Music Promotion, Marketing and Distribution Newsletter

September 2018

The contacts listed are sorted into FIVE sections:

1. Publications, Review Websites and Music Blogs that will REVIEW your music
2. Radio Stations, Shows and Podcasts that will PLAY your songs
3. Labels, Vendors, Distributors and Promotional Services that will help you to SELL your CD
4. Websites where you can UPLOAD your band's MP3s or videos
5. Helpful Resources for recording artists

SECTION ONE: SITES/PUBLICATIONS WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED

Cold Coffee Records Blog
David A. Pinder coldcoffeerecordsla@gmail.com
www.coldcoffeerecords.com/blog
A new brew for your ears. Record label and blog based in Los Angeles. Want to be featured? Send us an e-mail. Genres: Acoustic, Alternative, Americana/Alt-Country, Blues, Country/Bluegrass, Dance/Electronic, Experimental, Folk, Hard Rock, Hardcore, Hip Hop/Rap, Industrial/Goth, Jazz, Latin, Metal, New Age, Ambient, Chillout, Pop, Punk, Rock/Indie, Singer/Songwriter & Soul/R&B/Funk. facebook.com/coldcoffeerecords @wearecoldcoffee

DOPECAUSEWESAID
Carlton Boyd info@dopecausewesaid.com
www.dopecausewesaid.com
The DOPECAUSEWESAID mission is to connect amazingly talented artists, creatives and brands with lovers of great music, culture and style. We at DCWS are always looking for great new songs/videos/EPs/mixtapes/albums in the genres of Pop, Hip Hop, RnB/Soul and Electronic music to feature on our website, social media and curated Spotify playlists. Submit your material to us and we'll check it out. Visit our SUBMISSION page for details on how to get your music to us. PLEASE don't submit any material to us older than one month old. facebook.com/dopecausewesaid @DOPECAUSEWESAID

EarToTheGround Music
Greg Jones eartothegroundmusicblog@gmail.com
www.eartothegroundmusic.co
Features emerging artists primarily in the Folk, Indie Rock and Roots music scenes. The site has album reviews, artist interviews, and artist spotlights featuring a number of lesser-known musicians. It is the purpose of the site to curate the digital music world, helping artists find an audience and music fans find exceptional, high-quality music. Due to the incredible number of submissions we've been receiving, we now require all submissions come through SubmitHub. @EarToThe_Ground

Review Magazine
318 S. Hamilton St. #7, Saginaw, MI 48602
PH: 989-780-4162
audioganicmedia@gmail.com
www.review-mag.com
Music magazine, reviewer of independent music and music blog. Genres include Rock, Pop, Indie, Folk, Jazz, Metal / Hard Rock, Progressive Rock. facebook.com/reviewmag @Saginaw_Review

Country Music Capital News
PH: 02-6768-5800
Cheryl Byrnes cheryl.byrnes@fairfaxmedia.com.au
www.facebook.com/countrymusiccapitalnews
Australia's longest running monthly Country music magazine featuring news from all over Australia and from around the world.

SECTION TWO: RADIO STATIONS, SHOWS AND PROMOTERS

2.1 RADIO - STATIONS AND SHOWS

Innervision FM
1255 Galapago St. #711, Denver, CO 80204
PH: 720-255-8871
Johnnie J. innervision2@msn.com
www.innervisionfm.com
A 24-7 days a week Christian station. I am always looking for new music as well as Christian artists to interview. I sometimes book them for concerts in Denver. Christian Rock, Hip Hop, Pop, Indie, Christian, Gospel. We are only looking for Christian music!

