SUBMITTING MUSIC

Looking to submit music to CKXU 88.3 FM?? Here’s some tips + tricks to get your music into the hands of our Music Department!

Submit your EPs + LPS.
NO singles.
mp3s ONLY! No wavs, mp4s or FLAC files.
NO STREAMING LINKS. Links to Spotify, Apple Music or Youtube are not for radio distribution and can’t be used
Information required in your submission is as follows: artist name and pronunciation, genre/sub-genres, language, date and year of release, location, representative identities (LGBTQ2s+, femme-con, Indigenous, etc) and contact email for further inquiries (information, interview, etc). Any missing information may result in your submission not being processed.
We accept physical and digital submissions.

PHYSICAL SUBMISSIONS

Please submit all physical submissions to:
Attn: Music Director
CKXU 88.3 FM
4401 University Dr W
Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4

DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS

Please submit all digital submissions through our Digital Music Submissions web-form, found below! Please note that digital submissions must be in the form of a download link or code, preferably DropBox or Bandcamp. File format can ONLY BE mp3’s! No wavs, mp4s or FLAC files.
If you have any questions about the music submissions process, please feel free to reach out to [email protected]

Digital Music Submission Form

The Local Music Mail-out is Back!

Accessing radio airwaves can be difficult to manage for independent musicians. Luckily, CKXU is here to help! A few times a year the CKXU Music Director will send YOUR recent music release to our colleagues, across the nation, in the campus and community radio sector. As a Southern Alberta based musician, all you need to do is submit your music in digital or physical form, along with a press kit, to the CKXU Music Director and she will pass it off to her friends.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 28, 2023

So… what exactly is a Music Mail-out?

If you’ve released an album in the past 6 months or you plan on doing so very soon, this is your chance to have it distributed across the country to other campus and community radio stations. CKXU typically does FOUR mail-outs per year. Send your music to the CKXU Music Director and they will send it to other stations across Canada, colleague to colleague, friend to friend.

When are the deadlines for each seasonal Music Mailout?

Winter: February 28, 2023

Spring: May 31, 2023

Summer: August 31, 2023

Fall: November 30, 2023

What do we (CKXU) need from you (the musician)?

For digital releases all we need are the audio files, in both MP3 and WAV formats, as well as a press kit or one sheet. There is a small fee for physical and digital mail-outs – this helps cover the costs CKXU incurs processing and preparing the mail-out. We charge $1/per release for physical and digital mail-outs (i.e. if you would like to send your release to 20 stations, there will be a $20 fee). Each participant also receives a discount code for the !earshot Digital Distribution System so ensure your music is even more available to the campus and community radio sector.

Submissions must be 6 months old or newer.

Why do I need multiple file formats for my release?

Different stations use different technologies to air their audio. At CKXU, we can only accept MP3s as our internal systems only play MP3s. Other stations across Canada can only use WAV files.

Furthermore, MP3s are also generally smaller (easier to upload, download and send) and have highly detailed meta-data (details in a song such as artist, title, album, etc) across different applications whereas WAV files are larger and allow only limited meta-data input.

Submitting your release as both MP3 and WAV ensures whatever station receives your release can in fact air it.

Excuse me, you said “one sheet.” What in the world is that?

A one sheet is simply, one sheet of information about the artist, band, album, release, etc. It’s a form of press kit or marketing. The purpose of the sheet is to describe your project so the Music Director and on-air DJ’s can accurately share your craft. Set yourself up for success! What sub-genre are you? What other acts are you inspired by or sound like? Are their women in the project? Are you Canadian?

For a sample one-sheet, just send an email to Adrianna, CKXU’s Music Director.

What do YOU (the musician) get from this?

If you’ve got an EP, LP or even a collection of singles that you’re very proud of, this is the easiest way to get it distributed. It’s low-cost, and we do all the work for you! Campus and community stations receive a lot of music submissions, and submitting your release via our curated mail-out raises the chances that it will be seen and played at other stations! As with any album that’s been released within the past 6 months, it’s eligible for charting. The more plays you get, the more likely you will chart, making you more visible within the industry. (That said, there is no guarantee your music will be played, that will be up to the programmers.)

Thanks for all the details but I have additional questions about the mail-out. Who can I speak to about these questions?

CKXU’s Music Director Adrianna is here to assist you with whatever you need for the Music Mail-out. Need assistance with your one sheet? She’s got a sample. Do you classify as Can-con? WHAT THE HELL IS CAN-CON? She’s got your back!

Questions, comments, or concerns about CKXU’s Seasonal Music Mail-out can be sent to: [email protected]

CKXU 88.3 FM is a licensed FM Campus-Community radio station broadcasting from the Traditional Territories of the Niitsitapi, Tsuut’ina, Stoney Nakoda and Métis people in what is currently Lethbridge, AB.