Music PR Master Class – 5 Ways to Manage Your Own Music Publicity
And How A Music PR Firm Can Help You
Ready to let your music fly and take your music to the next level? Then Music PR is the next step in progressing your music career.
What is Music Pr?
Music PR – or public relations – is a form of promotion for an artist’s music, tours, merchandise or the brand in general which generates media (and ultimately public) attention. Making sure an artist or brand is getting maximum exposure on social media and the press (digital or otherwise) is the core aim of Music PR.
Whether you are an established artist promoting an upcoming tour, or an emerging artist creating a buzz about your first album – the aim of the Music PR game is to get exposure for that music through streams, press releases, radio airplay, interviews, music publication reviews, music news channels and blogs – basically anything that will help spread the word and get people hyped about your sound!
Music PR takes dedicated time, planning and resources to do well – that’s why most artists use a PR company to take the load and keep everything on track. But, that’s not to say there aren’t ways to get involved in supporting your own public relations for your brand.
5 Ways to Manage Your Own Publicity
While a paid PR campaign can provide the best industry access and connections, you can still be proactive about building the hype about your brand. As long as you plan ahead and follow these steps – there is no reason why you can’t carry out your own successful starter campaign to get the wheels in motion for when you DO use a PR firm!
1. Planning
Planning is literally the most vital step in creating a PR strategy. Grab yourself a notebook (or better still, start a database) and start filling it with all the information you will need to reference. If everything is in one place before you start, you will find things easier down the line (especially your contacts – see below). Next plan out a timeline of how long your publicity campaign is going to run, and flesh out all of the following steps so you know exactly what you are doing, and when.
2. Get an EPK – Electronic Press Kit
An EPK is a vital tool for an artist – it is essentially a musician’s CV. It includes your biography, professional pictures, discography, accolades and more – which need to show you in the best possible light. While it is possible to create one on your own – the result may not be the best and it is not the first impression you want to make when you reach out and network in the industry if you want to be taken seriously.
If you are going to spend a little money on anything while doing your own publicity – then spend it on a reasonable EPK. They don’t have to cost the earth, so definitely shop around for graphic designers/web developers/designers.
3. Networking
Building your network is vital to publicity. Use your notebook to store every important contact, phone number, social account, important email address and the person you need to address – for everything from music blogs and publications to record labels and festival promoters. Make sure you have a professional email address to contact people from – “snookypoobearheart1990***” is not going to cut it in the music industry if you want to be taken seriously. Remember – you will need to build a rapport and relationship with them, so approach them in the right way. Be friendly and polite, but still be yourself as that’s what you are selling – YOU!!! Being cocky won’t win you any friends – no one likes a diva – and as you progress, your network will be a vital tool in your PR. Keep your subject lines quirky and eye-catching so you don’t get lost in the crowd.
4. Social Media
Before you start trying to plug your latest song/album/release or more – you need to make sure that your brand is ready for this new attention! It’s not good shouting from the rooftops about your great new track, when people follow links back to a poor, unmaintained or non-existent social media account – what will that say about you and your brand?!
Instead, make sure you have a professional account on at least the 3 major platforms – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – with a well-thought-out page/username and correct links to your other networks. Even if you have to start from scratch – if it only has a handful of posts, as long as they are professional, engaging, well-thought-out and have the appropriate links to your music platforms, then you will be ready to build on a strong foundation to progress your artist socials and give the right impression. Don’t overpost – just post regularly and don’t let the tumbleweeds set in.
5. Music Platforms
Once you have a good foundation on which to promote – you should start adding your music to popular streaming platforms. Again, you will need to create a solid profile, but with platforms like Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists, you can do this relatively painlessly, especially now you are a dab hand at setting up socials.
With platforms like these, you can add bios, professional photos, album/single artwork, as well as all of your best tracks. These can be pitched to playlists, music curators, blogs and more – although remember there is a lot of competition for this, so be prepared that this won’t happen overnight and will take plenty of hard work to do alone. Get artwork professionally done whenever possible, they don’t have to cost the earth for digital images. Or if you are a dab hand at design, Photoshop or Canva can get the job done.
Music PR Firms – All The Help You Need
Music PR firms are specialists in marketing, networking, and promoting your music. Top music PR companies work with clients to create detailed, long-term strategies for building their audience. They utilise their extensive list of industry connections and established presence to help grow an artist’s influence, and get their music played worldwide. Indie music PR companies provide alternative music PR.