Emidio's Rock Den - Digital Revolution Radio
Emidio Vaz digitalRevolutionRadio.net@gmail.com
www.emidiosrockden.com
Features independent Rock, Pure Heavy Metal and Blues. Please contact me through my Facebook page or Twitter account facebook.com/emidio.vaz.562 @slipnslidding

KSJD
PO Box 116, Cortez, CO 81321
PH: 970-564-0808
Michael McAllister mike@ksjd.org
www.ksjd.org
KSJD's mission is to inform, entertain and empower the people of the Four Corners region through arts, culture and public media service. KSJD is public radio serving based in Cortez, Colorado and serving the Four Corners Region of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and portions of the Navajo Nation. We are proud to operate in a community radio model, meaning volunteer leadership powers much of the programming and operations of the station. @KSJDRadio

WQNA
2201 Toronto Rd. Springfield, IL 62712
PH: 217-529-5431 x164
info@wqna.org
www.wqna.net
WQNA is a non-commercial student/community volunteer-run station featuring an eclectic mix of music and programs. @WQNA883

Halshack Indie Rockcast
Hal Jester jesterman9000@gmail.com
www.halshack.com
I began my company HALSHACK as an independent A&R, public relations manager and now a radio personality to source bands and artists that I feel are in viable contention of possible notoriety or even stardom in the mainstream music industry. I look for quality emerging artists an aspire to working with only the best indie and unsigned acts. I produce my own radio show in order to gain attention for these artists by giving full promotion on my website, radio show and various social media outlets and platforms as well as possibly having an article or review written about certain acts that garner the attention. We also provide blogs and music reviews for certain artists that we deem worthy of the extra exposure by my highly trained staff of ex record label scouts and musicians. I cater mainly to Rock/Alt/Pop with a smattering of Reggae, Ska, Americana and Funk occasionally mixed in. facebook.com/halshack @halshack

Behind The Shadow
PO Box 13526, Macon, GA 31208-3526
PH: 478-742-7956
Joey Stuckey joey@joeystuckey.com
www.joeystuckey.com
A Web TV show designed to promote bands and artists that are working hard to make music full time. I know how hard it is to give your life to the creation of art, in my case, music. I want to support those people that make music their livings and to share the vast and incredible array of talent out there. Besides interviewing artists and bands and having them perform their music live in studio, I also have talks with music industry professionals like entertainment lawyers on the program to teach artists and bands about how to be successful and to highlight how to get started in the music business. facebook.com/joeystuckey @Jstuckeymusic

The Mad Music Asylum
PH: 347-687-4279
Uncle Duke themadmusicasylum@gmail.com
www.themadmusicasylum.com
If you are an artist looking for exposure, we would love to hear your stuff. I don't want to come across as a snob but my musical tastes run from the Baroque Classical period to the music of today. I cannot guarantee you a slot on the program but am always, always looking for new tunes to listen to and love. I cannot give you any direction as to what to submit because depending on the mood I am in, I have the potential to like anything and everything. I would say please no head banging really Hard Rock, but at times I like Black Sabbath and Ted Nugent as much as the next guy so....anything goes. The best way to get our attention is to fill out our ONLINE FORM and send us a LINK to your music. If that seems too complicated, you can just send the LINK to our e-mail address. Also, it helps to interact with us on any of our various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest). If we like what we hear, we will contact you to obtain the MP3 file so we can mix it in to the program. facebook.com/MadMusicAsylum @MadMusicAsylum

2.2 RADIO PROMOTERS

Twin Vision
261 5th Ave. #1F, Brooklyn, NY 11215
PH: 718-369-1370
Peter Hay peterhay@twinvision.net
www.twinvision.net
Offers radio promotion services to artists and labels with proven strategies that create exposure and awareness with national audiences. We are specialists in working with independently created projects, from artists putting out their own recordings to major independent labels, as well as foreign labels looking for a niche in the American market. For the last seventeen years, Twin Vision has provided promotion services to artists, managers, publishers and labels whose projects required special attention at radio formats that embrace new and emerging artists.

