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Doing a final sweep of albums for various year-end round-ups.
Can't help but feel surprise at how many albums never made my playlist b/c the person contacting me required I respond to them for access to the music.
This, even tho my About Me page lays out what to do in detail.
Can't help but feel surprise at how many albums never made my playlist b/c the person contacting me required I respond to them for access to the music.
This, even tho my About Me page lays out what to do in detail.
If getting music in front of me is dependent on some action on my part to follow up on your review request, you are significantly reducing the chances for a write-up.
It's all I can do to keep up with my inbox volume. I scan it, flag it, maybe a quick listen or DL, then move on.
It's all I can do to keep up with my inbox volume. I scan it, flag it, maybe a quick listen or DL, then move on.
I cannot stress this enough... When contacting a journo/blogger about a review, make that initial contact a no-hassle email, and construct it in a way that it gives the writer everything they could reasonably need.
I'm going to detail what you should provide. The elements are specific to me, but in the absence of instructions on a writer's/site's Contact page, I'm pretty certain this layout would satisfy most writers.
(Also, this is a long thread. But trust me: This is easy stuff.)
(Also, this is a long thread. But trust me: This is easy stuff.)
In summary:
1. A simple, informative subject line
2. Link to stream the music
3. Link to download the music
4. Basic one-sheet info
5. Writer/site-specific information
6. Embed code
7. Optional, perhaps
Now I'll briefly go into the details of what I'm talking about.
1. A simple, informative subject line
2. Link to stream the music
3. Link to download the music
4. Basic one-sheet info
5. Writer/site-specific information
6. Embed code
7. Optional, perhaps
Now I'll briefly go into the details of what I'm talking about.
#1
I mentioned before that a writer's inbox is a monster. It's a challenge just keeping it organized. Something that helps is a solid email subject line. Keep it simple. Don't get clever. It should have:
-Artist/Ensemble name
-Album title
-Release date
-Label name (if applicable)
I mentioned before that a writer's inbox is a monster. It's a challenge just keeping it organized. Something that helps is a solid email subject line. Keep it simple. Don't get clever. It should have:
-Artist/Ensemble name
-Album title
-Release date
-Label name (if applicable)
If I see that information in the subject line, I can apply follow-up flags & slot it in the correct folder. The sooner your email gets out of my general inbox and into a "release month" folder, the sooner it'll get listened to.
You don't want your email languishing in my inbox.
You don't want your email languishing in my inbox.
I know the temptation is to have a cute subject line with some sort of hook, something that makes it stand out from the other emails.
Look, I'm gonna get to your email in the order received.
The only hook I need is your music.
We'll circle back to your story (or hook) later.
Look, I'm gonna get to your email in the order received.
The only hook I need is your music.
We'll circle back to your story (or hook) later.
#2
Provide a link to immediately stream the music.
A private soundcloud page, a private page on your site, one of these music distribution services like Discos or Promo Jukebox. Something where I can give it a quick listen to be sure I want to move forward with it.
Provide a link to immediately stream the music.
A private soundcloud page, a private page on your site, one of these music distribution services like Discos or Promo Jukebox. Something where I can give it a quick listen to be sure I want to move forward with it.
And don't get hung up on the method. Access is the key takeaway here.
If your album is on Bandcamp, and it can be streamed in its entirety, that's good enough for me.
I don't do Spotify, so that's no good. Other writers may prefer that.
Just make it easy to quickly peruse.
If your album is on Bandcamp, and it can be streamed in its entirety, that's good enough for me.
I don't do Spotify, so that's no good. Other writers may prefer that.
Just make it easy to quickly peruse.
#3.
Provide a link so the writer can immediately download your music.
These FTP sites are great. I like WeTransfer, but they're all fine.
KEY: Be sure the link bypasses a requirement to log onto an account. There's a send setting for that. (You'll know it when you see it).
Provide a link so the writer can immediately download your music.
These FTP sites are great. I like WeTransfer, but they're all fine.
KEY: Be sure the link bypasses a requirement to log onto an account. There's a send setting for that. (You'll know it when you see it).
Provide an option for MP3 or WAV files.
Some writers are fighting for hard drive space. They don't always want those space-eating files.
Don't send a file format that requires a special file converter app.
I really like a Bandcamp DL code- I can choose my file type with those.
Some writers are fighting for hard drive space. They don't always want those space-eating files.
Don't send a file format that requires a special file converter app.
I really like a Bandcamp DL code- I can choose my file type with those.
