What are the best ways to get your songs heard by labels and artists?

It never hurts to do your homework but a lot could be second guessing. Navigating the complexities of licensing for TV poses significant challenges but watching past episodes can help to narrow down your pitch success. Despite receiving monthly pitch sheets from NPN, the Nashville Publishers Network, soliciting often leads to minimal responses. And even some record companies send back my package explicitly stating no unsolicited materials. To overcome these obstacles, I've found success in directly producing and collaborating with artists. While not easy, this approach has proven effective, as seen with artists like Rick Springfield, Nick Gilder, and Kevin Raleigh and more on my discography on my website. Www.palettemusic.com

What type of music are you making? Which artists are in a similar lane? Which labels are they releasing on? Once you've got all that info, then the next step is to find the A&R's and music scouts that find new talent for those labels and do what you can to get noticed. Follow them on socials, if they're in the same city as you then see if they're at any music conferences etc. The music industry is a network industry so use what you can to your advantage. Fancy a shortcut? One of the best ways to get labels interested in you is to build relationships with DJ's and radio presenters. If they expose your music to a bigger audience, people working at labels will take notice!

Labels see numbers keep promoting your music soundcloud tik tok YouTube get it to radio get a manager get gigs forget labels they will find you when the time is right no one develops anymore Impress a good manager then everything will fall into place because they will have the eyes contacts etc

From experience I would say first of all know who your audiences are. Before going through distribution stores, Invest time going through it manually. Check out places where songs are played, like clubs, restaurants, lounges, events. Create relationships with people involved and pitch your music.

From my experience, one would have to know the label/artist in question, do the necessary background research about them on mostly their requirements and what they stand for to be able to pitch to them. As an artist, you should know the kind of music you are creating and your audience appeal to tailor that to the requirements of a label or artist. you would be more advantaged when the label/ artist are versatile with music.

Present yourself persuasively! Convince labels of the compelling reasons "why" they should lend their ears to your music and take you seriously as an artist. Showcase career highlights and any early achievements of your record, such as initial radio success, a social media post gaining traction, or a renowned DJ incorporating your track into their set. Consider the marketing potential – does your current brand align with the label's vision, and how are you expanding your audience? Provide labels with a convincing case for investing both their time and money in your artistic journey.

After sending your music to labels and artists, don't just sit back. Follow up with them to ensure they received it and express your continued interest. Be persistent but respectful. If they show interest, follow through promptly with any additional materials or information they request. Building relationships through consistent communication can increase your chances of getting heard.

Having worked in radio, broadcasting and streaming - I can tell you we receive A LOT of music. Getting time to listen to all of it is difficult. If people don't get back to you, it's unlikely to be because they don't care - it's more likely that they don't have enough time... Follow up, more than once, try different days and different times - the more you times you go back to the top of someone's inbox, the higher your chances of getting listened to. Good luck!

The reality is very few labels are sitting around waiting for something great to drop into their inbox. Labels have a natural roster capacity set by the size of the team and the size of the budget, and they tend to operate at capacity. So, if you send an album to a label at capacity, it doesn't matter how good it is, they might not be able to work with it. And, equally, you shouldn't work with a label that's overstretching itself to work your release as that's bad for you too. More often than not, the label will come to you if you're on the right track. Focus on building something they want: an artist with a passionate fanbase, organic traction in streaming and social media, a clear artist identity, and great music.

Avoid spamming or bombarding labels and artists with your music. Sending too many unsolicited emails or messages can be off-putting and may result in your music being ignored. Also, steer clear of being too pushy or impatient. Respect their time and process, and avoid excessive follow-ups that could come across as pestering. Instead, focus on building genuine connections and fostering relationships in a professional manner.