National Record Promotion
137 N. Larchmont #500, Los Angeles, CA 90004
PH: 323-658-7449
Larry Weir larry_weir@sbcglobal.net
www.larryweir.com
We promote artists and groups at radio with an emphasis on independent labels and recording artists. Over the last five years NRP has worked with many major acts. NRP will assist you in weekly tracking reports...national chart activity & radio interviews. facebook.com/National.Record.Promotion

CIMG, LLC
119 Bowling Ave. Nashville, TN 37205-2357
Tony Bates contact@cimgllc.com
www.cimgllc.com
Our Radio Promotion work focuses on relevant radio stations (terrestrial and online), especially college radio stations, in the U.S., Canada and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Our staff works daily to build relationships with radio stations, regional promoters, music/entertainment publications and websites, and media outlets throughout North America as well as in eastern and central Europe. We work mostly with Rock, Pop-Rock, Americana and Alt-Country artists. facebook.com/cimgllc

Howard Rosen Promotion
521 W. Channel Islands Blvd. #15, Port Hueneme, CA 93041
PH: 805-382-2200 FX: 805-201-7816
info@howiewood.com
www.howiewood.com
Since 1985 We have been helping artists reach their goals of obtaining radio airplay, expanding their fan base, and creating awareness throughout the industry. @Howiewoodpromo

SECTION THREE: SERVICES/VENDORS/LABELS THAT WILL HELP SELL YOUR MUSIC

3.1 SERVICES - PROMOTION/PUBLICITY

Cyber PR
389 12th St., Brooklyn, NY 11215
PH: 212-239-8384
Ariel Hyatt contact@arielpublicity.com
www.cyberprmusic.com
Professional promotional services for indie artists. @cyberpr

The Catalyst Publicity Group
510 SE 5th Ave. #1014, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Jen Appel jen@thecatalystpublicitygroup.com
www.thecatalystpublicitygroup.com
A full-service public relations firm that offers a unique blend of consulting to music artists/brand. Working with clientele at all different levels, we carefully craft and develop exclusive campaigns tailored to the clients needs. We succeed in mapping out creative out of the box ideas for each client. Utilizing our expertise, networking within the field, and passion we know Catalyst is the choice for any artist. Services include publicity representation online and print editorial outreach (tv, radio, online, print), creation of epk or one sheet, mainstream tour press, online reputation monitoring, marketing and branding consulting and social media consulting. facebook.com/TheCatalystPublicityGroup @CatalystGroupPR

McGuckin Entertainment PR
500 Riverside Dr. #160, Austin, TX 78704
PH: 512-478-0578
info@mcguckinpr.com
www.mcguckinpr.com
When an artist or a band - emerging talent or well-known acts - is ready to take the next step forward in their career, McGuckin Entertainment PR snaps to, with a proven, step-by-step process to consult, announce and support: from branding and imaging to professionally created press materials and on-target pitches that engage and convey specific messaging to media targets, producers, talent buyers, booking agents, managers, label representatives and social networking Web sites. Whether it's an album release, TV or radio appearance, tour support, special event or other appearance, McGuckin Entertainment PR can deliver it all. facebook.com/mcguckinpr @mcguckinpr

WHIPLASH PR & Management
398 Columbus Ave. PMB #183, Boston, MA 02116
PH: 617-445-4383
Rhonda Sanchez whiplashpr@aol.com
www.whiplashprandmanagement.com
Thanks to many years of developing relationships with journalists, editors, reviewers, radio programmers and national and international contacts of all varieties, Whiplash PR & Management has been able to individually tailor its efforts by targeting members of the media who will specifically champion its clients. These personal relationships with the clients and media alike provide The WPM Team with a deeper understanding of each one's needs and talents, as well as the fuel to create the fresh, attention-grabbing pitches for which the firm has become well known. Whiplash PR & Management is fearlessly creative in the pursuit of press coverage for its clients. As one of the the pioneers of the indie pr movement in 1996; hence 'indie publicist', we chooses carefully which projects to take on. Whiplash staff is dedicated and enthusiastic and regularly goes beyond the call of duty, securing any opportunity that would be beneficial for the clients, whether it falls in the realm of conventional publicity or career development. @Whiplashpr

CIMG, LLC
119 Bowling Ave. Nashville, TN 37205-2357
Tony Bates contact@cimgllc.com
www.cimgllc.com
We provide Social Media Marketing and Social Commerce Solutions for our clients, in addition to Artist Management and Record Label Services. We work with artists, record labels, agencies, events, and brands of all kinds that want to effectively engage their supporters and fans via social media. Considering the global marketplace and international appeal, we offer our services in several languages as well, when appropriate to meet your goals. We work mostly with Rock, Pop-Rock, Americana and Alt-Country artists. facebook.com/cimgllc

