8 Common Mistakes Artists Make When Submitting Music
Bad Subject Headings – If you haven’t established a personal relationship with the recipient, a simple subject heading like “Music Submission” is usually enough to tell the receiver what the nature of the email is. Subject headings like “CHECK THIS OUT!!” or “NEW RELEASE” mean nothing to the recipient who doesn’t know who you are.
Social Media Stalking – Sending unrequested links over Twitter or aggressively posting to someone’s Facebook wall without permission will do more to leave a negative image of you than a positive one. Most recipients of this kind of promotion find it extremely annoying. Establish a relationship first before you try to force your music on others.
Not Following Directions – Most bloggers and internet radio stations, often have instructions posted on their sites with details explaining how they want music submitted to them. Most bloggers will say that over 50% of their submissions don’t get posted because they fail to follow the simple directions given to them. When these directions aren’t followed, the recipient usually won’t take time to listen to the music that has been submitted.
Sending Large Files – The artist sometimes sends large files to recipients who have not requested them(large zip files that contain an entire album). Most people will not take the time to download these files and go through the process of trying to pick a song among them to post or put into rotation. Make the submission process as easy as possible for the person on the other end. Choose your best single, a pic, and a link to your website or any additional source of information.
Bad Photos – Make sure the photo you send along with your music is one that displays that you are serious about your craft. If the pic looks crappy and was taken in your kitchen, you won’t get a post. Your first impressions are very important and there are a lot of other rappers out there competing for exposure. Don’t be overlooked because of small mistakes you can easily avoid.
Email Blasts – Putting your submission contacts on your email blast list decreases the chances that you’ll get posted. They just appear to be spam from the recipient’s point of view. Take time out to send your emails individually to your contacts and if possible, address them to a person. The more personal your email, the better your chances are of making a personal connection. Another terrible habit associated with sending email blasts is sending one that exposes the email addresses of all the recipients of your message. When sending one message to multiple contacts, use the bcc(blind carbon copy) function to hide all your other addresses from your recipients. Don’t be lazy and take the shortcut, you’ll save yourself in the long run.
Not Keeping In Touch – It takes some work to get noticed and to get someone to pay attention to your music, especially at no cost. When a blogger/internet radio station gives you a post or plays your music, immediately thank that person and reinforce that relationship because you don’t want to be forgotten by the time you need promotion for your next project. Keep track of those who take an interest in your music and keep the communication open.
Quality Of The Music – If your music is poorly mixed or you have a video that’s poorly executed, you won’t get fans, bloggers, or DJs, interested in your music. A bad mix can destroy a great song. If you don’t have the skills to do it yourself, hire an experienced engineer to mix and master your music for you.
