Get press for your release without a PR agency.
Blogs, newsletters and radio shows still find new artists, and most of them read their email. Here is who to pitch, what to send, and the rules that keep radio honest.
- Blogs, newsletters, radio
- One story, one link
- Never pay for airplay
Who writes about new music
Pitch the writers who cover artists like you.
- Music blogsSmall blogs post every week and look for new names. Read three posts first: pitch only the blogs that wrote about artists like you this year.
- NewslettersMany music writers moved to their own newsletters. They answer their email, and their readers click. Check the size and how often it comes out before you pitch.
- Radio showsCollege, community and online radio shows have a host who picks the songs. Pitch the host of the show, not the station inbox, and never offer money for airplay.
The press pitch
Give them a story they can write in five minutes.
- The story in one lineWhere the song comes from, in one true sentence. A writer needs an angle, not a list of influences.
- The date and one linkThe release date and one private listening link. Offer photos and a short bio; send them when asked.
- Two to three weeks earlyWriters plan ahead. A pitch on release day is often too late for a post that week.
Where to look, and the rules
Facts for a press campaign.
| Fact | What it means for you | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Blogs by genre and country | Hype Machine lists the music blogs it reads, by genre and country. A good list to start from. | Hype Machine: sites |
| Payment for airplay | In the US, undisclosed payment for radio airplay is payola, and the law forbids it. | FCC: payola |
| Commercial email in the US | An honest subject, a postal address and a working way to stop more email. Music24 adds the last two. | FTC: CAN-SPAM guide |
Checked on October 11, 2026.
Questions
Questions about music PR
Not for your first releases. An agency sells its contacts and its time. With the right list and a good pitch, you can reach the same small blogs and shows yourself.
Money or gifts for airplay that the station does not disclose. It is illegal for broadcast radio in the US. Never offer a show host money in a pitch.
On its contact or submissions page. Music24 reads those pages and shows where each address comes from. It never guesses an address.
Once, about a week later, and short. More than one follow-up gets you blocked.
Pitch the writers who fit, from your own mailbox.
Music24 finds the blogs, newsletters and shows that cover artists like you. Plug writes each pitch; you approve it. Start free; 7 days of Pro, no card.