RAPIDFIRE PR
PH: 360-509-1779
Cyrus Rhodes rhodesm@wavecable.com
www.rapidfirepr.com
RAPIDFIRE PR is the only PR firm in the world that can deliver 10 music reviews, written by 10 separate music critics, posted on 10 separate websites in as little as 10 working days. No matter if it's an EP, LP, single or video/press release RAPIDFIRE PR has got you covered with over 50+ writers on staff and top web affiliates all working on your behalf. From the indie artist to the pro publicist - RAPIDFIRE PR delivers music marketing for all. @cyrusrhodes

3.2 SERVICES - LABELS, DISTRIBUTORS AND ONLINE VENDORS

Cold Coffee Records
David A. Pinder coldcoffeerecordsla@gmail.com
www.coldcoffeerecords.com
A new brew for your ears. Record label based in Los Angeles. Started by passionate creatives for artists, we are located in the hub of the industry, allowing us to develop relationships with trusted press outlets, blogs, Spotify curators, as well as many other industry peers. With our years of industry experience, we strive to elevate your art to the highest potential. We offer a wide variety of promotional services for artists and bands. Genres: Alternative, Dance/Electronic, Hardcore, Pop, Punk, Rock/Indie & Singer/Songwriter. facebook.com/coldcoffeerecords @wearecoldcoffee

United Common Records
demos@unitedcommonrecords.com
www.unitedcommonrecords.com
Uniting great Hip Hop and Electronic INSTRUMENTAL sounds from around the world. Founded in October 2014 in Paris by four college students from Los Angeles, New York City, Paris and Kyoto. Our main goal is to craft a community for smaller artists to progress and collaborate in while maintaining independence at the same time. We accomplish this by working out non-exclusive deals with our artists so that they can continue to grow through other labels and collectives. Transparency and communication is our objective and how we hope to stand out from other labels. instagram.com/unitedcommonrecords @UnitedCommonPub

SECTION FOUR: SITES WHERE YOU CAN UPLOAD YOUR BAND'S MP3s OR VIDEOS

Spotify for Artists
artists.spotify.com
180 million fans are waiting for you. Sign up to Spotify for Artists and make the most of your music. With previews and simple edits, you can control exactly how your music appears to listeners. To make sure everything on Spotify is properly licensed, we require all music to be delivered by a distributor. We have deals with most distributors, so if you already work with one just ask them to put your music on Spotify. If you don't currently have a distributor, we have deals in place with companies who can deliver your music to us and collect royalties for you. These services handle the licensing and distribution of your music and also pay you royalties when your fans stream your music on Spotify. There???s usually a small fee or percentage cut involved. Each service is unique, so be sure to do a little homework before picking one. instagram.com/spotifyforartists @spotifyartists

Spotify Playlist Submission Tool
artists.spotify.com/blog/share-new-music-for-playlist-consideration
This new feature gives artists, labels and teams an easy way to submit unreleased music directly to our editorial team for playlist consideration. At Spotify, our goal is to match every listener with the perfect music for them. That's why we have a team of over 100 editors around the world - music experts and cultural ambassadors whose job is to spread the joy of music discovery everywhere from Brazil to Japan to Turkey. We're introducing a feature as part of Spotify for Artists and Spotify Analytics designed to make it easier for artists and labels to share unreleased music with this team - so our editors can create better playlists and artists have a better shot at landing on one. Everyone, whether you're an artist, label, manager or part of an artist's team, can try out this feature. Simply log into your Spotify for Artists account or, if you work at a label, head over to Spotify Analytics. There, you'll have the option of selecting one unreleased song for playlist consideration and submitting it to our team. instagram.com/spotifyforartists @spotifyartists

