As a musician, after writing, recording and fine tuning your music, the worst thing that you could do is make a bad impression by a poorly constructed submission.
Firstly, check if the company accepts unsolicited material, if they do then you’re in the clear. If not, respect their decision and don’t contact them.
Next, check if they have a submission form. They may delete your email and not listen to your music if they have clearly requested that artists use their form.
Format
Unless a company has requested otherwise, always submit a link, not a file. Files take up storage space in their inbox and it’s the quickest way to annoy someone and get your songs deleted. If a company has requested a digital submission, then stick to this and don’t send CD’s.
Quality recordings
Your songs need to be professionally mixed and mastered. If the recording quality is poor, you’re not making a good first impression. A Publisher/Label needs a radio ready recording so they can pitch/release your music straight away. If you wouldn’t expect to hear your recording on your favourite film or radio station, then it isn’t ready. If you have a collection of great songs, it’s not necessary to submit them all. Submit a few of the best examples that will catch the listeners attention.
Artwork
Take the time to create professional artwork, make a good impression at first glance, and ensure that it is submitted as a high resolution image. Don’t ruin your precious music with a poor quality image. With the high quality software available, you could easily find a talented friend that could create something sharp and polished. If not, be patient, save up some money and pay a professional.
Bio
Give a short and concise explanation of yourself as an artist/band like an elevator pitch, no more than one paragraph. Whilst this should be brief, make sure that you are selling your music in a positive way, including the most relevant information and the grammar is perfect. Highlight what makes you stand out e.g. gigs at reputable venues, songs that have received radioplay or been placed in a T.V. advert.
Try to make it personal, don’t send a generic email and do some research on the company beforehand and explain why you are suitable. If your sound is similar to one of their artists but with your own unique twist, mention it.
Finally, never lie. If you claim to be an award winning writer and you only have one song recorded through a camera phone, this will not go down well and your music will be deleted. It only takes a few moments research to uncover a lie and the company probably won’t respond to any further emails from you. So don’t do it.
Be patient
I can’t stress enough how important it is to be patient. Only submit your work when it is completely ready and to a very high quality. Otherwise, companies will remember who you are and will be less likely to listen to your submissions in the future. Any further questions don’t hesitate to contact us, or join the discussion in the comments section below.