As the owner and sole operator of AM to FM Promotions, Andrea's aim is to garner radio airplay on commercial radio stations for my clients. The process begins by listening to the music, and determining which format, if any, the song will be appropriate for. For example, a rock track would be worked primarily to ROCK radio, but if it has crossover potential, the song would also be worked to HOT AC or CHR radio. As a general rule, most songs appeal to at least two different formats.

Once the format has been determined, she then refers her clients to digital music delivery services, i.e. DMDS or RDR Music. They in turn design a sell sheet to accompany the single when it is sent digitally to radio. This e-mail contains upcoming tour dates, the album release date, favorable quotes regarding the music, and various contact information, i.e.: websites, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Phone calls to radio stations begin the week the single is available digitally, alerting them to be on the lookout for the song, and then pushing them to listen to it and add it to their playlist.

The face of radio has changed significantly over the last several years and it now takes at least six weeks to start to see progress at radio. Andrea calls and e-mails stations repeatedly in order to insure success for the artists she works with.

Major labels like Universal, EMI, Warner Brothers and BMG have large amounts of money to spend on marketing and promotion. The independent artists involved with AM to FM Promotions do not have budgets of that size, so it requires a completely different approach at radio. Andrea is able to get stations to pay attention to her artists because they like and respect her. They also know sheI will not work records just to make money, but work with artists sheI truly believes in.

In addition, AM to FM also provides advisement and counsel for artists, helping them develop their songwriting in a manner that will insure radio airplay. AndreaI advises them on their live performances, sighting ways they can improve their set list and stage persona.

She works closely with unsigned artists to help them find record labels to bankroll their careers. Andrea has referred many bands to a variety of labels and distributors, and also refers artists to booking agents, managers, lawyers and publicists in order to maximize their efforts to make an impact in the industry.

AM to FM Promotions believes it is important to help Canadian artists make an impact outside of their native country. To that end, Andrea has teamed up with Australian Nathan Brenner (former manager of Men At Work, Split Enz and Crowded House) in order to break Canadian artists in Australia. Alan Oken, a music industry lawyer and former A&R Vice President for A&M Records, is her US connection and helps to broker deals for Canadian artists in the US. Together, they are working on deals for Randy Bachman, MIR. Goodbye Glory, Sonic City and SuperGarage. Andrea has also made valuable contacts in Denmark, the UK, France and Germany, which will greatly benefit her clients in the future.