SECTION FIVE: SOCIAL NETWORKS AND ONLINE COMMUNITIES

INICAT
SchloBallee 44, 13156 Berlin, Germany
PH: +49 30-70086864
Clemens Heimlich contact@inicat.com
www.inicat.com
Just like you, we are ambitious artists and musicians. We have founded INICAT to create the perfect home for all musicians. Starting with the financing up to the marketing of one's own music, a new kind of creative space emerges hand in hand with fans. Distribute your music independently and let fans pay more if they want to. Connect your artist page with other musicians and fans. Give away rewards or free stuff and receive monthly support from your fans. Share news, photos and videos about your project to get financially supported by fans who want to help you out via News Feed. facebook.com/inicat.music @inicat_com

SECTION SIX: HELPFUL TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR YOUR BAND

6.1 RESOURCES - GENERAL

Music Xray
25 Broadway, 9th Fl. New York, NY 10004
Mike McCready support@musicxray.com
www.musicxray.com
We are facilitating a more efficient, lower cost, and less risky A&R process. Our growing platform enables the industry to open the doors of opportunity to musicians and songwriters everywhere and to harness the most powerful tools ever built specifically for those who conduct A&R. We help musicians and songwriters get deals and to get feedback from professionals who want to help them succeed. We help them access the gatekeepers in a way that makes it rewarding for both parties. facebook.com/MusicXray @MusicXray

Songtradr
2001 Wilshire Blvd. #302, Santa Monica, CA 90403
PH: 424-744-8180
support@songtradr.com
www.songtradr.com
Provides music creators and owners with an intuitive, simple and free content management system where all of your music assets can be stored, discovered, curated and monetized. On Songtradr, you have complete control of your rights, as our mission is to empower creators and owners with the flexibility they need to run their business the way they want to! Music supervisors, brands, film makers and other creatives can now benefit from licensing and acquiring the music they want directly from our incredible selection of users who include some of the world's best composers, producers, songwriters as well as artists, bands, publishers, labels and rights estates. You can enjoy our simple licensing system which accommodates the way you need to work, not the way we need to! facebook.com/songtradr @songtradr

International Musician
Cherie Yurco cyurco@afm.org
www.internationalmusician.org
Official journal of the American Federation of Musicians for the United States and Canada. Published monthly and distributed to more than 80,000 Federation members, International Musician provides vital news of legislation affecting musicians, audition notices, industry news, features about activism and labor organizing campaigns, and spotlights featuring the activities of their colleagues. facebook.com/InternationalMusicianAFM @IntlMusician

USA Songwriting Competition
2881 E. Oakland Park Blvd. #414, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
info@songwriting.net
www.songwriting.net
The world's leading international songwriting competition. Winners will be chosen by a Blue Ribbon Judging Committee comprised of music industry professionals including A&R managers from record labels, publishers and producers. Songs are judged equally on originality, lyrics, melody and composition. Songs may be in any language. Quality of performance and production will not be considered. Many USA Songwriting Competition winners in the past have received recording and publishing contracts, have their songs placed on the charts as well as having their songs placed on film and television. facebook.com/usasongcomp @usasong

DigitalRadioTracker.com (DRT)
PH: 646-494-3783
support@digitalradiotracker.com
www.digitalradiotracker.com
Your premier radio airplay broadcast monitoring service that tracks radio airplay of songs in the US and worldwide on more than 5000+ radio stations. These radio stations include Major FM Terrestrial, College, Commercial and Non-Commercial as well as thousands of streaming Internet radio stations. Some of the radio broadcasting networks Although there are many genres of music, DigitalRadioTracker.com specializes in monitoring radio broadcasters in the following formats: CHR/Pop (Top 40), Rhythmic, Urban/Hip Hop/R&B, Country/Americana, Rock/Alternative, Gospel/Christian/Inspirational, Adult Contemporary and Jazz/Fusion. DigitalRadioTracker.com gathers millions of songs being played each day and compiles DRT Reports for our clients. A DRT Report breaks down exactly who is playing a song, when it's played and how often it's played. DigitalRadioTracker.com also offers Historical 8 Week Reports which list the history of airplay detections on all of our monitored stations during the last 8 week period. In addition, we provide Comprehensive Reports which shows the exact time of day/night a song is played on each of our monitored radio stations. If you have a song receiving airplay on radio and want to know when and where it's being played, get your DRT Report today!

