The Blog-Ready Submission: A Checklist of What Music Writers Ask Artists to Include
Music blogs publish submission pages for a reason: they receive far more email than they can read, and every missing piece costs the writer time. The requirements differ, but the same handful of items appear across the pages. This checklist pulls those items together from two blogs' published submission pages and the Hype Machine FAQ. Always read the specific blog's own page before you send anything.
1. Working links to the music
This is the most repeated request. East of 8th's submission page says working links are "the most important thing", that the links can be to any streaming service, public or private, and that teaser emails without links do not work. It also asks that the links be easy to find in the email. Pressed Orange's page asks for streaming links such as SoundCloud, YouTube or Spotify, and says not to attach files.
Test every link in a private browser window before you send.
2. Music first, bio second
East of 8th says it loves a good bio but asks you to put the music where the writer can find it. Open with the link and one sentence, then add context.
3. A subject line in the format they ask for
Some blogs specify it. Pressed Orange asks for "Your Name – Song/Album Title" as the subject. If a blog gives a format, use exactly that.
4. A short introduction
Pressed Orange asks for a brief introduction covering your music, relevant background, influences and what makes it unique. Keep it to a few lines. You are giving the writer a reason to press play, not telling your life story.
5. A good-resolution photo, with credit
East of 8th asks for an artist photo with good resolution, the album art or a link to it if it is an album, and any photographer credit that is needed. Spotify's artist image guidelines are a useful reference for your own profile images as well: avatar images should be at least 750 by 750 pixels, headers at least 2660 by 1140, and images should avoid text, advertising and busy backgrounds.
6. A link to a press kit
Pressed Orange asks for a link to an electronic press kit containing high-resolution photos, a biography and any press coverage or notable achievements. Build one page that holds all of this, so your email does not need attachments.
7. Website and social links
East of 8th asks for your web address and social links, or just the website if the social links are prominent there. Make sure they work, and that the handles are spelled the same everywhere.
8. Proof that you chose this blog
East of 8th asks writers to consider whether the blog's focus, in its case rock, indie rock, alt-rock and indie pop, is the right place for your music. The Hype Machine FAQ gives the same advice from another angle: look for artists similar to you, click through to the sites that posted them and contact the writers who previously discussed them. It says people really appreciate it when you look into their taste first.
9. Correct file tags, if you send tracks to be indexed
Hype Machine's FAQ says its track names come from MP3 ID3 tags and that the artist and title fields need to be filled out completely before a file is uploaded and shared, otherwise it displays "Unknown Track". Even if you are not sending MP3 files, the lesson holds: your own labelling is the first thing the outside world sees.
10. Realistic expectations
East of 8th says that if it passes on your music it does not mean the music is bad, and that it gets a lot of requests with limited resources. Pressed Orange makes no promises either. Plan on sending to several blogs that suit your sound, not one.
A one-page template
- Subject: as the blog asks, or "Artist – Title".
- Line one: the link to the track.
- Line two: why this blog, naming a specific post or artist they covered.
- Lines three to five: who you are and what the track is.
- Links: press kit, website, socials.
- A note on the release date, if relevant.
Send it, log it and wait. Following up once, politely, after a reasonable gap is normal, and so is moving on. If you want to see how to find blogs by genre and read their submission pages quickly, start with Virtual Publicist's guide to music blogs that accept submissions.