Music Submission Best Practices

A comprehensive guide to pitching your new music with music writers and curators in mind.

🎵What Artists Should Know

Key Insight: Many writers and curators receive hundreds of submissions weekly. Your goal is to make their job as easy as possible by providing everything they need in a clear, professional format.

Understanding the Challenge

For most artists, especially those in the early stages of their careers, the process of pitching to the press is often opaque and intimidating. You're passionate about your music but may lack specific knowledge of what journalists require.

The primary challenge is the scattered and inconsistent nature of current submission practices. Information is spread across emails, PDFs, and various online platforms, leading to inefficiency and a high cognitive load.

📰What Most Writers & Curators Need

Traditional Email Structure Best Practices

Subject Line

Compelling and specific. Include actual news value (tour announcement, collaboration, release date).

Opening (Optional Personal Touch)

Brief, genuine note showing awareness of their work. Short and sweet.

"I don't really care about submissions being professional, as long as they aren't entitled or rude. I care about them sounding genuine, personable, honest, and real."

The Pitch (Paragraph 1)

Main point, specifics, why it matters. Get to the point quickly.

"What is the top line that makes your music interesting? I often approach music in the same way I would traditional journalism: what is the most interesting thing about this? Use the inverted pyramid when writing any pitch (hook at the top, including who, what, when, where, why)."

Important Info (Paragraph 2)

Details about the release, why it's worth their time.

Artist Bio (Paragraph 3)

Brief overview of you (your music, history, influences, and style).

Endorsements (Paragraph 4, Optional)

Press quotes from other publications or direct artist quote.

Sign Off

Contact details, all links (website, socials, streaming, etc).

What You Need to Provide

The Music (Most Important)

A private, non-downloadable streaming link (e.g., private SoundCloud link, unlisted YouTube video). This is the most critical element—make it easy to access. Bandcamp download code is a bonus, but provide this off the bat, don't say it's "available upon request."

The Story

Multiple versions of your story for different contexts:

• Elevator Pitch: 1-2 sentences (the hook)
• Short Description: 1 paragraph (~150 words)
• Long Bio: 3+ paragraphs for in-depth features
• Artist Quote: Your perspective on the music

Visual Assets

High-resolution press photos in multiple orientations (landscape, portrait, square) and album artwork. Journalists should be able to use these as is.

Credibility Markers

Previous press coverage quotes, career highlights (festival appearances, notable performances), and streaming numbers if significant. Note: It's okay if you don't have this!

What Makes Them Say "Yes" Faster

Following Submission Guidelines

Artists who take time to understand their specific requirements

Relevant to Their Coverage

Clear reason why your work fits their publication

"Do your research about the music blog or publication before submitting. Get a feel for the type of coverage they provided."

Specific Coverage Request

Asking for a type of coverage they actually offer (eg, don't ask for an interview if they don't do interviews)

Personal Touch

Show genuine awareness of their work without being fake-friendly

"Personalize your pitches; it takes longer, and requires more research about individual journalists and their work, but it's far more likely to generate a response, or simply be read, than a generic mass mailout."

Compelling Subject Line

Actual news value, not clickbait or deception (eg, Green Day's rock opera American Idiot back on shelves, still relevant)

Critical Pain Points (What to Avoid)

Wrong Names or Generic Greetings

"Hey AdamsWorldBlog" or addressing by email address

Excessive Hyperbole

"You've never heard anything like this!" without substance

"Obviously a pitch needs to sell the artist/release a little bit, but overdoing it is going to turn off experienced journalists and curators."

Vague Descriptions

"Genre-defying" tells nothing useful

Deceptive Subject Lines

"RE:" on first contact or "want your opinion" repeatedly

Faux-Friend Emails

Pretending familiarity when you've never worked together

Robotic Blanket Intros

Formal, time-wasting language that doesn't get to the point

Assumptions About Posting

"Let us know when you post this"—journalists aren't robots

Fiending Follow-Ups

Wait weeks to follow up, not days, and keep your follow up respectful and not urgent

"Read submission instructions carefully, and please don't send follow-up emails! if you absolutely must, wait weeks, not days! For many music writers/curators, this isn't a full time job, so we're getting to all the submissions as quickly as we can, and sadly, that's often not quickly at all."

Email Attachments

Security risk—often deleted without opening

How CoverSheet Gives You Keys to Success

Clear Guidance

Understand what information is needed and why

Professional Output

Build credibility with industry-standard formatting

Easy to Update

Save and update your cover sheet as your career evolves

Flexibility

Works for different release types (single, EP, album)

Reduced Intimidation

Step-by-step guidance without overwhelming complexity

Ready to Pitch Your Music?

Our interactive tool guides you through creating a professional music submission with all the elements journalists need.