Music PR is a long-winded, broad and confusing part of music; a massive gatekeeping industry that seems impossible to hack. As an aspiring manager, artist or whatever, I’m sure you’ve asked yourself: What is it? How do I get press? Why won’t anyone answer my emails?
Well, to that last one there might not be any straight answer, but there are at least some slightly varied, weighted answers to the other ones which you can find around the internet. Here’s what I would say as someone who’s working in Music PR.
Know your audience– do they even read blogs online? If they don’t then don’t waste your time, ask your closest influencer friend if they can plug the song on their story! It’s quality over quantity time and time again.
Playlisting is to be done miles in advance:
1. Make a clean version ~ 2. Start to find playlists ~ 3. Write a Press Release ~ 4. Pitch to Spotify for Artists ~ 5. Submit to platforms etc etc. All of this done needs to be planned months ahead of your release date. You can find more guidance about this on distributor blogs like TuneCore and Ditto Music.
Create an interesting story around your release. I swear if I see one more release description that says the song is about relationships and the recording was done in their bedroom… Just don’t.
Talk about: what the song means to you, where you where at in life when you wrote it, interesting facts while writing/recording, moments in time that inspired you, what you want listeners to take away. Maybe if you can’t share a viable story then the song is just not that interesting? Just saying. Same thing for your artist bio: If you haven’t achieved the heights of your career, talk about what drives you and your future plans as an artist (make it meaningful).
Press release should go: catchy title, press shot, release info, artist bio and finally links.
Invest in nice press shots- No one likes looking at blurry, unclear, messy pictures these days. Get a trained photographer to help you out please. Try and make the shot interesting if that’s means enhancing your style, adding a prop, or including effects. Blogs will cohesive artist shots and so will readers!
Try the platforms – Platforms streamlining your promotional experience are every where, worth it or not. Some useful platforms include:
SumbitHub- lots of blogs only accept submission through this site.
MusoSoup- great for basic coverage of your song, free and paid offers come to your door.
Feedspot- finding blogs and platforms to contact.
Groover- a playlist submission platform, I’ve not used it myself- but it can’t hurt to try it for at least one release..
That’s it folks, all I got right now.
I hope you get what I’m saying. Key thing to takeaway- plan months in advance, trial and error, and compromise. You’ll get into the swing of it eventually. Never give up!
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