#4
Provide some basic one-sheet info. You can make a PDF one-sheet, or not. Whatever.
But I want to know:
-Album personnel
-Recording dates (or months)
-Instrumentation
-Release date
If you want to include background info, go for it. If you've got a fun story to relate, go for it
Provide some basic one-sheet info. You can make a PDF one-sheet, or not. Whatever.
But I want to know:
-Album personnel
-Recording dates (or months)
-Instrumentation
-Release date
If you want to include background info, go for it. If you've got a fun story to relate, go for it
About stories:
Look, it's never going to hurt for an album (or artist) to have an interesting backstory.
A good story might get a writer to pitch a publication, or want to write about it for their own site, or even just do some word-of-mouth.
Stories are good. I like them.
Look, it's never going to hurt for an album (or artist) to have an interesting backstory.
A good story might get a writer to pitch a publication, or want to write about it for their own site, or even just do some word-of-mouth.
Stories are good. I like them.
But some albums are simply a result of good musicians going into the studio to record some good music. That's how it is sometimes.
I say all this just to emphasize: You don't need to manufacture a backstory for your pitch. If you have one, great. If not, don't get hung up on it.
I say all this just to emphasize: You don't need to manufacture a backstory for your pitch. If you have one, great. If not, don't get hung up on it.
#5
Here's where a little research into who you're pitching pays dividends.
Me, personally? If you're retailing your album on Bandcamp, and that isn't noted in the first paragraph of your pitch, you have hashtag failed big time. #FAIL
Here's where a little research into who you're pitching pays dividends.
Me, personally? If you're retailing your album on Bandcamp, and that isn't noted in the first paragraph of your pitch, you have hashtag failed big time. #FAIL
I listen to music in the order received, sorted by release month.
But I also write for Bandcamp. I've got deadlines.
As such, I flag albums selling on BC. They jump the listening queue.
You want to be high up on my queue.
I've got limited slots. Once filled, that's that.
But I also write for Bandcamp. I've got deadlines.
As such, I flag albums selling on BC. They jump the listening queue.
You want to be high up on my queue.
I've got limited slots. Once filled, that's that.
Maybe a blog/writer/outlet likes to accompany writes-ups with quality band photos.
If your research reveals that's a thing, then it's a good idea to provide those photos with your email.
It's worth your time to scan a site for specific characteristics as you craft your pitch.
If your research reveals that's a thing, then it's a good idea to provide those photos with your email.
It's worth your time to scan a site for specific characteristics as you craft your pitch.
#6
Embed code.
Most blogs embed an album track along w/the write-up.
It's smart, and you want them to do it.
No matter how well I may write about your album, nothing makes the reader hit the purchase button than actually hearing your music.
I always embed a track with a write-up.
Embed code.
Most blogs embed an album track along w/the write-up.
It's smart, and you want them to do it.
No matter how well I may write about your album, nothing makes the reader hit the purchase button than actually hearing your music.
I always embed a track with a write-up.
You can either provide the code itself or just a link to where it can get pulled from.
If your album is on Bandcamp, I'll get it from there. If you've got an album track uploaded to Soundcloud, that's good, too.
If your album is on Bandcamp, I'll get it from there. If you've got an album track uploaded to Soundcloud, that's good, too.
In general, I don't recommend sending a Spotify link (or embed code). It requires the reader to have an account to listen. Doesn't do much good if they don't. Don't provide something that requires the reader/listener to log into something.
#7
"Optional, perhaps" is, I dunno, all the stuff I'm not remembering at the moment. Perhaps it would be better to call this "it can't hurt to send it."
A link to a cool video?
A professional EPK?
If there's something nifty you can share that doesn't fit in the above categories.
"Optional, perhaps" is, I dunno, all the stuff I'm not remembering at the moment. Perhaps it would be better to call this "it can't hurt to send it."
A link to a cool video?
A professional EPK?
If there's something nifty you can share that doesn't fit in the above categories.
Alright, I think that's it.
That might've seemed like a lot, but trust me, it's all totally simple, and you can pull it together no problem. No reason to get overwhelmed.
And it's worth it.
Because once you have that template, it's easy to carry forward.
That might've seemed like a lot, but trust me, it's all totally simple, and you can pull it together no problem. No reason to get overwhelmed.
And it's worth it.
Because once you have that template, it's easy to carry forward.
And by making that pitch a no-hassle email, you'll be showing the writer you respect their time. And if you're sending an unsolicited email, that's a pretty flattering impression to make of yourself.
Cheers.
Cheers.
