Music PR: press for artists and labels

Named music outlets, as listed

• 63% of music listings say they publish with no sponsored label; 33% carry a sponsored or partner label and 5% a discreet disclosure. All are paid placements, never earned coverage.
• Country editions are separate publications with their own listings: Rolling Stone (UK), (MENA) and (Australia), and Billboard's Argentina, Brazil, Italy and Japan editions, from $660 (Argentina) to $4,167 (Japan).
• Genre outlets sit in the same filter: hip hop, electronic, K-pop and metal titles among them. Filter by price and country to find the ones your audience reads.

1. 1

   1. 3 months out: fix the date and the story

   Musosoup advises starting a campaign at least 3 months before release. Write the story of the release in 1 sentence: what is new and why it matters now.

2. 2

   2. 2 to 3 months out: build the EPK and the list

   Assemble the 8 EPK elements below and a private stream link. List the writers and curators who covered similar artists recently.

3. 3

   3. 1 to 2 months out: pitch writers and blogs

   Musosoup puts outreach 1 to 2 months ahead. Offer premieres to 1 outlet at a time; send personal emails, not a blast.

4. 4

   4. 3 to 4 weeks out: send to curators

   On Groover, curators have up to 7 days to reply. Leave time to use the feedback before release day (our recommendation).

5. 5

   5. At least 7 days out: pitch Spotify

   Pitch the unreleased song in Spotify for Artists. Once a song is live, it can no longer be pitched.

6. 6

   6. 1 to 2 weeks out: book any paid placement

   Order from the listing's stated window so it lands on release week: Spin.com lists 1 week, Rolling Stone (UK) 1 to 2 weeks.

7. 7

   7. Release week: share and log everything

   Share each piece, thank each writer, and add the links to your EPK and website the same day.

8. 8

   8. After release: follow up with news

   Follow up once with something new: a video, a show, a remix. Then move on to the next release.

Subject: Premiere offer: [Artist], "[Song]" out [date]

Hi [Name],

I read your piece on [artist or song they covered] and thought of you for this.

[Artist] is releasing "[Song]" on [date]. [1 sentence on what is new: the story, the sound, a collaborator, a moment.]

Would [Outlet] like to premiere it? It is yours alone until [date].

Private stream: [link]
EPK with photos and bio: [link]

[Name], [role], [phone]

Subject: Re: Premiere offer: [Artist], "[Song]"

Hi [Name],

1 update since my note: [new fact: the video is done / a show was announced / a remix by X].

The premiere offer stands until [date]. Private stream: [link]

Thanks for considering it.
[Name]

Hi [Curator],

I picked you because [playlist or post] mixes [artist A] and [artist B], and "[Song]" sits between them: [1 sentence on the sound].

Release date: [date]. If it is not right for you, a line on why helps us more than silence.

Thanks,
[Artist]

Subject: [Artist] plays [venue] on [date], [1 hook: hometown return / first headline show / benefit for X]

Hi [Name],

[Artist], from [town], plays [venue] on [date]. [1 sentence on why it matters locally.]

We can offer an interview before the show, photos, and 2 tickets for a reviewer.

Details and photos: [link]
[Name], [phone]

1. Which outlets have you placed artists like me in during the last 6 months? Links, please.
2. What will you pitch, to whom, and when? Can I see the plan in writing?
3. How long is the campaign, what does it cost in total, and what is billed on top?
4. Do you promise coverage? (A publicist should not.)
5. How do you report: which pitches, which replies, which results?
6. Do you use paid placements? If so, which ones, and how are they labeled?
7. What do you need from me, and by when?

More pitch and email templates

1. Days 1 to 30: the foundation

   Story, assets, lists

   • Write the 1-sentence story of the release and the 3 facts behind it.
   • Build the EPK: the 8 elements, a private stream link and a one-sheet.
   • Claim or update Spotify for Artists and every profile you link from the EPK.
   • List the writers, blogs and curators who covered similar artists recently.
   • Decide the budget: $0, a curator budget, a publicist, or paid placements by name.

2. Days 31 to 60: outreach

   1 to 2 months before release

   • Offer the premiere to 1 outlet at a time, then pitch reviews and interviews.
   • Send the song to the curators who fit, and read every reply.
   • Pitch Spotify's editors at least 7 days before release.
   • Book any paid placement from its listed window so it lands on release week.
   • Pitch local press for shows and hometown angles.

3. Days 61 to 90: release and follow-through

   Release week and after

   • Share every piece the day it runs and thank the writer.
   • Add coverage to the EPK and your website, marked paid where it was.
   • Follow up once with new news; stop after that.
   • Note which pitches got replies and which outlets sent listeners.
   • Once real coverage exists, consider a Knowledge Panel for your artist name.

Add-ons and lighter starts