Make high quality recordings. If you want your music heard on the radio or in a club, it should be the highest quality affordable. Generally home recordings are good for personal distribution, but airplay will require a much higher standard. This may mean putting down the money for a professional studio to record and produce your music.
Create a press kit. To be taken seriously, an artist or band needs an air of professionalism to succeed. Write a personalized cover letter to the person or company that will be receiving your press kit. Gather a biography, photographs, a business card, contact information, a small demo CD and a music equipment page to send off in a professional envelope.
Get your music on the Internet. The internet is a great way for promoters and other companies to see what your fan base is like. Get a music MySpace, make a fan page on Facebook, upload your music to ReverbNation, iLike, PureVolume and Jango. There are several music hosting websites that you can use to your advantage and that will give you the tools you'll need to gather fans across the country. Post music and photographs and keep fans updated by posting consistently.
Research radio stations that play similar genres of music. Do not waste your time sending your rap album to a country music station. Make sure that your music is relevant to the type of music that the station generally plays. Send your demo CD and press kit to the radio station's music director. Wait a week or two before making a follow up phone call. There are usually call times listed on the station's website that will give the appropriate times to contact them. Be polite and inquire if your music will be added to the rotation.
Join forces with a music promotion company. There are many promoters out there that have connections with radio stations, club owners, distributors and marketers that are willing to assist artists for a monthly fee. As of 2010, they can range in price from $6 a month to hundreds, so do your research to decide which kind of company will work best for your budget. Thoroughly read through all contracts to make sure you are making the best choice for your music.
Get one of your songs into a DJ's set at a club. If your music is appropriate for a club, or if you DJ yourself, work a song into your set and look for a reaction. Contact an active club DJ and give them a demo of your songs. They may be interested in playing it for a small fee, or for free if you are lucky. Sometimes they will be interested in collaborating with you and mixing songs for club play.