For a presenter on a community radio station I’ve had some pretty incredible guests over the years.

Hollywood star Scott Patterson; record breaking singer Rebecca Black; the voice of Ash from Pokemon, Veronica Taylor.

And then some incredible UK stars as well – Lisa Kowalski, Hannah Layton-Turner from Hannah’s Yard, Rich Stevenson, and many more.

But then you have stars who refuse to come on the show. Not everybody I ask has to come on, of course, and that’s fine.

But the problem is when I get approached by record companies asking me to play their song or talk about their project, but they’re not willing to do a five minute phone conversation to promote it. That, to me, doesn’t sit right. Come on the show, have a quick chat, tell us how you wrote the song – boom, you’re done. I play the song, the people got to hear from you, everyone’s happy.

I recently got an email with the headline “rising pop star!” asking me to play their single. I won’t say who it was, but it’s someone I’ve admired for a long time, which makes this even more disappointing.

I asked if the person could do an interview to promote their single. It’s worth noting this isn’t the first time I’ve asked, and I’ve been turned down every time. And, like before, I was told they’re “not doing any promo”.

Now. I know this shouldn’t bother me. But it does. I can’t help but take it personally.

There are some ‘stars’ out there who want to make it. And again, I’m not saying that I’m the gateway to success or that I have a right to make these people come on my show.

But when they make videos about it to the point where I get emails with the headline “rising pop star”, then that kind of implies something.

And if you want to make it, then why am I getting your emails but commercial stations aren’t? Just something to think about next time someone asks.