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In 2017, I published a blog post asking, “Is indie radio still relevant?” It was a terrible post. I was preparing to interview D. Grant Smith, who ran the indie radio show Appetizer Radio and wrote “The DIY Musician’s Radio Handbook.” Not much was being written about the indie radio’s relevance, or lack thereof, at that time. I basically just asked the question and moved on. That was almost ten years ago. The music industry has been turned upside down several times since then. Streaming became the dominant listening format. Social media discovery rose, fell, and rose again. AI entered the conversation.
The question of radio, specifically indie radio, has arguably become more relevant. So today I’m revisiting the question, but this time I’ve done some actual research.
What I found is that radio is not dead. Not even close. More importantly for independent musicians, the indie radio ecosystem has real, concrete value, and you may be leaving some of that value on the table right now.
This episode covers who’s actually listening to radio in 2025 and 2026. It also breaks down the royalty angle, which is where I think the most actionable framework lives. Also covered — the different types of radio and what each one offers an indie artist, where the royalty money is, the playlist-to-radio pipeline, college and community radio (the accessible gateway), and how to think about radio as an indie artist.
This episode is for independent artists trying to figure out whether radio still matters to their career, regardless of whether or not streaming is part of their plan.
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Mentions and Related Episodes
Blog Post — Is Indie Radio Still Relevant?
Episode 5 — Growth Hack Your Fan Base Using Indie Radio – D Grant Smith
Episode 340 — How to Conduct a Personal Royalty Audit and Recover Missing Money
Episode 339 — Missing Royalties: Revenue Recovery Strategies with Amani Roberts
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