Although we all know the power and force behind social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, are there other tools out there that will help the aspiring singer, musician or band to get heard? Well yes indeed there are, and one of those is radio.

Although it might not seem like it, in the day and age of commercial radio, and playlists featuring the big names in music, there are still opportunities in radio for new talent, which will help an act get exposure in their local area, and maybe even further afield.

The most notable of these is the BBC Introducing program, which is a network of shows run on local BBC Stations. Acts can upload their tracks to the internet site, which will then forward them onto their local stations. With any luck tracks will soon be appearing on the playlists. It might not end there either, as there are also opportunities for interviews, studio sessions, and the best acts can be put forward for festival gigs, or national BBC Introducing shows. An opportunity not to be missed, so make sure all you musically minded people out there visit www.bbc.co.uk/introducing for more details.

Local and community radio stations are also a good bet for radio play, as they don’t have the same conditions to their license as their national/regional cousins. This means specialist shows dedicated to local unsigned bands, solo artists, and songwriters. From my own experience the people that run these shows are very supportive of new music, and can be influential in building local fan bases. Some examples of local stations include:

www.saintfm.org.uk : Maldon District/Essex
www.thebayradio.com: Poole/Bournemouth
www.time1066.com: Surrey
www.radioseagull.com : East Coast of England/Netherlands
www.chelmsfordradio.com : Essex

There are of course many other stations across the U.K and online, just waiting to be found on Google. Student radio is also an option, stations across the world have been found playing U.K. acts.

Also if you’re prepared to put in the work, and rally support, there are ongoing opportunities for airplay online/abroad in The Fame Games.

The Fame Games is an ongoing competition where new acts from across the world can submit their songs. They then hope to get votes and reviews for their song from members of the site, and their own family, friends, and fans. The more public support the song receives, the more likely it is to advance to the radio show stages, and thus receive a large online audience. The shows are also aired on the ABC radio network of stations in America. I have personally entered songs in this competition and found it to be a great opportunity, and an interesting chance to get feedback on your song. Sometimes drawing attention to your tracks can be hard work, but as it’s an ongoing thing there’s plenty of time to rally support and progress through the competition. To find out more about the Fame Games visit www.meermusic.com or www.famegamesradio.com.

These are just a few ideas, sourced from my own experience. I am sure there are many more out there too. The best advice is to keep your eyes and ears open, and have a look at what other artists are doing, and where they’ve been played.