The Future of Radio & Music Publishing

Music publishing has become the method to gain long-term income. Beyond the distribution of music onto popular platforms such as Spotify, tapping into the world of music publishing will help artists open doors to more exposure. With the addition of Funktasy Publishing, let’s follow the growth path of songs and examine the role of promotion platforms such as RadioPromo.io.

So, what is the difference between music distribution and music publishing? 

Funktasy Records and Funktasy Publishing are Funktasy’s two branches covering these music promotion methods, respectively. In short, music distribution focuses on the relationship between the artist and consumer. Think of an artist putting their music on Spotify for audiences to consume. 

Music publishing, however, focuses on putting value on the music itself. By exposing tracks to films, TV, advertisements and beyond, music publishers spread songs through intentional placement.

“Music Publishing opens the doors to unconventional audiences, bringing more exposure to songs, whether that be in film, TV, ADs, and beyond, allowing us to create more reach and revenue for the songs. We primarily work with sync agencies and music supervisors to spread songs internationally,” says Funktasy’s publishing agent, Tara Ligonnet.

By collaborating with various third-party companies, Funktasy Publishing uses promotional campaigns and partnerships to connect with professionals around the world.

The role of a music publisher is to take control of copyright material. They hunt for creatives, pitch their music, promote the artist and ensure full and fair payment. As the world of music publishing continues to evolve, many musicians are beginning to gravitate toward independent sectors as opposed to major labels such as the “Big Three” Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group.

Some of the most profitable sources of revenue for creatives tend to be TV or film, but one of the more common avenues that artists tend to pursue is radio. Radio promotion is one of the most popular avenues that artists use to generate music publishing royalties, mainly collected by PROs (Performance Rights Organizations). With the emergence of online streaming platforms, radio is far from disappearing. Rather, it has evolved. 

The biggest difference between streaming and radio is the human aspect in comparison to curated algorithms. DJs and radio hosts can curate a more “human” feeling based on simple criteria like community relevance, sound or, more simply, “vibes.” Keep in mind that, to date, most awards, grants and other benefits still heavily rely on artists’ radio spins and charts.

RadioPromo.io is the world’s only search engine that allows creatives to find radio stations and music program director contacts by searching for similar artists or by genre. By using AI-powered technology, RadioPromo.io locates real-time station data airing music similar to their own, so that collecting contact information becomes accessible to artists. 

The most common challenge that comes with airing music on various radio broadcasts is locating stations that will air the specific sound of a particular artist. By using a map-based interface, RadioPromo.io displays the selected stations and their locations, which allows artists to target specific cities and regions. The ultimate goal is to save upcoming musicians the time and effort of cold emailing outdated contacts and instead have the opportunity to compete with expensive PR middlemen and industry gatekeepers.

“We envision a world where radio promotion becomes as data-driven and accessible as digital marketing, where indie artists can log in, identify their opportunities and build real radio momentum without gatekeepers and massive budgets. RadioPromo.io is building the foundation for that future,” RadioPromo.io Product Manager Ryan Abraham tells Funktasy.  

For up-and-coming artists, platforms like RadioPromo.io are here to help small artists. Create purposeful music focusing on emotions. Partner with an established and trusted music publishing company, like Funktasy Publishing. Music publishing companies are here to bring value to musical creatives while ensuring proper protection of legal ownership rights.

Visit RadioPromo.io for more information and to sign up for a future in radio airplay!