How to Promote Music in Magazines

Savvy musicians know it's important to generate buzz about their music in the media. But you don't have to hire a pricey public relations firm to promote your music. With a few basic techniques, you can generate print placements just like the PR pros.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Determine the genre your music can be categorized under, then develop a list of magazine publications catering to fans who appreciate this type of music. Targeting the magazines you most want to be featured in helps eliminate busy work.
2. Research contact information, including phone numbers and physical and email addresses, for each of the publications. You can obtain this information by visiting the websites of the publications, reading the magazine or utilizing an editorial research service such as Cision, although these services can be rather expensive.
3. Select one to two editorial contacts, choosing a music reviews editor and a features editor if possible, for each of the magazines. You don't want to mass mail everyone at the publication, but you should promote to more than one editor just to be safe.
4. Create a physical and electronic press kit that contains a biography, dates of recent and upcoming shows, high-resolution photographs, contact information and music clips. Mail a copy of the physical press kit to the magazine editors you've identified, along with a note that you're available for interviews.
5. Promote your upcoming shows and music releases by emailing your targeted magazine list on a regular basis, around once a month. As time allows, send brief, but personalized emails to each of the editors. In the email, invite the editor to a show, bring up musicians you know they may like or mention a recent story you enjoyed.
6. Place an advertisement in the magazine. You should never ask an editor to be featured in the magazine because you placed an ad, but your advertising account representative at the publication may be able to "drop in" a good word for you at a staff meeting.
7. Cultivate your relationship with the magazines by following up on your emails and mailings with a phone call. Understand the editor may be busy with deadlines, but your call may spark interest. Any good PR pro will tell you promoting music involves relationship-building with the press.