How to Make A Radio Edit for Radio Play

Creating a polished radio edit can significantly boost your chances of gaining radio play, exposing your music to wider audiences, and growing your fanbase.

But what exactly makes a song radio-ready?

To help you master the art of radio editing, we’ve turned to Georgie Palzeaird, an industry expert with experience as a radio presenter, music coordinator, and radio plugger. 

From avoiding explicit lyrics to crafting great intros to songs, Georgie shares her top tips for creating a professional radio edit.

For more insights from experienced music industry professionals, apply to study at WaterBear. Our courses are delivered by some of the music industry’s most accomplished professionals, as well as hosting regular masterclasses with special guests. 

1. Why First Impressions Matter 
2. Creating a Clean Radio Edit 
3. What is The Ideal Average Song Length for Radio?
4. Structuring a Song for Radio Play 
5. Tips for Radio Play Pitching 
6. Take Your Music Career to The Next Level 

If you’re serious about getting your music on the air, making a strong first impression is crucial.  

Whether you’re pitching it yourself or working with a radio plugger, your track needs to stand out in those fast-paced, make-or-break moments. It has to speak for itself almost instantly.  

Georgie offers a behind-the-scenes look at her time as a radio plugger to illustrate just how quickly decisions are made:  

“I’d go in for my appointment with someone from their music team and sit down with my physical CDs (which were 1-track promo CDs for each artist or band I plugged). I handed the CDs over, they put it in their CD player, and we would sit in silence until they’d heard enough (which sometimes wasn’t long at all!).” 

This high-stakes environment means your music must make an immediate impact.  

“You must show everything you’re about in that time, and really get yourself across,” says Georgie.

When it comes to radio, one rule is non-negotiable: no swearing.  

As Georgie puts it, “You may have noticed loads of artists (even the squeaky-clean ‘pop’ ones!) have swearing in their songs, but they know if they want any chance of getting it played on the radio, they have to edit it out.” 

Luckily, there are creative ways to edit songs without compromising their integrity.

Georgie offers some suggestions: 

• Reverse the explicit word. 

• Replace it with a word that rhymes. 

• Use sound effects, such as a bell or a drum hit. 

Labelling your clean tracks properly is also crucial when submitting them for radio play. 

“Put it in the file name of the track! Eg. ‘My Song (Clean)’,” Georgie advises.  

This simple step ensures that music coordinators can easily identify your submission as a clean radio edit. 

Failing to edit explicit content can have serious consequences. 

“Some songs that haven’t been edited may slip through the net. The result? We get in big trouble and we will never, ever play you again,” she warns. 

One of the most important factors in creating a radio edit is the length of your song.

According to Georgie, there’s an average song length ideal for radio: 

“There is a sweet spot for a radio edit length, and that is around 3 minutes. It fits nicely into an hour and you can fit all the components of a song into it.” 

While iconic tracks like Bohemian Rhapsody may have defied this rule, Georgie stresses that such exceptions are rare.

“You have to earn your stripes to be able to play a song of that length,” she explains. 

Shorter tracks are often more radio friendly.  

“If you are going to deviate from the three minutes, I’d go under in time as opposed to over,” she says.  

Tracks between two and two-and-a-half minutes are particularly valuable to presenters. 

“We tend to end up with this awkward amount of time that is hard to fill. If you can make a song that is 2 minutes to 2 minutes 30, then we can just throw it in there. This is so much better for the listener than listening to us waffle to fill the dead air.” 

Your song’s intro is the first impression it makes on listeners, and radio presenters.

A balance between brevity and functionality is key.  

Georgie explains: “You may have heard people say you have to get straight into the vocals, but as a presenter, sometimes I like a little intro that I can talk over. Make it maybe 5 to 10 seconds, something which gives me time before the song starts to say a bit about you, when the song was released or where you’re gigging.” 

However, keep intros concise – “Please though, don’t make the intro 30 seconds long!” 

This advice also applies to the process of pitching your music to radio pluggers.  

“Every week, pluggers come in to play their latest tracks by their clients. They have a 10-minute appointment and want to play 5 or more songs. Do the math – they cannot play every song all the way through,” Georgie notes. “The sooner you get into the song, into the vocals and display the tone of who you are, the better.” 

Having a great song is only the first step to securing radio airplay.

The way you present and pitch your music (making it quick, clear, and accessible) can be just as important as the track itself. 

Georgie emphasises that a professional, well-organised submission helps your music stand out and makes life easier for busy radio teams: 

• Label your track clearly – For example: My Song (Clean Radio Edit). 

• Include a direct link – Don’t ask music coordinators to search for your track on Spotify or SoundCloud. 

• Provide artwork – A visually appealing package helps your submission stand out. 

• Share your story – A compelling narrative about your career, gigs, or collaborations adds a personal touch. 

“Remember that when you send your songs in, there are a million other things going on,” Georgie says. “If you can send me a simple email with a link to your music, it will make my life easier and it will pay off for you.” 

Mastering the art of the radio edit is just one step in building a successful music career.

At WaterBear, we equip aspiring musicians and industry professionals with the tools they need to thrive. 

Interested in taking your music career to the next level? Join us for an Open Day or request a prospectus to learn how we can help you achieve your music career goals.