To maximise your musical potential, the need for publicity is paramount, giving the right information and targeting the right recipients is a thankless task, but, with some guidelines to follow, it can be a vehicle to enhance your reputation.
This article is here to help artists/bands make the correct choice in what information to send and to whom. Many musicians miss out on publicity due to the contradictory advice given on many self-promoting websites.
When finances are tight the need to decide who should receive full press-packs and demo CDs and who requires an up to the minute press-release of a news-worthy story is vitally important, the last thing a band wants is for their press-pack and CD being thrown in to the rubbish bin because its not newsworthy at that moment in time.
Following our extensive research, it is our opinion a well-written press-pack should be sent to venues, promoters and music journalists who have requested it. A press-pack can remain in the same format for many months, the only changes required being up to date gig listings and/or press cuttings of reviews etc. The basic press-pack should contain; Band History, Bio’s or photos of band members, contact details, latest good quality band photograph (optional) and a copy of a CD/EP if available. Always include a covering letter with your package explaining why you are sending it. Finally if you do send a CD always make sure that the bands contact details and playlist is located on the disc, you would be surprised how many bands send a CD-R with no details to us!
To gain maximum publicity for a CD launch, a new band member or the announcement of a tour, a Press Release needs to be written, and sent to media targets such as newspapers, magazines, e-wires and internet sites. A one page press-release announcing the latest news, will nearly always be read by journalists, however due to the need for instant news, a press-release only has a very short lifespan, what also requires consideration is that a busy music journalist, sadly does not have the time to read through a 2 or 3 page press-pack to try and find a piece of news which could be used, so your press-release has to be relevant and interesting, grab the journalist’s attention and they are sure to follow-up on your news.
We would always advise, if finances allowed, that you engage the services of a professional music journalist/company to write your press-pack/press-release as they fully understand the requirements the music journalist is looking to locate, and can give you the commercial edge needed to put you at the forefront of music media exposure.
