How can you identify the best media outlets and influencers for your music?

1 Know your audience

The first step to finding the best media outlets and influencers for your music is to understand who your target audience is. Who are the fans and potential fans of your music? What are their demographics, preferences, and behaviors? Where do they consume music and media? You can use tools like Google Analytics, Spotify for Artists, and social media insights to get some data on your existing audience, and also do some market research on your genre and niche to find out who else might be interested in your music.

2 Find your niche

The next step is to narrow down your focus and find your niche within the music industry. What makes your music unique and different from other artists in your genre? What are the keywords, themes, and messages that define your brand and style? How do you want to position yourself in the market? By finding your niche, you can identify the media outlets and influencers that cater to your specific audience and genre, and that share your values and vision. You can use tools like Google Trends, BuzzSumo, and SimilarWeb to discover the most popular and relevant topics, websites, and social media accounts in your niche.

3 Research your options

The third step is to research the media outlets and influencers that you have identified as potential matches for your music. You want to find out as much as possible about their audience, content, tone, and reach. You can use tools like Alexa, Moz, and Social Blade to get some metrics on their traffic, authority, and engagement. You can also check their websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, and social media profiles to see what kind of music they feature, how they review and rate it, and how they interact with their followers. You can also look for feedback, testimonials, and reviews from other musicians who have worked with them.

4 Build relationships

The fourth step is to build relationships with the media outlets and influencers that you have researched and selected as the best fit for your music. You want to establish trust, credibility, and rapport with them, and show them that you value their work and their audience. You can use tools like Mailchimp, Hootsuite, and Buffer to create and manage your email and social media campaigns. You can also use tools like HARO, Pitchbox, and Submithub to find and respond to relevant media queries and opportunities. You can also engage with their content, comment on their posts, share their stories, and join their communities.

5 Pitch your music

The fifth step is to pitch your music to the media outlets and influencers that you have built relationships with. You want to craft a compelling and personalized pitch that showcases your music, your story, and your value proposition. You want to highlight what makes your music unique and relevant for their audience, and why they should feature or review it. You want to include a clear and concise subject line, a short and friendly introduction, a brief and catchy bio, a link to your music, a press kit, and a call to action. You want to follow up politely and professionally, and thank them for their time and attention.

6 Track your results

The sixth and final step is to track your results and measure your impact. You want to see how your music promotion efforts have affected your exposure, reputation, and fan base. You can use tools like Google Analytics, Spotify for Artists, and social media insights to monitor your website, streaming, and social media performance. You can also use tools like Mention, Google Alerts, and Brand24 to track your media coverage, mentions, and feedback. You can also use tools like SurveyMonkey, Typeform, and PollDaddy to collect feedback from your fans and potential fans. You can use this data to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and improve your strategy for the future.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?