KCRW Web App Gives Independent Recording Artists An Opportunity To Receive Airplay on Public Radio

Soon indie bands will have a new place to upload their music and get exposure on public radio. NPR affiliate KCRW introduced a new platform on which to share music with an updated version of MALCOM, the stations internal filing system. Similar to Reverb Nation, the MALCOM platform, created by developers at KCRW will allow artists to create profiles, including a bio, photos and links to a bands website and social media pages.What make MALCOM unique is that submissions are sent directly to the station DJs, who will review and rate your music and get it on air, presumably if it meets their criteria. KCRW has been around for decades and has been responsible for helping artist like Beck, Coldplay, and Norah Jones get noticed by the mainstream.

The station has been very proud of their heritage and has built a reputation for giving unknown independent artists airplay in a market dominated by commercial radio. MALCOM is the latest attempt to bring even more unsigned independent artists to a wider audience.

With a wide variety of shows devoted to music, all styles can be represented and indie bands can now choose which DJ to submit to on the basis of genre and programming.

According to , Music Program Director Anne Litt, “Independent artists are more important than ever and we want to champion as many as we can, yet the volume of submissions we receive has grown 

exponentially...We were asking ourselves how we can better serve these musicians and we came up with MALCOLM. It’s fast, easy and allows KCRW to do what we do best — support and share artist’s work”

The system is still in its beta test phase so there are bugs to work out but this now provides artists to send in feedback and help the platform grow and develop into a truly astounding tool for emerging musicians. MALCOM will help facilitate the DJ’s ability to receive submissions electronically over a social platform and ultimately give listeners a chance to discover new and emerging artists before the mainstream gets to them.

Los Angeles readers can listen to KCRW on 89.9FM, or you can listen in at kcrw.com.  Apps are available to download and are supported by Android and iPhone.

Do you think this is something that will help you out? Please leave your comments or questions below.