airplay

American  

[air-pley] / ˈɛərˌpleɪ /

noun

1. the act or an instance of broadcasting recorded material over radio or television.

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airplay British  

/ ˈɛəˌpleɪ /

noun

1. (of recorded music) radio exposure

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Etymology

Origin of airplay

First recorded in 1965–70; air ¹ + play

Example Sentences

He returned to RCA with “Emergence,” a mellow record designed to follow King’s “Tapestry” onto the radio, but that airplay never materialized: Sedaka was still seen as a relic of the early ’60s.

From Los Angeles Times

Radio airplay, strong word of mouth, glossy production and a slick cover that looked like an upscale fragrance ad helped the record sell a million copies by September 1976.

From The Wall Street Journal

With more than 10 million combined sales and dominant airplay, “Hey Ya!” was one of the most ubiquitous songs of the decade.

From The Wall Street Journal

The best new artist race is among the 2026 Grammys’ tightest, but Dean’s prospects are rosier after her breakout song “Man I Need” topped Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart in December.

From Los Angeles Times

Tracks qualify if they meet its criteria for sales, streams and airplay, even if they have been generated by algorithms.

From BBC