Social media and streaming have completely changed the way music is promoted. While in the past, musicians needed to rely on record labels, publicists, and artist managers to promote their music, today, it’s as simple as clicking a button to make your music available worldwide.
It’s not that labels, managers, and publicists cannot do wonders today for your music. The right support, once you’ve created a buzz, can fuel your rocket ship.
It’s all about creating buzz. Labels, publicists, and managers won’t work with just anyone. They only want musicians with a good reputation on their roster. As a young artist, you’ll need to put in a lot of early work to promote your music.
Independent zines, blogs, podcasters, YouTubers, etc are your friends. You can find thousands of content producers who are willing to promote your music. You can start your promotion by having quality music, professionally-looking photos, and an EPK.
Start your public relations.
There is almost certainly a magazine out there that will write about your music, whether you’re an aspiring hip-hop artist, a punk band against authority, or a 12-piece avant-garde free-jazz synth-wave ensemble.
In the early stages of your career, it is more effective to promote your music via smaller independent publications. These publications are easily accessible, easy to contact, and eager to help budding musicians. Many new artists make the rookie mistake of setting their sights too high. You are doing yourself no favors by sending Rolling Stone the Spotify link through Instagram DM.
Search for publications that are relevant to your niche
You can easily find small publications by typing “your genre + magazine” into social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. You can find hundreds of results by searching for “metal magazine.” Check out each profile to see who’s still active, and note down their contact information and website in a spreadsheet or note.
The size of the magazine doesn’t really matter when you are a brand-new artist. You should take all coverage that you can. The more press articles you can add to your band’s website and EPK, the more magazines will want you. It’s all about making people talk about you. As more people hear about you, they become more interested.
A professional electronic press kit integrated into your website will grab the attention of the media and industry. Create your EPK today with Bandzoogle!
Prepare your public relations campaign.
You will now need to create a press campaign.
You may not know that a campaign is an array of strategies you can use to find and engage new fans while also telling a narrative around a particular piece of content or an upcoming event you wish to promote. A campaign can be created around a new album or single. You could also make one to promote an upcoming tour. One strategy is a press campaign. Social media campaigns, influencer campaigns, etc., are also possible strategies.
In this example, you’ll see how we prepare the assets for a single campaign.
1. Your Story
Many artists underestimate the power of their stories. It’s your story that draws people in. This is a great way to reach out to audiences and give them a deeper understanding of the meaning behind your music before they have even heard it.
Consider your story more than just a biography. Your life experiences and perspectives are reflected in your art. Your whole vibe. It’s your whole vibe that people are drawn to.
To develop a connection with your music, you must express your story authentically. You can begin by focusing on your song stories if you’re having difficulty defining yourself as an artist. You will eventually discover who you are as an individual artist.
2. Quality Music
The recordings should be able to be listened to. Most publications will not take you seriously if your music sounds like it was recorded in your garage with an iPhone app unless you are a specialist in lo-fi.
You may need to purchase some recording equipment to get started. Then, you can learn to mix, master, and produce. You can find budget-friendly options to get great recordings for a reasonable price. You can also find producers who will make your desired sound at a reasonable price.
3. Promo photos
When it comes to entertainment, visuals are crucial. Photos can give people a better idea of who you are. Most smartphones today are capable of taking passable press pictures. If the frame is good, and the photo isn’t shaky or blurry, you can ask a friend for some quick photos.
As you grow, however, the hiring of professional photographers can make a big difference in your brand’s identity. They aren’t necessary at first.
4. Biography
A bio for a musician can make a lasting impression on the reader. This will tell the story of your career as an artist and give a short history to the publication. Your biography should include background information on you as an individual, your music, accomplishments, media quotes, and more. Keep it short – publications are interested in the big picture and won’t be concerned if you discovered dubstep while listening to Skrillex in your brother’s car as you drove to grandma.
5. Social media
Social media can have a big impact on the way the music industry perceives you. When it comes to promoting music, content is key. Social media can be used to grow your fan base, tell your story, and engage your audience. It also gives industry insiders an idea of what you are about. Your captions, photos, and videos can all help publications understand who you are.
Before you contact publications, it’s best to build up one or two social media accounts. It’s not necessary to have thousands of followers. However, industry professionals will want to know that you are actively engaging your audience.
Please stick to one or two platforms, whether it’s Instagram Ti,kTok Tw, bitter, or Facebook, and do your best to increase your audience.
6. Prepare your EPK
An EPK is a collection that you can send to magazines, channels, podcasts, and other music professionals. This is one of the most important tools for introducing yourself to industry professionals before they dig deeper into your music, social media, etc.
Your EPK for music will include your biography, high-quality press photos, videos, music links, social media links, and, if you can, quotes from previous publications. You can then start contacting publications.
Contacting publications
It’s easier than ever to contact publications. On their websites or social media, you can find the email addresses of many magazine editors and related media. It’s not difficult to send an email; the challenge is getting the recipient’s attention. Inboxes receive thousands of emails every day. You have to make sure you stand out among the thousands of other artists who are vying to get their attention.
Here’s how to make sure your emails are as attractive as your EPK.
1. Create a catchy headline
As we mentioned, music industry professionals get hundreds or thousands of emails every day. You have only one second to get their attention, whether you’re pitching to a music magazine, contacting a record label, or cold-emailing a show promoter. It would be best if you had a headline that would grab their attention.
Your email’s headline should tell almost its own story. Avoid writing simple things such as your artist’s name or “your new song is now out!”
Most publications will ignore this kind of material unless you’re an established artist. Most likely, they won’t even know you – so why should they care that your new song is out?
Try to include as much information as possible about you or your song. It’s much more interesting to say “Vegan Hardcore Punks Destroy the Meat Industry” than “New Song: ‘Meat is Murder!’ Out Now!”
