Shinedown’s Brent Smith on How ‘Streaming Will Get Your Music Played, But Radio Will Give You a Career’

Shinedown is something of an anachronism. The veteran rock band arrived at the tail end of the CD era, lived through the download era and has thrived in the streaming era. Over those years, radio became less important as digital platforms gained influence and short-form video apps such as TikTok turned into hitmakers.

But while much of record labels’ promotional efforts have shifted to platforms including TikTok, Shinedown has remained adamant about the importance of terrestrial radio. Earlier in September, the band notched its 21st No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with “Killing Fields.” In March, the band became the first artist with 20 No. 1s on the chart with “Dance, Kid, Dance” — two more than the next band on the list, Three Days Grace.

“Streaming will get your mus