How to get your music on SABC radio stations

South Africans have mixed emotions regarding SABC’s new 90 percent quota.

The SABC announced that their radio and TV stations would, effective 1 June, begin to prioritise local music – playing 90 percent local music and giving only 10 percent airplay time to international music.

This measure has been taken to expose popular local musicians, as well as the lesser played genres, local legends and to promote new, up-and-coming artists.

For new and existing talent to gain airplay, they will be required to follow the regular procedures to submit music.

This includes record labels using their platform in the music industry to work with the programme directors who are willing to play the music of well-known artists on radio; or artists submitting tracks to various stations in hopes that these programme directors choose to play the music.

Certain songs gain more airplay based on the response received by the public and may have a better chance of getting on the air if the song has a reasonable hype before being submitted to the station.

Local musicians are excited about the change to regular programming and welcomed the new mandate on social media.

Thanks also to Mr #HlaudiMotsoaneng and the #SABC.Your support of the music community (past, present and future) is greatly appreciated #90%

— Danny K (@dannykmusic) May 17, 2016

Never to late to rectify things/restore order… We appreciate the public broadcaster's move with the quota. Two thumbs up! #SABC 🇿🇦

— K.O (@MrCashtime) May 11, 2016

#sabc 90% local music …. it's about time. SA you won't be disappointed, we will continue to provide you with great quality music.

— Lloyd Cele (@LloydCele) May 11, 2016

So 90% local content…. Well we are excited!!! What do you think? 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 #sabc #localmusic

— GoodLuck (@Goodlucklive) May 11, 2016