Festival Network Online
PO Box 18839, Asheville, NC 28814
PH: 828-658-2779 FX: 828-645-3374
Julie Cochrane julie@festivalnet.com
www.festivalnet.com
Lists more than 10,000 events throughout the U.S. and Canada seeking performers, from local & regional to national & international. @_festivalnet

6.2 RESOURCES - EDUCATIONAL

Songwriting Pro
www.songwritingpro.com
The goal of this blog is to help you think like a pro, write like a pro and connect to the pros - so YOU can become one, too. This blog is an extension of my experience in the music business. Mainly, I've been a songwriter - I've been blessed to have publishing deals and to have my songs recorded by some incredible artists (Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols and more). I've spent countless hours in the writing room with just about every kind of writer: the newbie, the artist-writer, the writer-artist, the commercial writer, the non-commercial writer, and even a Nashville Songwriting Hall of Fame member or two, and I've picked up some helpful information along the way. I've worked on the administration/royalty/licensing side of a publishing company. I've also done hundreds of hours of mentoring with aspiring songwriters both on my own and with Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). While writing is my first love, sharing what I've learned about songwriting is a lot of fun and pretty fulfilling, too.

DIY Musician Podcast
13909 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230
Kevin Breuner podcast@cdbabypodcast.com
www.cdbabypodcast.com
Join CD Baby's Kevin and Chris as they discuss current music news, interview artists and industry professionals, offer tips and tricks to help today's independent musician move their career forward and much more! Interviews about how to be a successful musician without compromising your art. It's a perfect time to take advantage of the many opportunities for Do-It-Yourself artists that are springing up everywhere. @cdbaby @kbreuner

School of Rock
2101 E. El Segundo Blvd. #102, El Segundo, CA 90245
PH: 877-701-0537
franchise.schoolofrock.com/indie-bible
The most revolutionary music education school in the world! Be a part of a unique music education franchise opportunity. The largest employer of musicians in the world. We want business partners who love what they do. School of Rock is a music school for all skill levels, ages and musical aspirations. With students ranging from toddlers to adults, School of Rock is where music students grow into real musicians. Although nationwide in scale, School of Rock is ultimately a community-based music education business. We seek partners who are leaders in their community, those who are active in their neighborhoods, and those who are able to foster a sense of learning and community for children within their schools. facebook.com/SchoolofRockUSA @SchoolofRockUSA

6.3 RESOURCES - TOOLS AND APPS

Songuard
PH: 866-848-8484
support@songuard.com
www.songuard.com
The fastest and easiest way to protect your songs. In today's digital world, it has never been more important to protect your songs. When you post your songs on the Internet or send them out to producers, managers, record companies or artists, millions of people have access to them. You are taking a chance that someone may take your melodic or lyrical ideas and treat them as their own. If this happens and your song is not protected, there is nothing you can do about it. Why take this chance when you can protect your song for only $3.95? @MasterWriterSB

MyNewsletterBuilder
comments@mynewsletterbuilder.com
www.mynewsletterbuilder.com
A user-friendly, feature-rich, online newsletter management program for novices and professionals alike. facebook.com/MyNewsletterBuilder1

VideoBlocks.com
PH: 866-282-5360
support@videoblocks.com
www.videoblocks.com
A members-only site offering a one-stop shop for stock video. Our members enjoy access to our unlimited library and our global marketplace. facebook.com/VideoBlocks @VideoBlocks

6.4 RESOURCES - AUDIO

DISC MAKERS
7905 N. Crescent Blvd. Pennsauken, NJ 08110-1402
PH: 800-468-9353
www.discmakers.com
The nation's leading CD / DVD duplicator, replicator and printer. When you're ready to make CDs, we're ready to make it happen. We're musicians too, so we know what you need to make it in this business: The best-looking product, the hottest-sounding audio and the most valuable (and free) promotional tools, including free distribution, a free UPC bar code and much more! facebook.com/discmakers @discmakers

