airplay: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequencySpecialist/Technical, Informal
Quick answer
What does “airplay” mean?
The broadcasting of music or audio on the radio.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The broadcasting of music or audio on the radio.
The amount of times a specific piece of music or audio is played on radio stations. Can also refer to the circulation of media in other contexts (e.g., 'video airplay' for music television).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard and identical in both varieties, though it may be more frequently used in American media contexts due to the prominence of industry publications like Billboard. The plural form is not used.
Connotations
Neutral/technical term. Connotes chart success, industry popularity, or marketing strategy.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English in industry and journalistic contexts, but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “airplay” in a Sentence
[The song] + get/receive + [a lot of/little] + airplay[Airplay] + for + [the new single] + is + [strong/limited][We] + are + trying to + generate + airplayVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “airplay” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The BBC is airplaying the new album track tonight.
- Regional stations airplay more local artists.
American English
- The DJ airplayed the single five times last week.
- The station refuses to airplay explicit content.
adjective
British English
- The airplay data for Q2 is now available.
- They monitor the airplay charts weekly.
American English
- The song's airplay success led to a sales boost.
- We need an airplay strategy for this release.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in music industry reports, marketing strategies, and chart analysis ('The label's investment is focused on securing mainstream airplay').
Academic
Rare; may appear in media studies, cultural studies, or musicology papers analysing popular culture.
Everyday
Used by people discussing music or radio ('Have you heard the new song? It's getting a lot of airplay').
Technical
Core term in radio programming, music promotion, and chart compilation software/data.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “airplay”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'three airplays').
- Confusing it with 'streaming plays' (though the concept is analogous).
- Spelling as two separate words ('air play').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one word: 'airplay'.
Traditionally, no. It specifically refers to radio. For TV, terms like 'video rotation' or 'MTV play' are used. However, by analogy, you might see 'video airplay' in some informal contexts.
Yes, but it is rare and considered industry jargon (e.g., 'The station will airplay the track at 9 AM'). In most contexts, 'play' or 'broadcast' is preferred.
Phrases like 'getting no airplay', 'being ignored by radio', or 'lacking radio exposure' convey the opposite idea.
The broadcasting of music or audio on the radio.
Airplay is usually specialist/technical, informal in register.
Airplay: in British English it is pronounced /ˈeə.pleɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈer.pleɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To get/getting airplay”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of AIR (radio waves) + PLAY (to play a song). It's the 'play' a song gets 'on the air'.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUDIENCE REACH IS A COMMODITY ('They bought airplay through promotion'), SUCCESS IS HEIGHT ('The single gained heavy airplay').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate definition of 'airplay'?