Spotify Monthly Listeners

How to pitch music bloggers and journalists

Updated 5 October 2026 · 2 min read

Writers are not short of music to write about. They are short of reasons to write about yours, and the reason is virtually never the song alone.

Lead with the story, not the song

A press release that says "artist releases new single, available now" gives a writer nothing to work with. A pitch gives them an angle: a first release after a hiatus, a collaboration across two scenes, a record made in an unusual place, a subject that connects to something happening now.

The song still has to be good. The angle is what gets it listened to.

Timing

Pitch before release, not after. Writers work to editorial calendars and need lead time; a track that came out three weeks ago is already old for a new-music column.

  • Four to six weeks before release for features and interviews.
  • One to two weeks before for new-music roundups.
  • After release, pitch only for reviews and delayed coverage, and say so honestly.

The pitch itself

Short, plain text, no attachments on the first contact.

  • One line on why you are writing to this writer specifically.
  • One line on who you are and where you are from.
  • Two or three lines on the record and the angle.
  • One streaming or download link with a private option if it is unreleased.
  • A clear offer: interview, images, stems, guestlist, whatever is relevant.

Reaching them at all

Most writers publish a contact route, and most of those inboxes filter aggressively. Sending a plain, personal, non-bulk-looking email matters as much as the writing.

Our library includes music press and bloggers plus general news, business, culture, sports and politics desks — over 2,600 music press contacts — with managed sending and free verification, so the pitch arrives instead of being filtered.

Frequently asked questions

Should I send a press release or a personal email?

A personal email that contains the facts of a press release. Full press-release formatting is for announcing to a list, not for pitching one writer.

Do I need a publicist?

Not at the start. A publicist is worth paying once you have stories worth placing and no time to pitch them yourself.

How many writers should I contact?

Twenty to forty well-matched outlets per release is a serious press run. Relevance matters much more than volume.

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