NAfME Lecture

National Association for Music Education event

“Record Promotions” Featuring Linda Wills

Have you ever wondered how a record got airplay on the radio? Have you ever heard the same song over and over again? It’s a trade secret. Record Promotions (RP) is a facet of the music industry that has gone unnoticed to the public but is a keystone for record labels. The art of Record Promotion plays a critical key role in breaking new music.

This lecture will teach:

1. the importance of record promotions,
2. role of the record promoter, and
3. how radio is key for airplay and sales.

If you follow the three steps listed it can help you get your record on the radio.

Linda was born and raised in Washington, DC. She grew up in the infamous Barry Farms neighborhood which has produced many great entertainers and athletes. Her youth was filled with many musical opportunities: talent shows, choirs, plays, dancing, and singing. Linda had a passion for the music filled with dreams of becoming a famous singer someday. When her brother Melvin, offered her the opportunity to become the secretary for his singing group the Royal Tone’s, little did Linda know, that she was predestined to work in the music business as her lifelong career. One day, Linda met the infamous R&B Grammy singer, Al Green, who hired her as his personal secretary and taught her the music business. This set the stage for her to become a record promoter. Years later, Linda attended Southeastern University, in Washington, DC and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Masters degree, in Marketing.

She has promoted records for a major record distributor, major record labels, and multiple independent labels. Linda is the recipient of several gold record awards, lifetime achievement awards and more. She has helped to enhance the music careers of Salt n Pepa, Tupac, Doug E. Fresh, Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc, Luke, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, Roy Ayers, and a lot of others through her hard work, dedication, and passion for the game, for four decades. Today, Linda is an author, music consultant, publisher, as well as record promoter. Her deep love and passion for music and the roles that she has played in the music industry inspired her to write her first book, ‘ The Great Record Promoter – Behind the Scene in the Record Industry’.