OASIS CD Manufacturing
7905 N. Route 130, Delair, NJ 08110
PH: 540-987-8810
info@oasisCD.com
www.oasiscd.com
We help you manufacture your CD or DVD project. We also help you package it creatively, promote and distribute it so it doesn't become just more clutter in your apartment. facebook.com/OasisCD @oasisdisc

6.5 RESOURCES - ORGANIZATIONS

Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM)
PO Box 22, Remus, MI 49340
info@farmfolk.org
www.farmfolk.org
A regional chapter of Folk Alliance International (FAI). Our purposes are to promote traditional, contemporary and multi-cultural Folk music and dance and related performing arts in our region, hold an annual regional conference, represent the interests of our members to FAI and carry out such other projects as are of benefit to FAI members in the Midwest. facebook.com/FolkAllianceRegionMidwestFARM @farmfolk

SECTION SEVEN: THIS MONTH'S ARTICLE

How It's Easier Than Ever to End Up on a Spotify Playlist
by Dan Reifsnyder, Sonicbids
© 2018 All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission

Before the digital age, artists had to contend with gatekeepers - publishers, labels, radio stations, etc. - before getting their music in the hands of fans. These days, artists have ready access to digital platforms to reach out and get new listeners.

Probably the holy grail of these is Spotify, which has changed the game. It's even gotten the usually change-averse labels to sit up and take notice - PR reps are now pitching directly to tastemakers, much like they do with radio stations.

With over 35 million songs on Spotify alone, these tastemakers are often the most powerful link between artists and listeners because they build popular playlists followed by thousands of users. Many of these curators stake their reputations on the songs added to their collections, so getting included is understandably challenging. And, in turn, it makes an add all that more precious.

But exactly how to get on those major playlists has remained a bit of a mystery. This has unfortunately led to the rise of some illegal practices - including the ages-old system of payola, by which industry reps pay for songs to be put in rotation. Desperate for exposure, some artists have resorted to this, sometimes paying thousands just for the chance to get on a single high-profile playlist, but, more often than not, turning up empty-handed.

Others have gone a more traditional route of hiring a well-connected PR agent or trying to meet some of these curators personally. Naturally, this can be difficult to do, not to mention daunting. Curators regularly make it difficult, if not impossible, to contact them directly (can you imagine how many artists would be blowing up their inboxes?). Until recently, working all other marketing angles to cause enough of a stir around your music was the most viable option for perking the ears of tastemakers.

Fortunately, Spotify is taking away some of the mystery and making things even easier for artists. Over the summer, they implemented a new submission tool that allows any artist to directly submit their music to Spotify curators. If they like your stuff, your music just might end up on one of those make-or-break playlists.

It's very important that you follow their submission guidelines, though - make sure your music is thoroughly tagged with the appropriate mood, sub-genre, main genre, etc., or it may get rejected. This data is vital to the editors to help determine where, if any, an artist's song might fit in the scheme of things, so the more details you can provide, the better.

If you have a new track coming out, it's also important to start the submission process early - Spotify suggests doing so at least a week before the release date. If you submit too late, you just might be out of luck - fresh tracks are always the most prized when it comes to building playlists. It's also worth noting that you can only submit one track, so make sure it's your best.

The best part of it all is that it's super easy - though it's still rolling out in beta, you'll find the submission tool right there on your artist dashboard, provided you have a Spotify for Artists account. Keep in mind that is always helps to have traction on your tracks beyond streaming, so if your account doesn't include this feature yet, keep gunning for premieres, press, and any other viable marketing angles to increase the odds of curators finding your track on their own. You just might score a life-changing playlist slot.

Daniel Reifsnyder is a Nashville-based, Grammy-nominated songwriter, having started his musical journey at the age of three. In addition to being an accomplished commercial actor, his voice can be heard on The Magic School Bus theme song and in Home Alone 2. Throughout his career, he has had the honor of working with the likes of Michael Jackson and Little Richard among many others. He is a regular contributor to several music-related blogs, including his own. This article originally appeared in the Sonicbids September 19, 2018 newsletter.

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