Though I’m a publicist now, I began my profession within the music trade as a blogger, and within the six years since I created that weblog, I’ve seen my justifiable share of submissions from bands and publicists alike. Hundreds of emails have landed in my inbox, however I’ve solely coated a fraction of these tales on the web site.
Why?
At the least two-thirds of them are boring, poorly written, and simply plain ineffective.
Being on either side of the sport has given me a singular perspective in regard to the artwork of pitching. As a blogger, I shortly discovered what sort of submissions I most well-liked to obtain and which data is most useful when writing up a characteristic. (For instance, an precise hyperlink to the music you’re pitching could be nice—you’d be stunned what number of artists go away this out altogether with the idea that you will take the time to trace down the track or album your self). By the point I grew to become a publicist, I already had an thought of what labored and what didn’t, which has helped me write pitches that get opened and coated, irrespective of the extent of artist I’m working with.
Once you’re a band or solo artist operating your individual PR marketing campaign, it’s vital to know your individual story and have the ability to current that story to retailers in an efficient, newsworthy manner. And when you’re targeted on making music and establishing your model, generally it’s simple to overlook that crafting the proper submission electronic mail that includes all of those parts is simply as vital as making the music itself.
Discuss to any music blogger in regards to the submissions they obtain every day and also you’re positive to listen to a couple of complaints. An electronic mail that claims, “My identify is X, right here’s a hyperlink to my music,” doesn’t a characteristic make, and simply received’t lower it once you’re competing towards 1000’s of different artists for coveted actual property on a weblog. So listed below are a couple of tips about precisely what NOT to do when pitching your music to bloggers so you possibly can keep away from being THAT artist.
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1. Don’t ignore the weblog’s submission guidelines
Nothing will get your submission deleted quicker than ignoring the principles an outlet has laid out very clearly on their contact web page. In the event that they request that you just format your topic line a sure manner, do it. In the event that they solely take Spotify streaming hyperlinks, don’t ship them a SoundCloud hyperlink, and vice versa. If the outlet states that it doesn’t assessment albums, or doesn’t need to know something about music movies, don’t waste your time sending a pitch if that’s what it’s important to supply. And please don’t ship your music in the event that they don’t settle for submissions in any respect. Plain and easy, ignoring tips is the simplest method to land within the trash.
2. Don’t be that individual that makes use of BCC
I robotically delete any pitches during which I’m copied on BCC, and I do know different editors who do the identical. Sending out mass emails exhibits that you just didn’t take time to analysis the outlet, the writers, or put any effort into personalizing your submission in any respect. Sure, it might be simpler for you within the second to hit ship as soon as, nevertheless it received’t profit you in any respect in the long term.
As an alternative, personalize each electronic mail you ship out by together with a praise about an article you actually cherished on that specific weblog, or why you’ve been following that web site for thus lengthy. One thing that straightforward actually means the world to the writers who’re working tirelessly behind the scenes, and it hardly takes any effort in your half to take action in case you’re a real fan of their work. To not point out that, on a bigger scale, the music enterprise is all about forming and sustaining relationships, and also you received’t be doing your self any favors in case you’re not making an attempt to get to know the individuals who have the power that will help you share your music with the world.
3. Don’t ship 1,000,000 attachments
Editors obtain an awesome variety of submissions every day. Don’t clog up their inboxes with pointless attachments, press releases, downloads, or unsolicited press pictures that may take up invaluable space for storing. All of these supplies will be uploaded to your EPK, which you’ll be able to as an alternative ship in your submission through a easy hyperlink. Until the outlet’s tips state in any other case, hyperlinks are all the time greatest.
4. Don’t submit outdated music
There’s an insanely quick turnaround in music nowadays, so a launch, whether or not it’s a single or album, turns into outdated information FAST. In the event you submit an album that’s been available on the market for a yr, you’re simply going to get laughed at for sending it within the first place. Severely. Needless to say these first few weeks that observe your launch are essential when pitching, and in case your music has been out for longer than a month, your possibilities of locking down a characteristic are a lot decrease.
And at last…
5. Don’t assume the author or editor is definitely going to hearken to your music
There’s nothing extra annoying to writers than after we get a pitch that reads one thing like, “Right here’s my new single in case you had been on the lookout for new music to cowl.” We glance out for brand spanking new music to cowl on a regular basis, and quite a lot of it lands in our inbox each week. A lot, even, that we are able to’t sustain with all of it. You aren’t an exception, nor are you the reply to our prayers.
Alternatively, bear in mind once you discovered tips on how to write persuasively at school? Now’s the time to make use of that ability. The perfect factor you are able to do is current your music and your story in a manner that may attraction to the outlet, preserve it brief, don’t observe up greater than a couple of times, and all the time keep in mind that there’s an actual stay particular person on the receiving finish of your pitch, whether or not they hearken to your music or not. Deal with them as such.
Pitching your music to bloggers is really an artwork, however with a bit of follow, and in case you observe these 5 easy guidelines, you’ll keep away from quite a lot of frustration alongside the way in which.
Erica D’Aurora is a senior publicist with Muddy Paw PR. She finds her best pleasure in serving to artists obtain their goals.
