Charting Education: Radio
Radio Info
Radio airplay is tracked from Friday to Thursday on a real-time basis for that week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart. You can call, text, email, tweet, or send in online forms to your local stations to request BTS’ latest singles. Not sure who your local radio stations are? Don’t fear! check out our regions and find yours! Also, unfamiliar with how to request? We got you!
Requesting Tutorials
Request on Twitter
Follow @BTSx50States and your regional account for up-to-date request information.
GUIDELINES:
Retweets and Likes don’t count. We encourage you to send in your own request
There are two types of tweets you can do:
Reply tweet: Reply when the station is open for request! Normally, there are countdown periods such as #Hit5at5, #Hot5at5, #Top6at6, #Trending8at8, etc., when stations will be looking for the most requested songs. There is power in numbers!
Direct tweet: If the station doesn’t have a countdown or #CommercialFree periods, you can always directly tweet at them! Tag the station and ask if they know BTS. Networking is vital!
Not sure what to tweet? Check out the sample!
Like in the sample, we encourage you to tell DJs where you come from to show local, national, and international interests.
GIFs and pics are eye-catching to get casual looker’s interests. Let others know who we are advocating for!
Tag @BTSx50States and the regional accounts! We’ll spread the word.
Sometimes stations will post polls to test engagement. Vote! One tap can make a difference in getting BTS’ music play on the radio!
Patience. Patience. Patience. It may not happen on the first try, second, or even on the tenth try! But we will keep requesting.
You can create keyboard shortcuts or draft requests beforehand if you are busy. Vary your responses so we won’t be considered “bots.” However, beware of over-spamming. See tutorials on how to make keyboard shortcuts below:
Calling & Texting
When they answer the phone here are a few ways you can request…
“Hi, can I request a song? I would really love it if you played [track name] by BTS.”
“Hi, my name is and I’m calling from __. I’d love to hear [track name] by BTS please!”
“Hi, are you taking requests? My name is __ and I’d love to hear [track name] by BTS right now. They’ve been playing on the radio a lot recently, and it’s so great! I can’t stop listening to their music, it’s addicting!”
“Hi! My name is and I’d like to request [track name] by BTS. I love [track name] because it has a [catchy beat/awesome lyrics/a great melody]. Would you please play it for me? Thank you!”
“Hi, my name is _ and I’m calling from __. I’ve been dying to hear BTS’ song [track name], and I’d love to hear it on [station name]! Can you please play it?”
“Hi, I’m and I’m calling from __. It would make my day if I could hear [track name] by BTS! Would you please play it for me?”
“Hi, can I request [track name] by BTS? It’s really catchy and it would be great to hear on [station name]! Thank you!”
“Hi! My name is __, and I’m calling all the way from __! I’m listening online, and I’d really love to hear [track name] by BTS! Can you please play it?”
“Hi, my name is _, and I’m calling all the way from __! I’d like to request [track name] by BTS! I’m listening online and have been dying to hear it on your station! Thank you!”
If they don’t know BTS…
“I can send you some info about them, do you have an email I can send it to?”
If they don’t have the file…
Thank them for their time and let us know by tagging us. We’ll make a note and contact the right person.
When to Call
If lines are busy…
Keep calling back. Lines can be busy during syndicated shows/ not open for requests at that time.
How often?
You can request multiple times per day for each DJ’s session. Tweet + fill request forms too.
Countdown Periods
Some stations have request periods when they tally the most requested song to play. We’ll keep you updated on these countdowns.
Texting Radio Stations
Texting follows the same general format as tweeting. Keep it simple, but multiple texts are encouraged.It’s understandable that there are those of us who are hesitant or simply can’t call radio DJs. We do have scripts in the boxes above for you to use when you call in, but some of us experience severe anxiety, so we want to tell you that it’s OK if you can’t step out of your comfort zone right now. There are other ways you can help.
Online via Forms
Online requesting is available on some, but not all, radio websites. Here are a few examples.
This is a form used by many radio stations that you can use to engage with radio stations about BTS in a couple of different ways: including requests!
- Try adding a BTS alert by using the top portion.
- If you can find BTS in the alerts, be sure to ‘like’ them, share them, etc.
- If you cannot find them to add an alert, be sure to request that they are added using this request button
- If BTS is added to their form already, try requesting their single under “What Should we Play?”
Other stations may have their own request form on their website. [This form is from PARTY 105.3 FM]
Song Alert & Online Requesting Demo
BTS is Playing on My Local Station! Now What?
When a station is playing BTS’s tracks, there are 4 things you should do:
TUNE IN
The best way to show support is to tune in to the station no matter where you are. If you are a local, tune in through car radios. If you are not local (i.e. in a different region), tune in through the station’s website or iHeartRadio app (if the station is under iHeart). Tune in and record the promoted track being played, preferably with your reactions. Remember not to monitor while driving! Tweet out your thanks to DJs only when you have stopped your car. Upload your recording on Twitter and tag @BTSx50States. We’ll spread it.
THUMBS UP
”Thumbs up” refers to liking a song that was played on the radio. A thumbs up demonstrates song demand, and thus we encourage you to do so if you are tuning in through the website or app.
This option is available only on the station’s website or app. When BTS’s song is played, make sure you tap!
SHAZAM
Shazam is a mobile app that identifies the songs it hears. Radio stations use Shazam numbers to determine a song’s popularity in the state/local areas. If you don’t have Shazam, download it now!
- Apple Store [iOS]
- Google Play [Android]
- How to Shazam:
- Download and open the app
- Play BTS’s promoted track on your phone or computer, either on the same device or a different one as long as Shazam can hear it. [Tip: you can plug in your headphone and loop it so that the earpiece is next to the mic while the song is playing.
- Tap the Shazam button and wait for it to recognize the track.
- Every time the app recognizes a song is called a Shazam. One Shazam per day counts. However, if you have an Android device you can bypass this limit by clearing data. Go here for further instructions. On Apple devices, only one Shazam per day, per device counts.
- How to Shazam:
SHOW LOVE
After you have listened to the radio, show your gratitude by thanking DJs on Twitter. Every play is a milestone for us, because for us, who have worked hard pushing for BTS to play on the radio, the feeling of listening to BTS on the radio is drastically different from listening to them on YouTube. We can’t take these plays for granted.
How Else Can I Impact Radio?
“RateTheMusic is the leading website giving music fans the chance to let their opinions be heard regarding a variety of music styles. Your opinions are seen by radio programmers and record company decision-makers around the world, and you can have a real influence on the music played on radio (terrestrial, satellite, and Internet) and purchased online and in stores. Your feedback helps determine artists’ careers.”RateTheMusic is FREE. Your opinions are always presented anonymously – we respect your privacy. Your information will never be shared with or sold to any third party.”
How to participate:
Visit www.ratethemusic.com and create an account.
- You are required to sign up in order to fill out the surveys.
- Once you have an account, you may be invited to participate in weekly surveys.
- You will be asked to rate around 20~30 songs that are currently popular on radio.
- You can choose “No” when asked if you are familiar with the song to make the process faster.
- Continue clicking “Next” to find BTS’s tracks, and give positive ratings to them.
Sometimes BTS will not appear on the survey, but they may appear on the next one. Per BTS’s famous tweet, we are going to “KEEP STRUGGLIN’.”
That’s it for the survey! Remember that you should fill these surveys weekly.
Need more guidance? Here’s a video tutorial: