How to Submit Your Music to Blogs (and Actually Get a Reply)

Most submissions get no answer

Blogs receive far more music than they can cover. On SubmitHub, approval rates are reported below 5%, so a hundred paid submissions buys about ninety-five rejections. A cold email to an editor does worse, because nobody is paid to read it.

Getting covered comes down to sending fewer, better pitches at the right time, and knowing when a pitch is the wrong tool for the job.

Get these ready before you send anything

• A streaming link that plays without a login, or a private SoundCloud link before release
• One high resolution photo, landscape, at least 1200 x 800 pixels
• A bio of three sentences with one real credential: a placement, a chart position, a notable feature or a sync
• The release date and your distributor
• Your Instagram, TikTok and YouTube links

Send it three to four weeks before release day

Earlier than that and there is nothing for the editor to hear. Later and their calendar is already full. If you are also pitching Spotify editorial through Spotify for Artists, the hard minimum is 7 days before release and Spotify recommends 4 to 6 weeks, so lock the date first.

Friday is the default release day and the most crowded one. Tuesday is close behind for streaming activity with far less competition. Our music release plan works backward from your date and shows which deadlines you have already missed.

Write a pitch under 200 words

Twenty to forty targeted outlets beat a hundred generic sends. The most common reason a good record gets no coverage is a long, unfocused email sent to everyone.

• Subject line with your artist name, the song title and the release date
• First line says why this outlet, in one sentence
• One sentence on the record and one credential
• One streaming link, then your socials under your name

What submitting costs per result

SubmitHub runs roughly $1 to $4 per submission. Groover runs roughly 2 to 3 euros and guarantees feedback, not coverage. Playlist Push campaigns commonly start around $250 and run past $500. Per submission those look cheap. Per published article they rarely are.

A guaranteed placement costs more up front and less per result. On AllHipHop a spot in a Get Featured artist list is $80, and a permanent Music Section article is $100, live in 24 to 48 hours. The full math is on our pay-per-pitch comparison.

Use one placement as the credential for the rest

A published article on a 20 plus year publication is the credential that makes your next pitch work. Book it 30 to 45 days before release so it is live before release day, then put the link in the second line of every email you send.

FAQ

Do music blogs accept free submissions?

Some do, through contact forms or platforms like SubmitHub. Free and cold submissions get the lowest response rate, so expect most of them to go unanswered.

How far in advance should I submit a song to blogs?

Three to four weeks before release day. If you are pitching Spotify editorial too, Spotify's minimum is 7 days and it recommends 4 to 6 weeks.

What should a music submission email include?

Under 200 words: why this outlet, one sentence on the record, one credential, one streaming link and your socials.