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Make your press release stand out
Music journalists can get hundreds of emails each day all from people with a music press release attached. There is no way they could possibly go through all of them so your email needs to stand out from the crowd to have a chance of gaining their interest.
Tips for a music press release
Here are a few ways to go about this:
- Take the time to call up the publication/radio station to speak to the person you will be contacting. Get their name and check all details you have are correct, if not send the music press release again. This simple phone call will allow you to introduce yourself and maybe leave an impression. This way, they remember you when your email gets to them.
- After you send the music press release, drop them a call to check they received it. Don’t do this right away, but if you don’t hear anything for a few days it may jog the journalist’s memory to go back to it! Try and get a straight answer from them in regards to knowing if they will use your press release. Be careful to get the balance right between being keen and hassling them. They can be persuaded just like any human, but they can also get irritated.
- Always address the person you are contacting properly and professionally. Phrases such as ‘Hey there mate’ should be avoided. ‘Hi there Paul’ would be much better and more personal. This should keep them reading after they see their name on your music press release.
- Making contacts and networking is vital in the music industry. Any people you send press releases to should be invited to attend your gigs or EP launches. This will help in future when sending your music press release. They even mention you to their contacts and spread the word!
The portfolio
- Keep newspaper clippings and radio interview recordings! They can be incorporated into your future music press release.
- Make the most of the opportunity post on your social media, before and after where applicable.
- Post links to any press you have done on your social networking sites. Ask your contacts to share it on Facebook or retweet it on Twitter.
- Getting retweets or shares of links to your press articles will help get your name here, there and everywhere. This way the next time you gig, people in that area are more likely to have heard of you!
- Keep the portfolio current! Once you start getting regular press coverage, filter out the older ones with the newer articles. Not only will this be more up-to-date with what you are doing (a press article for last year’s EP release when you have a new one on the horizon is an example of something that can be replaced) but you will get more experienced at giving any interviews once you get more under your belt, making for a better article!
- Always send an email follow up thanking them for the article and/or radio interview; always include an invite to your next gig!
Putting together and writing a press release
You need something to back up your words explaining your story for your newspaper article, that’s where writing a press release, comes in. Writing a press release needs to be carefully thought out so it is written in a way to grab people’s attention and make them take notice of you.
The basics
Here’s what writing a press release should consist of:
The first impression
Your first paragraph and title need to catch the readers’ attention. Get to the point and state your reason for getting in touch when writing a press release. The press will receive many more press releases like yours every day. Don’t wait until the end to say ‘Joe Bloggs is supporting Lady Gaga later in the year’. That needs to be at the top otherwise the reader may miss that point, as it’s unlikely they will have time to read every line your press release contains.
Here’s something to NOT consider when writing a press release: ‘Joe Bloggs has a new EP and will launch it at The Dog and Duck next week’. Try to grab the reader’s’ imagination; perhaps a better way to word it would be: ‘Norwich’s hottest talent for years, being likened to the British Justin Timberlake, Joe Bloggs is gearing up for the launch of his new EP at what is set to be one of the events of the summer at The Duck and Dog next week!’
What content should a press release include
If you have had a good selection of activity recently, including any details of it when writing a press release.
A brief bio, that is engaging and interesting, informative but perhaps including something throwaway that will tickle the reader like ‘did you know Joe Bloggs can juggle 6 eggs in 1 hand?’
Throw in some quotes when writing a press release. If people have been saying you’re a great singer, put it in there to back up your belief in yourself.
A recent photo you’ve had done, most ideally the same picture used on all your social media and advertising material.
Contact details: phone number, email address and social media web links. Make sure all contact details are on the last part of the press release and they are clearly labelled as such to the journalist. You don’t want them to put all your contact details over the Internet by accident.
The music press release can help you to become more well-known. Of course, once they have supported you once, nurture the relationship by keeping them up to date with your bigger events and outings. As long as you keep it sparing and concise there should be no reason for them to not keep reporting or interviewing you… just do it as with everything in the right manner.