jimmyt:

The last two albums I produced (both trad) got little airplay. I obtained a list of radio shows that play traditional music and sent each one a cover letter along with a stamped postcard with my address on it. The idea was that if a radio station was interested they would mail back the postcard and I would send them a copy of the new album. Out of an initial mailing of about fifty stations I got about ten postcards back. Out of that ten I have only received confirmation that three stations ever played my recording.

I think part of the problem is that the term marketing means reaching as many people as possible. Most radio stations out there that will play traditional music want music that they think will appeal to most people. In general that means accompaniment and as upbeat as possible and as short as possible. The reality is that radio stations want big numbers (how many listeners) to justify programs and traditional music doesn't give you big numbers.