If you’re someone interested in DJing or becoming a DJ yourself, one thing you’ll realize soon enough is DJs can wear an assortment of hats, so to speak.
Some of you will certainly be wondering how to become a radio DJ. Well, it’s a bit different from the norm.
Whether it be the different pieces of equipment used, the various methods and techniques available during a performance, or even the genres of music used, there’s much more to DJing than just playing your favorite song on a funky-looking music player.
One of the biggest shocks to those just learning about DJing is that there are multiple types and forms of DJs out there.
Yes, you have your standard “club” DJ, but you also have music producers, party DJs, studio DJs, as well as radio DJs. Radio DJs, in particular, are one of the more interesting DJ types outside of the main ones.
These DJs are widely regarded and recognized as being the voice of radio DJs stations as well as entertaining thousands upon thousands of different listeners every day.
In this overview, we’ll get into what it takes to be a radio DJ, ranging from the type of education and experience you need to some of the different ways to gain exposure so that stations know what you’re capable of.
How To Become A Radio DJ (in short)
Of all the DJ types out there, being a radio DJ is one of the more difficult areas to successfully break into. These positions are very much sort after and, as a rule of thumb, you would generally need some prior experience, work experience, or a decent connection within a station before any station worth their name will give you a chance. You will have to have the right mix of personality, confidence, knowledge, prior experience, and, in most cases, a very solid social media presence. The more dialed in all of these things are, the more likely a radio DJs station will be in giving you a shot on the airways.
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What Is A Radio DJ?
A radio DJ is one of the more important parts of a radio DJs station. While many times ignored in favor of the radio host or the music itself, the radio DJs is the connective tissue between the show and any song that’s played.
They are often also the voice that you’ll hear before a song is played, the news is put out, or a commercial is aired.
A DJ’s role can vary greatly based on the nature of the radio station they’re attached to.
For example, a radio DJ station that focuses more on different talk shows may be less inclined to let the DJ talk or perform as much as they would if the station was more House music focussed.
Either way, if brought on, there is an expectation that the DJ will bring a bit of their personality to the show, be that sharing their input on a particular topic or helping decide an event or giveaway.
How To Be a Radio DJ? The Essentials
Of all the DJ professions to jump into, radio DJs are one of the more difficult, often needing a fair bit of prior experience before any station worth their name will give you a chance.
Ultimately, it breaks down to what your education level is and how much prior experience you have. The higher both of those things are, the more likely a campus radio station will be in giving you a chance.
#1. Experience
The more important of the two, while education is very important (especially for certain radio gigs), at the end of the day radio DJs stations are interested in how well you can perform and do the job – and nothing proves to them that you can do the job better than knowing that you’ve already got experience doing it somewhere else.
The sad truth is that there are a lot of young hopefuls that desperate to take their shot at performing on the radio.
And while many of them may have the education area behind them (more on that later), that may be all that they have.
If you’re currently in school, you can join a college radio station and develop your experience in that area. If you’re good enough, you may be able to leverage your connections to land an actual position at a real radio station, either as an intern or as a legit radio DJ.
If, on the other hand, you’ve already finished school (or didn’t go) you can still gain useful experience, either by first becoming a club and performing DJ or by progressively growing your exposure through online media methods, like YouTube and SoundCloud.
#2. Education
While a standardized education isn’t quite as important as a real experience, don’t be fooled into believing it’s not important.
Just as many college grads have no experience, there are a plethora of young dumb DJs that ultimately lose out to the guy with the highest degree.
Instead of viewing experience and education as two opposing alternatives – that you can get by simply by focusing on one over the other – it’s better to see them as two complementary points that, when used together, can virtually guarantee your success.
If you’re currently still in high school, you’ll want to focus on getting your grades as high as possible so that you can go to the college of your choice, namely a college that focuses on communication and broadcast journalism.
While you’re still in school, you’ll want to join any classes or extra-curricular activities that let you focus on journalism of some kind, be it a school paper, a broadcast PA announcement, or a school radio or news broadcast.
Whatever your school has, you want to ideally be involved with it.
For those that are already in college or planning to go to college, you’ll want to make a point of making sure you’re going to a university that has a strong broadcast journalism field.
Most radio station employers are looking for DJs that are multi-skilled.
If you are just a guy who can only DJ, you’re probably going to get passed over for the guy who can DJ “and” report the news or fill in for the radio host of a show.
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How To Get Started in Radio as a DJ
Getting a college education alongside some experience as a radio DJ is the best way you can ensure you get hired onto a radio station. However, what if you’ve already let a few years go by and either don’t have a college degree or didn’t major in journalism?
Better yet, what if you’ve done all of that and still can’t find work? Either way, the big area you’ll want to focus on is exposure.
While education and experience are the things that will get you in the door, exposure is the big pull that lets satellite radio stations know you exist in the first place.
Below are some useful ways you can gain exposure and build a name for yourself. Not only will they put your name out there, making it increasingly difficult for internet radio stations to ignore you, but they also will gift you with enough knowledge and experience to make up for any lack of education you may be dealing with.
#1. Podcasting
Creating a podcast is incredibly useful, especially if you’ve already got a functioning social media presence. Doing regular weekly shows will not only help you cultivate an audience and a following, but it also trains you to act as a host for a radio broadcast.
Add in some music and DJing, and a successful podcast could be all you need to directly put you in front of some real movers and shakers in the radio broadcast world.
#2. YouTube (or Twitch)
First, I can’t recommend YouTube enough as a viable and useful method of putting yourself out there as a radio DJ.
While podcasting is an incredible method of exposure – and it is included as a method on this list – YouTube offers just so much variety that no other platform can compete against.
Whether it’s a strictly podcast/radio show format, a radio DJing music format, or a mix of the two, you can do just about anything with a YouTube channel.
Outside of a strong Instagram and Twitter presence, I highly encourage focusing on building up your YouTube visibility, as it offers an incredible amount of freedom in how you present yourself to your audience.
#3. SoundCloud and Mixcloud
Similar to YouTube, creating an account on SoundCloud is a great way of putting your music and DJ mixes out there.
Keep in mind that every DJ puts their stuff on SoundCloud, and, if you want to make a name for yourself, you’re going to need to use it (and any other music platform) as a sort of supplement to anything else you’re doing rather than the focus.
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#4. Social Media
Lastly, we have social media. Certainly, the most powerful online medium to get yourself out there!
Instagram and TikTok are both great ways for new and budding DJ broadcasters to promote themselves online, particularly as bite-sized videos are so popular at the moment (April 2022).
Instagram reels and TikTok videos are generally short, snappy, and, at present, get a load of organic reach. This means you can get your point and messages across much faster and to a wider audience.
Facebook, catering to a slightly older demographic these days, is still a huge platform but the organic reach is much more limited, and growing a page cheaply is a GRIND!
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How To Become A Radio DJ: Takeaway
Ultimately, ‘how to become a radio DJ’ may involve all the above elements to some extent. Breaking into the radio DJ world is much more difficult than landing a standard DJ gig or even becoming a regular at a venue.
If you’re curious about where to start after you’ve already done a few of the things listed here, consider going to your local radio station and talking to them.
Even if they can’t help you directly, they will likely understand how difficult it is to get started and will be more than willing to help advise on some potential paths and options you can take.
While radio DJing is not for everyone, if it’s a passion of yours, definitely make a point of pursuing it as much as you can.
Even if it takes a while, by sticking to it and giving it your all, one day you may find yourself with a job on the airwaves!
