How to Submit Your Music to YFM (South Africa) + What You MUST Have Ready

If you believe your track is a hit, getting it on radio can change everything. Stations like YFM are always looking for fresh local talent, but you need to submit your music the right way.

This guide will show you exactly how to submit your music to YFM and what you need before you click that submit button.

Why YFM Matters for Artists

YFM is one of South Africa’s biggest youth radio stations, especially for:

1. Hip-hop
2. Amapiano
3. House
4. Soul, Jazz and more

Getting playlisted on YFM means:

1. Massive exposure
2. Industry recognition
3. Potential bookings & opportunities

What You Need Before Submitting

Before you even think about submitting, make sure you have ALL of this ready:

1. Your Personal Details

1. Full Name & Surname
2. Email Address
3. Contact Number

Sounds basic, but many artists mess this up, and then YFM can’t contact you.

2. Artist & Song Information

This is where most submissions fail. You need:

1. Artist Name
2. Song Title
3. Composer(s)

Make sure everything matches your official releases (especially if you’re on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music).

3. Your SAMRO Number

This is VERY important.

SAMRO ensures you get paid royalties when your music plays on radio.

No SAMRO number = you’re leaving money on the table.

4. Publisher Information

If you have a publisher, include it.

If not:

1. You can leave it blank OR
2. Register yourself as a self-publisher

5. ISRC Code (Digital Fingerprint for Your Song)

An ISRC code is like your song’s ID.

You usually get it from:

1. Distributors (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.)
2. Record labels

This helps track plays and royalties globally.

6. Record Label (Optional)

1. If you’re independent, just put Independent
2. If signed, use your label name

7. Genre

Be specific:

1. Amapiano
2. Trap
3. Hip-Hop
4. Afro Pop

This helps YFM route your song to the right music compiler.

8. Your Music File (VERY IMPORTANT)

YFM does NOT want direct uploads.

You must:

1. Upload your song to:
2. WeTransfer OR
3. Dropbox
4. Paste the download link

Best practices:

1. Use WAV (high quality)
2. Name file properly:ArtistName_SongTitle.wav

How the Submission Process Works

Once you submit your music through the official YFM page https://www.yfm.co.za/submit-music/, their music compilers will review your track along with all the information you provided. If your submission is complete, your link works properly (from WeTransfer or Dropbox), and the song meets radio-ready quality, it can get playlisted. The process itself is simple, but it’s very competitive, so everything from your mix to your metadata needs to be on point.

Common Mistakes That Get You Ignored

Avoid these if you want a real shot:

1. Missing SAMRO number
2. No ISRC code
3. Low-quality mix/master
4. Wrong or broken link
5. Poor file naming
6. Incomplete metadata

Pro Tips to Increase Your Chances

1. Make sure your mix sounds radio-ready
2. Keep your intro strong (first 10 seconds matter)
3. Avoid long intros (radio wants quick impact)
4. Submit your BEST track, not just any track

Final Thoughts

Submitting to YFM is easy… but getting played is not.

You’re competing with:

1. Established artists
2. Label-backed releases
3. High-quality productions

So don’t just submit, submit something undeniable.

Want Help Getting Your Track Radio-Ready?

If you need:

1. Mixing & mastering
2. Beat production
3. Song arrangement

You can always level up your sound before submitting.