Reggie wrote:
So, perhaps a pertinent question to all of this is how does one get known by the djs out there?

Deb sez:
I am a folksinger. My CDs are (IMO) folk, plain and simple. I always joke that folk is .00005% of the music industry and trad folk is .00005% of that. The Folk DJ email list has been an invaluable tool for me. You really do have to do the research and find the shows that will play the kind of music you produce.

Word of mouth is another way to get known. My own story is that I had sent a CD I did in the 1990s with my ex to a friend in Seattle who monitored the Folk DJ list. At the time I didn't look at the list as I thought it wasn't important :-) There was a DJ on there who was stating that he was tired of getting CDs that he didn't consider "folk" and then went on to state his definition of the genre. She sent my CD to him and he put a very nice and enthusiastic review of the CD on Folk DJ. In the next few days, I got over 20 requests from DJs for the CD and the requests continued for the rest of that year. It also set up opportunities to form relationships with those DJs so that I was able to send them my next recording when it was released.

Reggie also wries:
...if djs don't know who we are and what we can offer musically, because they're, as you say, too lazy to look for our music, how then can we get known by them?

Deb sez:
I really want to address this. I know of only TWO folk DJs out of the hundreds (if there are more than hundreds, I'd like to find 'em) that get paid for what they do. The rest are volunteers who have day jobs, families and many other commitments. They do this out of love for the music and their desire to support artists like you and me. Time is something they just don't have. They find our music at festivals, concerts and Folk Alliance. Also from other comments made by other DJs.

Reggie writes:
Where can one get the exposure one needs to get known by the djs, who, if they hear us and/or if they like us and/or find our music appropriate to their radio station's needs, will then spin our stuff so we can get exposed?

Deb sez:
Start locally. Find the folk shows in your local area where you play, contact the DJ and ask them if you can send your CD.

I can only speak from my own experience as an artist. Hope this helps.

Debra