Just like every other industry, press releases are widely used in the music industry as well. Getting your music noticed by niche journalists, reporters, markets and industry experts can help you achieve popularity quickly and that task can be done with the help of PRs. Whether you are an independent solo artist or lead member of a band; the press release works for all kinds of artists regardless of their musical style and genre. A PR can help to gain maximum exposure from the competitive market which is essential for every music artist to grow and create a strong presence.
You might be already wondering how to write new music launch press release so that you can create a PR campaign for your next musical release. Music PR is not very different from regular or traditional PR when seen from the technical and fundamental aspects of it. However, there are some differences which make them highly effective for the music artists. If you have not written or distributed any music PR yet, it is time for you to explore every minute detail of it.
What is a Music Press Release?
A music press release is an official document that offers newsworthy information about new music, artists, and other aspects of the industry to promote them in the media. It follows the integral structure of the PR along with an increased focus on music. Whether you are looking forward to dropping a new album or a single; a good press can be published for every occasion that counts growth and progress. The music PR is often comprised of an electronic press kit (EPK) along with other information and links that can help to showcase your work to experts as well as listeners and fans.
Why Should You Write a Music Press Release?
Music press release works pretty effectively than most other marketing techniques and it also costs less than traditional advertising methods. With the right press release strategy, you can easily gain more credibility, exposure and popularity in the music industry that stays with a long-lasting impact. There are a handful of benefits a music PR and here are the top 5 of them.
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Create Anticipation and Buzz
The promotional approaches for a music project start way before it is scheduled to be released. Starting early with a PR approach helps to create a buzz among fans and music lovers. It stays till the release of the song and even after it. The first step is creating excitement among the listeners about the music project that is scheduled to be released soon. The press release is the perfect element to make an announcement about your music.
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Improved Networking with Industry Professionals
The press release is an authentic and official document that is accepted by professionals like journalists and reporters who can publish the story further. Such newsworthy stories have a higher chance of catering to the attention of industry experts and other professionals. Even bloggers and influencers can find you through your PR. Therefore, music PR can offer better networking opportunities for all kinds of artists.
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Showcasing Your Expertise
The modern digital landscape has turned the music industry very competitive if you want to survive through it, you need to showcase your expertise and professionalism. A PR can be an excellent medium to do that which helps to demonstrate your craft among the potential users. It can help to establish your brand presence in the competitive market.
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Advantages of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Press releases are comprised of SEO-friendly keywords which help to improve visibility and online presence on the web as well as search engine results pages (SERP). It helps to spread more digital footprint which creates a strong digital presence and help users find your music quickly over internet through the search engine browsers.
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Fairly Inexpensive than Other Methods
The press release writing and distribution is fairly reasonable methods that costs much less than the other content marketing method. It costs less that advertising and video marketing yet offers maximum media exposure through a written content and a distribution network. You can also find more reductions with bulk orders.
As you can see, there are many reasons to write a music press release and if you have not done it yet; it is time for your learn how to craft one. While you can easily hire a professional PR writer or an agency for the task; learning to write it on your own can help you save the cost for writing and embark on a fruitful press release campaign with DIY approaches.
How to Write a Music Press Release?
Writing a press release for music is not very different than crafting a regular PR for a business. You have to focus on the tone, angle, structure, and format of the PR along with EPK files to craft an effective Music PR. Let’s take a better look at it.
Format and Structure of the Press Release
The format and structure of the press release remain almost the same in every case as the document is made of the same elements. The only thing that can be creative about is the topic and angle of the story. A well-structured music press release includes,
- Headline - The headline is the first thing that everyone notices in a press release and it has to be catchy. Make sure to craft a compelling, attractive yet informative and concise title that is easy to read and can easily grab the attention of everyone.
- Introduction - The music PR starts with an introductory paragraph that introduces users with the artist. This intro paragraph must include the name of the artist, their musical genre, and the notable achievements if there any.
- Body - After offering the hook to the readers, it is time to share the real story through the body of the content. This shares the story and more information about the artist and their musical creations. This section can be also utilized to highlight USP or unique selling points of the artists.
- Call-to-action - The summery paragraph at the end should conclude with a clear call-to-action that invites users to perform some kind of activity such as visiting the website, registering for newsletter and many others.
- Contact Information - Last but not least, you should definitely provide your contact information including your email, social media profiles, and phone number to let curious users contact and interact with you. It also helps to improve the fan base.
Creation of Electronic Press Kit (EPK)
An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is not only important but mandatory to survive in this competitive digital age. It is a digital package that can offer an artist’s music, bio, promotional materials, images, and other stuff that describes the artist and their work. The EPK is usually sent to industry professionals such as investors, record labels, promoters, and media outlets. A well-crafted EPK can help to get noticed faster and create more working opportunities with potential booking agents, collaborators, media, and press. A good press kit can help to stand out in the competitive market and offers rapid advancement to your music career. An EPK mainly consists of the following elements,
- Artists Bio
- Images and Videos
- High-quality Music
- Info from Press Coverage
- Contact Information
Optimizing Press Releases for Music Streaming Platforms
Online music streaming platforms are the most important in the modern era for both, the artists and the listeners. That is why it is important to optimize your music for streaming platforms before sending it out through the distribution network. Here are some tips for optimizing your PR content,
- Utilize Relevant Keywords - When you use relevant keywords based on your musical style and genre, it can actually help to rank better on the web as well as the streaming platforms with billions of other music content.
- Add Music Streaming Links - Make sure to include links to your profile on the popular and major music streaming platforms such as Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music, etc to name some. You can also directly embed the links in your PR.
- Catchy Artwork for Covers - Visually elements are best known for creating lasting impressions and that is why you need focus on your cover art and graphics to gain even more benefits from the users.
- Showcase Your Musical Style - You can highlight your music style through the PR to offer a clearly defined music identity of yours.
- Keep it Brief and Easy to Read - Make sure the PR is not more than 300 to 350 words as that is optimal number of words in a content that is easy to read and helps to share the story with the common mass people.
Final Thoughts
As an emerging music artist, it is highly recommended embark on your PR and promotional approaches early to make your way through. However, if it gets too overwhelming; you can always hire a professional agency for convenience and guidance on your journey.