Why Do You Need Music PR?
These days, an independent artists‘s job is never done. Not only do you need to write and record your music, but you also need to become a businessperson and music publicist! Building your brand on social media, creating an electronic press kit, networking, and creating music marketing campaigns are all integral to PR marketing music – and the work doesn’t stop on release day. Independent music PR takes time and dedication and many artists find music industry PR firms can pick up some of the slack.
Of course, if you are an emerging artist then it’s probably not worth throwing a healthy campaign spend on publicity just yet – but you can follow the advice above and at least get started on your own. But, if you are amassing hundreds of thousands of streams per month, are progressing in the industry quickly or are moving towards touring or working the festival circuit – then Music PR is exactly the vehicle to drive you forward.
The best music PR companies are on hand to build your music promo strategy for you, helping you with your music PR campaigns so you can focus on the part you love – making music! Music PR firms use their years of experience and extensive networks to get your music in prime positions on digital platforms, radios and publications. This will help attract the global reach that your music deserves.
What Can A Music PR Company Do For Me?
With our extensive music promotion services coupled with decades’ worth of industry connections and experience delivering thousands of playlist streams every week, Music Gateway is established as a trusted Music PR agency. We’re on hand to get your music into the hands of major digital platforms, curators and radio stations around the world.
Music Press Coverage
It’s super important to get great press coverage in order to grow your fanbase. While it’s great to reach out to music blogs and publications yourself, here at Music Gateway our PR team can utilise our large network of press contacts, with press releases to get your music featured by the right people.
Spotify Promotion
Here at Music Gateway, our PR for music artists uses a specialised promotions team that will work with you to get your music played on the biggest streaming services – including Spotify playlists, Apple Music, Deezer, and more.
Our approach to Spotify promotion is 100% organic and tailored specifically to you. This means that we will optimise your ability to generate music streams and pitch your music to targeted playlist curators. Not only is this the most effective technique for upping your stream numbers, but also increases your chances of success for your future releases!
Radio Promotion
Our team of radio pluggers will work hard to get your music radio plays – not only nationally, but on stations across the whole world. Like all of our services, we tailor this specifically to your needs, brand, and genre – among many other factors too.
Artist Development & Branding
Artist development and branding can be one of the hardest things to pinpoint as an artist – but it’s also one of the most vital considerations for PR companies for music artists.
Our PR music promotion team has over 30 years of experience in the industry and will connect you with leading producers and creatives to help you identify, build, and promote your brand and image. We all know that first impressions are important – and we can help you optimise yours!
How Do I Get Music PR?
As one of the most trusted music PR companies London has to offer, with a global reach and impressive industry network, Music Gateway prides itself on offering the finest music PR for independent artists who can help you through the process, from pre-save to release day.
If you’d like to discuss your requirements, we’re happy to chat with you. We always want to ensure that we deliver excellent results in the most transparent way possible, so if there’s anything you’d like to discuss, please drop us a line.
How Much Does Music PR Cost?
Where other companies – whether they be pop, hip-hop, rock, or indie music PR firms (any genre, really) – often charge in the hundreds, sometimes thousands for a 4-8 week campaign, we believe starting at a far more reasonable price for both newcomers and established artists. Speak with one of the team to get started!
How Much Does It Cost To Make a Song Go Viral?
How long is a piece of string? Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this often-asked question – though music PR companies have been known to invest tens of thousands of dollars into music PR stunts for their favourite clients.
This is why Music Gateway offers you well-tailored, bespoke music PR services that don’t eat up your wallet. We passionately believe in helping all artists, no matter their background and strive to offer the best PR for music at an affordable price!
Our Final Thoughts
With 30 years of experience in working with artists, our extensive network of industry professionals, and our reasonable pricing, we at Music Gateway pride ourselves on being one of the most trusted music PR companies in the music industry.
Our team is ever-ready to tailor a promotional campaign directly to you and your requirements. From music video press coverage, Spotify and radio promotion, to artist development & branding, we offer the best PR music campaigns to ensure that your music gets the recognition that it deserves!
Whether you are wondering how to do music PR for an artist, which are the best PR firms for music, or what are the best music PR services on offer – Music Gateway can help you get your music heard and your brand seen.