For independent artists, submitting music to the right people is a crucial step in promoting your project and boosting your visibility in the music industry. How do you know who to submit music to and at what stage in your music career? In the digital age, it has become easier for new artists to get in touch with industry professionals and get noticed (thanks social media). If you want to build your professional entourage and get their music heard by record labels, music managers, tour bookers, and more, we’ve got some tips for you. Maybe you’re just looking to promote your project and gain visibility? You can submit music to radio stations, Spotify playlists, music blogs and more for press coverage. Whether you’re an aspiring musician or a seasoned indie artist, here are some tips on how to submit your music to the right people effectively and what it can do for your career.
1. Submit Music to Radio Stations
If you’re looking to gain exposure, credibility as an artist, and a wider audience reach, then you should submit music to radio stations. Radio continues to be a popular medium around the world and a source of music discovery for a lot of music lovers. Often, radio stations also have strong connections with other music industry professionals such as record labels, promoters, and booking agents. If your song gets programmed on a popular radio station, it could lead to potential live opportunities or even record deals. There is also a strong credibility and validation factor that happens when an indie artist gets their track broadcasted on the radio. It shows that industry professionals believe in your project and want to share your work with a wider audience. Not to mention that getting your music on radio stations also generates royalties! You can boost your revenues by getting radio play and in turn, boost your streams on music streaming platforms. If new fans decide to listen to your music outside of the radio, it’s a win-win! Make sure to filter by genre or location to target the right radio stations and submit your music to them here.
2. Submit your Songs to A&R and Record Labels
You should submit music to A&R (Artists and Repertoire) and record labels if you’re looking to further develop your project, sign a distribution or record deal, and take your music career to the next level. Being associated with a record label can open a lot of doors for indie artists. Not only can they provide financial support to help you record and produce your new album, they can also offer you a boost in visibility. By signing with a label, you enter into their established network of industry professionals that can help with your artist development. A record label can provide resources to connect you with other players in the music business, such as booking agents or managers. They will also often be in charge of distributing and selling your music, either just through digital distribution or with physical copies as well. Out of the record labels out there, there are small indie labels, major record labels, and major label subsidiaries. The best label for you will depend on your project and the stage you are at in your career. To learn about the different types of recording labels that exist and how to submit your music to them, check out our article devoted to the topic here.
3. Submit Music to Spotify Playlists
Maybe your goal is to boost your engagement on music streaming services such as Spotify. The best way to do this is by submitting your music to Spotify playlists! Not only will you grow your fanbase but you will also be able to make money from your streams. Spotify playlists are a major source of music discovery on the platform and can give the independent musician a huge boost in visibility. If your song lands on a playlist with a lot of listeners, you could see your streams skyrocket in a matter of days. The Spotify algorithm will notice and then be able to push your track to audiences who listen to similar artists. Talk about great publicity! There are three different types of Spotify playlists: algorithmic playlists, user-generated playlists, and editorial playlists that are curated by the Spotify team. Discover everything you need to know about Spotify playlists here and submit your music to the right ones on Groover!
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4. Submit your Tracks and Music Videos to Blogs
If you want to get media coverage and build your press kit, you should submit music to blogs, music review sites, and any other music media that can get your name out there. This is for artists who are in the promotion phase of their project and have released tracks they want to share. Similar to getting your music played on the radio, getting your music featured on blogs can help your credibility as an artist. You can grow your fanbase by being exposed to new and niche audiences and build your SEO and online presence at the same time! The more content there is about your music on the Internet, the better chances you’ll have of sticking out among the millions of songs out there. Often music blogs will have social media accounts where they can share your project as well as Spotify playlists with their weekly discoveries. If you’ve just dropped your new single, submit music to blogs here.
5. Submit Music to Tour Bookers
You can get opportunities to play live shows in different ways, but the best way to do so is by getting in touch with tour bookers. Tour bookers and concert promoters organize shows for both unsigned artists and established artists. Often the best ways to get your music out there is by playing live! If you have a live set that works well and a bit of on stage experience, try contacting local tour bookers in your area. Make sure you contact ones that are specialized in your genre. It wouldn’t make much sense to contact the most popular tour booker if they only program pop and rock artists and you play heavy metal. At the end of the day, the tour booker has to be able to properly sell your music and show to the right venues. Lots of emerging artists start out by being booked as the opening act for a more established band in their genre. Submit music to tour bookers and take your show on the road here.
6. Submit Music to Music Managers
Maybe you’re in a situation where you’re not sure who you need in your professional entourage. Perhaps you’re having a hard time getting in touch with the right labels or tour bookers because the project is still quite new and you’re self-produced. Finding a music manager who will be able to connect you with other industry professionals is a great start! They will be able to use their business expertise to negotiate for you when it comes to signing contracts or give you strategic guidance. On the other hand, if you’re an artist with lots of opportunities that come your way and you don’t know how to manage them, a music manager is someone you need on your team. They can help you with time and resource management so you can focus on writing and playing music. Overall, a music manager is there to support your career development with both short term and long term goals. If you need someone to help structure your project, submit music to music managers here.
7. Submit Music to Publishers
It can quickly become complicated to understand the ins and outs of music publishing. Publishers play a crucial role in collecting and administering royalties on behalf of songwriters and composers. They also have a developed network of professional songwriters and producers and can put their artists in touch with each other for collaborations. They can provide administration and legal support when it comes to copyright registration, music licensing, and making sure you receive proper compensation for your work. Most of all, they specialize in synchronization and placement opportunities to get your music into media contexts such as film, TV, commercials, video games, and more. For singer–songwriters, composers, or producers who are looking to build their professional network, submit music to publishers here.
8. Submit your Songs to Sync Supervisors
As publishers can help artists get their music into movies and TV, so can sync supervisors! In fact, sync supervisors main job is to place music into visual media, and this can be very lucrative for artists. Sync placements are financially interesting for independent artists, helping them boost their revenues as well as their exposure and discoverability. When your music is featured in a popular TV show, movie, or advertisement, it can reach a large audience and grow your fanbase worldwide. Usually sync supervisors work directly with publishers or pick music from catalogues to pitch for sync licenses. So unless you’re Beyonce, it can be hard to have your indie track picked up for a sync placement if you’re not on the radar of the right people! Submit music to sync supervisors directly here and grow your career internationally.
9. Submit Music to Online Channels
Submitting music to online channels could be anything from YouTube channels to social media. These platforms have a vast global reach and can help you reach audiences worldwide. You can share your music with new audiences and most importantly, communicate with them in real time. Online channels give you this direct connection with your fans that can help artists build a loyal following. Nowadays, it’s super important for artists to build an online presence and strengthen their image as a brand. Being featured on a popular YouTube channel can lead to potential collaboration opportunities or partnerships that can expand your reach. For artists who are looking to grow their fanbase online and work on their storytelling, submit your music to online channels here.
10. Submit your Songs to Social Media Influencers
Lastly, for artists who are looking to build exposure and a following through social media, the best way to do so is by submitting music to social media influencers. We’ve all seen that artist who has blown up because their song went viral on TikTok. You immediately can gain exposure to large audiences, all while building credibility and a sort of social validation as an artist. Lots of times, major record companies or producers can seek out the next best talent by seeing what works well on social media. Submit music to social media influencers here if you want the new generation of music consumers to listen to your track!
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