BLU FM BluPlug radio airplay sampler
Author: Tom Papas | Source: BLU FM 89.1 | Date: 27-05-08
This article is an entry into the 2008 Toot Your Own Horn competition
Contributor:Tom Papas, BLU FM 89.1
Over the past five years BLU FM 89.1 has been very committed to local music. We are fortunate to have a strong local music scene here in the Blue Mountains. A number of our presenters are musicians. We interview musicians almost daily and live-to-air performances are regular weekly events.
During an informal discussion with some musicians, we learnt that they pay as much as $500 to have a track from their new albums included on samplers. We thought about this and decided to bring out our own sampler of Blue Mountains music aimed at community radio stations. We saw it as both a service to the local music sector and as a modest fundraiser for us.
We decided to keep it simple. We’d make 50 copies with about 18 to 20 tracks and distribute them through AMRAP. A call to Troy Horse in Sydney established that they would do the number we needed (so we wouldn’t be saddled with remainders) in a plastic sleeve for around $3 a copy. AMRAP distribution for us as a station costs $1.65 a copy.
I did the artwork and mastering in house at no cost. We decided on a charge of $25 a track for inclusion. So, the fundraising component is small but quite handy.
This also provides excellent publicity for our station. A photo opportunity of the organizers with well-known local musicians is almost guaranteed press coverage.
The name I suggested for the sampler was BluPlug, which seemed apt. An email to local musicians established that there was a definite interest and that the $25 cost was more than reasonable. Many of those who participated wanted copies of the CD and we charged $5 each for these. Some ordered just one, while others ordered up to half a dozen copies.
We used a simple agreement based on a model supplied by the Arts Law Centre. This agreement does several things. In signing it the musicians warrant that they own the copyright in all aspects of the material included. The station in signing, agrees to limit use of the material to inclusion in the sampler.
One of our office volunteers keeps track of the paperwork, prepares the playlist and organizes the CDs ready for me to master. As soon as the master is ready, we send it to Troy Horse with the artwork. They produce the CDs and deliver them to AMRAP.
From past experience with compilations (this is our fourth, although it
is the first actual “sampler”) we know that CDs coming into stations with the endorsement of another station gets attention and, often, some good feedback.
We plan to do these samplers several times a year. Interest from musicians has been very high which means we are already well on the way to having the next one together.
To listen to BLU-FM 89.1 showcasing its local musicians, click below!
BLU-FM 89.1's Blu Plug sampler (MP3 format - 52.4MB)