5 Important Rules When Submitting Your Music to Blogs

A feature on a popular music blog can give a new track exactly the boost you need. Whether you're applying to a big, well-known site or a small indie blog from your scene: the first impression decides whether your track gets listened to at all.

For almost every genre and style, there are fitting blogs with a loyal readership that is looking for exactly the kind of new music you make. The only question is: How do you get your track to land there?

The unwritten basic rule first

Before we get to tactics: Your music has to be good – or at least interesting, distinctive and with a clear recognition value. Without that foundation, even the best pitching strategy won't help much. But once that's covered, the presentation often decides whether your track gets a chance. Here are five rules that really help.

1. Choose blogs that fit your music

Only submit your track to blogs that regularly feature music from your genre or with a similar sound. That sounds obvious, but it's often ignored. Invest time in research and only write to blogs where there's a realistic chance of getting featured.

Mass emails to hundreds of blogs rarely bring the result you want. On the contrary: You often annoy editors who would have liked your track if you had placed it in a more targeted way.

2. Stick to the submission guidelines

Most music blogs publish clear requirements for what a submission should look like – usually right on their own submission page. If you ignore these guidelines, you risk your track ending up unheard in the trash. Read the requirements carefully and follow them exactly.

3. Find the right contact person

Some blogs have a fixed submission form, while with others you have to find out yourself who is responsible for music feature requests. Take the time to identify the right contact person instead of sending a generic email to a general address. A personal greeting instead of an impersonal "Dear Sir or Madam" shows that you've really engaged with the blog.

4. Pay attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation

Many music bloggers work editorially and write professionally – they'll notice mistakes in your email right away. That doesn't automatically lead to a rejection, but it looks unprofessional and can make the difference. Have a second person proofread your message before you send it.

5. Make it as easy as possible for the blogger

Include clear, working links to your music and your social media profiles – whether YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify or a combination of them. Don't send large files or ask for downloads. A simple link is completely enough. Be sure to check beforehand that all links actually work.

Also add a short bio about yourself and your music. Keep it concise, but informative enough to spark interest. A long block of text is more likely to put off busy editors than to convince them.

Conclusion

With these five rules, you significantly increase your chances of having your track featured on a music blog. It's not about tricks, but about respect for the editorial team's work – and that's exactly what opens doors.

Do you have your own experiences submitting your music to blogs? Feel free to share them with the OneCrewRecords community.