress to longer pieces of dialogue or interviews. You’ll soon feel at home with the mic.

Guests & Interviews

A great way of bringing in a second audience is to invite a guest onto your show. This is one of the best ways a DJ can grow their fanbase, meet new people and make more connections in the music business. Everyone loves being asked personal questions, it’s human nature to be flattered by and be engaged with anyone who wants to find out more info about what you do and who you are. Think of some guests you can invite to your show. Perhaps they can B2B with you, spit-ball with you on the mic, be interviewed by you, play games with you, the worlds your oyster here! Try and think outside of the box.

When you book a guest, it's standard practice to ask them to share the episode with their audience once it's live. This is a crucial cross-promotion opportunity and helps you reach new audiences without paid advertising. Provide them with all the materials they need to make this happen. Create the content with your brand identity.

Of course, it’s great to build connections by returning favours. Appear on their shows, channels, or platforms and tap into each other's communities.

Pod Casting & Content Angles

Many radio DJs go one step further and turn their radio show into a multi-platform content generating machine. Why not turn your radio show into a podcast by filming your interviews and DJ sets? This way you have video and audio content! You can even use AI to transcribe the words and release the script of your show for those people who prefer reading. Another great hook is creating multiple small video clips with captions and commentary, using the best DJ transitions or conversations. The creation of your radio DJ set should be thought of as an opportunity to create multiple streams of content that can be share across an ecosystem of social media profile for the entire month. Aim for 30+ pieces of content, one for each day of the month. For example, 1 full DJ mix or show, 20 video clips, 5 pictures, 5 quote graphics, 1 newsletter, etc.

Successful podcasts can be monetised on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, giving a successful host extra revenue streams and a wider audience.

Promote Live Performances, Products & Services

A key function of a radio broadcast is to promote not just the music and the presenter but products, services and live performances. Shows like large listenership’s can often raise money through advertising or sponsorship, but make sure what is being promoted aligns with your ideals. Anything advertised on your show will directly affect your reputation.

You may also use your own show to promote other services you offer, for example a DJ and mix engineer might offer a mixing and mastering service. A vinyl DJ might also run a pressing plant, etc. The most obvious things for DJs to promote on their shows are live performances (DJ gigs) and music releases. Savvy radio DJs might also offer promoters the chance to advertise on their show, in exchange for  a DJ booking.

Build a Community

The saying goes, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats’ meaning a community of people working together often have better prospects than individuals working on their own. Radio stations often have their own community or scene, but if yours doesn’t yet have one consider becoming the steward of a new movement. Not only is it more fun to collaborate and mix with other DJs, presenters, producers and promoters but it’s also a key way to progress your career with the help and support of others.

Support Up Coming Artists and DJs

It’s important to also support other artists in your scene. It can be a dog-eat-dog world out there but you should always be the change you want to see in the world. Why not start a wave of support by sharing new artists instead of just paying the tracks of established acts. Support the underdog and you’ll find they are likely to return the favour. Whereas, that big superstar whose tracks you play, well they probably don’t even know you exist!

The same too goes for start up record labels, give the little guys a chance and support grass roots music. You could even invite a label to do a label take-over or showcase on your show. Perhaps, you could interview their latest signings.

Analytics and Feedback

Finally, once the show has aired make sure to check your statistics. Analyse for trends and learn more about your demographic. This will help inform your marketing for future shows.

Check which episodes perform best on Mixcloud, YouTube, etc. Look at play counts, completion rates, and listener locations. Also, follow the comments on your posts, reply and keep your fans engaged. Track any changes and work toward audience growth but also engagement levels. Pay attention to which clips get the most saves and shares on social media. This tells you what your audience truly values. Now iterate by using these insights to plan future shows and double down on what works.

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Looking for more info or help with your radio show? We help DJs from all over the world to improve their DJ skills and get ahead in the industry. Contact us for DJ career advice. Browse our range of courses here.