This is another easy idea to get listeners involved with the station, plus it's an easy way to have an excuse to throw a party! This does require a little planning on the promotions department but once you do it a couple of times, it will get really easy.
Use those label reps who hound you each month for the biggest part of this contest. Demand from them an occasional box of this hot new artists CD's for a Pre-Release party. The reps are usually pretty good about this. If the reps won't follow suit, get in good with the local record store. They to get advance copies of most of the new albums!
Next you need to arrange for a controled area for this party. The last station I heard do this used a ballroom at the local University. Arrange sponsors to give up food, drinks, and cool prizes to be given away to listeners who attend. You'll also need to used that trade you have with the local printer. Work up a really cool idea for a 'VIP' pass for those who get to attend. Nothing cheep and easily destroyed. The laminated backstage pass type ID's work great.
Now comes the work for the PD. Hype the fact that you are getting a whole box of the new **** CD before they hit the shelves and 100 lucky listeners are going to get to hear it before the rest of the nation, just by locking the radio to your station. Work up some cool way for the listeners to get a pass to the party. Hype this thing like it is the best thing to hit the town since sliced bread.
When the time comes, make sure you have plenty of food etc. so you don't run out of munchies and look like cheep skates. Check ID's at the door. The exclusive concept of the party will make it one of those things that all listeners will trample their friends to get a pass. Have all the jocks possible at the party. Kind of an exclusive party with the famous radio people. Do breaks from the party. Let the party goers talk on the air and tell how much fun they are having and how good (or bad) the new CD is. Play cuts from the new CD, give away prizes in between cuts, do the breaks, play stupid games, door prizes, food, loud music, who could ask for more?
If you hype these things to the point of combustion, the listeners will get to the point that they plan days off well in advance from their jobs just to be able to try and get into the party. After the first couple partys the hype builds itself and all you have to do is make arrangements. You can do this every now and again or on a regular basis, totally up to you and the artists ability to produce new material.
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