PR for musicians
Music PR: how independent artists get press, blogs and playlists
Music PR gets releases in front of the writers, bloggers, radio hosts and playlist curators who shape what fans hear next. For independent artists, the job is building a story around the music, then pitching it weeks before release so premieres and reviews land on time. A clean electronic press kit (EPK) and private streaming links do most of the heavy lifting.
Story angles that work for musicians
Journalists do not cover companies, they cover stories. These are the angles that most often earn musicians coverage:
- A single or video premiere offered to one outlet as an exclusive
- The story behind the record: where it was made, who played on it and why
- Tour announcements with local angles for each city's press
- Milestones such as streams, sync placements or festival slots
How to run musicians PR yourself
- Pick one story. Choose the strongest angle above and write it in one sentence. If you cannot, the story is not ready.
- Build a short list. Find the 20 to 50 reporters who have covered musicians recently. A short list that fits beats a long list that does not.
- Write a personal pitch. Three short paragraphs: the news, why it matters to their readers, and what you can offer such as data, interviews or images.
- Follow up once. Three to five working days later, add something new rather than "just checking in".
- Track what lands. Note who replied and what they wrote about, so your next pitch is warmer.
What reporters on this beat want
- Send a link to watch or listen privately, never a large attachment.
- Pitch around release calendars: features are planned weeks ahead, reviews days ahead.
Mistakes to avoid
- Attaching MP3s. Send a private streaming link instead.
- Pitching on release day. Writers need four to six weeks.
Who covers musicians
InsightFuse lists 19,012 journalists, editors and producers whose role or outlet points to musicians coverage, across 157 countries. Here is where they work and what they do.
Where they work: top outlets and employers
- Nine Entertainment Co.
- Rede Record
- Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Group of Companies
- Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Music Producer
- Corus Entertainment
- Deluxe Entertainment Services Group
- Sony Music Entertainment
- Sharp Entertainment
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Music Production
| Country | Journalists |
|---|---|
| United States | 9,117 |
| United Kingdom | 1,815 |
| India | 811 |
| Canada | 803 |
| Australia | 521 |
| South Africa | 453 |
| Nigeria | 301 |
| Brazil | 279 |
| Role | Journalists |
|---|---|
| Producers | 12,838 |
| Writers | 2,512 |
| Editors | 2,136 |
| Reporters | 488 |
| Journalists | 402 |
| Section and senior editors | 138 |
Counts come from the InsightFuse database and include only people with editorial job titles. Names and contact details are available inside the app.
Browse journalists on these beats
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How much does music PR cost?
Independent music PR campaigns usually run for one to three months. Hiring a publicist commonly costs from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a month. Doing it yourself costs time plus a good contact list.
When should I start PR for a new single or album?
Start pitching four to six weeks before a single and eight to twelve weeks before an album, so premieres and reviews can be scheduled around release day.
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