WHOOOSH! – A Radio Show with Heart for New Music
I’ve not been shy in letting people know I am the co-host of a very cool weekly radio show called WHOOOSH!. My co-host is Simon Le Bon – he of Duran Duran. Each week we play 11 tracks and talk a little smack in between songs. At first, we only played new music because Simon loved to give lesser-known artists a platform that they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Yes, we get music promotion pitches, but I’d say 80% of the music Simon picks is because he loves it, not because someone sent it in.
About 2 years ago, we decided we’d start adding in 2 older tracks a week to sort of balance it out. Simon was like a dog with a bone being able to throw in songs from his childhood. Teenage years, dance club era – you name it. And it’s been super fun for me too. Recently I got to play a Led Zeppelin song or two, “Grace Kelly” by Mika and “Don’t Change” from INXS. Not super deep cuts, but great songs by great artists.
Introducing the Play MPE Catalog Promotion
Which brings me around to the incredible annual Catalog promotion Play MPE is having at the moment. In a nutshell, Play MPE is allowing users to re-distribute older tracks to unlimited formats and territories. The songs must be at least one year old to be eligible. For a nominal fee, Play MPE will send out up to 90 minutes of music to as many lists as the user would like. Unlike promotion for current tracks, no email will be sent to recipients, however all the tracks will be uploaded to Player amongst the latest releases for people to see. The catalog release will also be featured in a weekly round-up email. THIS my friends is an incredible opportunity. And the great news is…you can submit as many Catalog releases as you’d like.
Do you have a holiday song in your catalog? You have a few more weeks to get it up and out. A fun New Year’s tune that will make people’s ears prick up? Get that sucker on there!! As a radio show host, if I hear a track by an artist and it catches my ear, then I always look for more. Simon and I were early on Royel Otis and played a bunch of their tracks before “Moody” blew up. We played Wet Leg’s “Chaise Longue” the week it was released and have continued to support them by playing songs of theirs that aren’t massive hits. Without showing off too much, we were really early on Role Model too (wink!).
Why This Promotion Has Lasting Value
Another reason this is a smart radio promotion package to get in on is that the content will always be there. If a music supervisor is looking for a seasonal tune for a holiday movie they’re filming in July, your song about Santa and his corvette is right there waiting, so it’s like you’re pre-promoting your music! It’s no random trend that curators are using more and more songs from artists that are not household names. With so many streaming services, pop-up shops, eateries and fashion stores, you have as good a chance as anyone to make a connection, making your old song new again!
Hidden Markets, Global Reach, and Airplay Insights
Another shrewd move is the radio airplay tracking data you’re collecting from a range of formats and markets that you likely wouldn’t be able to tap in to otherwise. When you do a regular release through Play MPE the fee structure is different, but with this catalog promotion, you can add up to 90 minutes of music on a back catalog release and choose as many packages/formats that you want. Word to the wise – test some international waters. Would you not be so stoked if a song you wrote at age 16 and released 3 years ago was suddenly gaining traction and airplay on an online station in Australia? It stands to reason you’d never have never known because promoting a single to Australia wouldn’t be on your radar. Now, the next time you upload a fresh single to Player, you can be sure you’re promoting music to Australia!
Did you know that Morrissey is massive within the Mexican community? For whatever reason, the culture truly embraces him. Via this promotion, you could find that a place or a culture really loves the songs you’re putting out. It could be a grouping you’d never have even thought of sending your music to. This invaluable data can help you immeasurably when you ready your next release. FYI, because now I think all the readers are my friends, a tip for you – enable “contact permissions” when you submit to PLAYER so users can contact you.
The Perfect Time to Strategize Your Next Release
I will leave you with this – December and January is typically a slow time for the industry, so having that data now can help you formulate a winning plan for your March release. And remember, no matter how many formats you choose, it’s still a flat fee of $175 USD (fees vary per currency)– this is SUCH A WIN! A regular global music promotion campaign on a new release (which includes the email blast, 2 free resends and promo assets) can cost thousands depending on which lists you choose. Now is the time to take your music far and wide with no limits. IYKYK – and now you do!
So go through your older releases and get them on Player – it’s the best holiday present you can give to your music! Use promo code: FORMATFEAST at checkout to redeem this offer before Jan 6th, 2026!