Learning to submit music to blogs the right way is how independent artists earn early coverage, reach new listeners, and build the press section of their press kit. The catch: bloggers and curators get flooded with pitches, and most go straight to trash. The difference between being ignored and being covered comes down to targeting the right outlets and sending a pitch that respects their time.
Here’s the short answer: research blogs that actually cover your genre, find the correct submission method, and send a short, personal, ready-to-use pitch with a private streaming link. Below is how to do each step.
Step 1: Find the right blogs
Relevance beats reach. A small blog that covers exactly your genre will say yes far more often than a huge one that doesn’t. Build a target list by:
- Searching for blogs covering artists who sound like you.
- Checking which outlets featured similar independent releases recently.
- Noting genre, posting frequency, and whether they cover unsigned artists.
A focused list of 20 genuinely fitting blogs is worth more than blasting 200. This targeting is the same discipline that makes the rest of your music promotion work, and it pairs well with the broader music marketing strategies that move the needle for independent artists.
Step 2: Find the correct submission method
Every blog has a preferred way in — follow it exactly. Some take direct email, some use a contact form, and many use submission platforms. Three well-known, legitimate options used widely by independent artists:
- SubmitHub — pitch curators and blogs directly; you get feedback and a clear yes/no.
- Groover — similar model connecting artists with curators, media, and labels who must respond.
- Playlist Push — focused more on playlist placement and creator promotion than traditional blogs.
These platforms charge to send pitches and don’t guarantee coverage, but they save you hunting for contacts and ensure your music reaches a real curator. Direct email is still worth it for blogs that invite it.
Step 3: Write a pitch that gets opened
Keep it short. A curator decides in seconds. A solid pitch includes:
- A clear subject line — artist name, track title, genre.
- One or two sentences on who you are and why this fits their blog specifically.
- A private streaming link — not an attachment, not a download.
- A short hook — one interesting detail about the song or story.
- A link to your EPK so they can grab a bio, photos, and press in one click. If you don’t have one yet, it’s worth learning how to make an EPK before you start pitching.
Mention something real about their blog so they know it’s not a mass blast. Skip the long backstory and never beg.
Step 4: Time it right
Pitch ahead of your release, not after. Many blogs want exclusives or to post on or before release day, so reach out one to three weeks before. This dovetails with how you plan a music release — your press outreach should be part of the rollout, not an afterthought once the song is already out.
Step 5: Make sure the music is ready
No pitch saves an unfinished track. Curators can hear the difference between a rough demo and a release-ready recording, and a weak master is a fast no. Get the song mixed and mastered, with final artwork and metadata sorted, before you send a single email.
How to research a blog before you pitch
The few minutes you spend studying an outlet before writing are what separate a personal pitch from a mass blast. Read three or four of their recent posts and ask: do they cover unsigned artists, or only acts with a label and a publicist behind them? What genres and sub-genres actually appear, and how do they describe the music they like? Do they prefer premieres, reviews, interviews, or playlist adds? An outlet that only runs interviews with established acts is a poor fit for a cold single pitch, no matter how good the song is.
While you’re there, find the right contact. A named editor or the specific curator who covers your style is far better than a generic “info@” inbox. Note their stated submission rules — many blogs spell out exactly what they want and what they reject, and ignoring those rules is the fastest way to get deleted. Keep all of this in a simple spreadsheet: outlet, contact, link, genre fit, submission method, and the date you reached out. That record stops you pitching the same person twice and shows you which outlets are worth nurturing for the next release.
Build relationships, not one-off pitches
Coverage compounds when curators recognise your name. Treat each blog as a long-term contact rather than a single transaction, the same way you would when you set out to build a music fanbase. Follow the writers who cover your scene, share and credit their posts, and engage genuinely rather than only appearing when you want something. When a feature does land, thank them and make their job easy — a quick, well-formatted reply with everything they asked for makes the next yes more likely.
A polite single follow-up roughly a week after your pitch is fine if you’ve heard nothing; a second chase is usually too many. Silence is a soft no, not an invitation to argue. The artists who get covered consistently are rarely the ones with the biggest budgets — they are the ones who are reliable, easy to work with, and remembered.
Common mistakes
- Mass-blasting an identical, impersonal email to dozens of blogs.
- Attaching audio files instead of sending a streaming link.
- Pitching a genre the blog clearly doesn’t cover.
- Following up aggressively or arguing with a no.
- Sending after the song is already public when they wanted first dibs.
- Forgetting to include your name, the track title, or a working link in the email itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to email blogs directly or use a submission platform?
Both work. Direct email is free and personal for blogs that invite submissions; platforms like SubmitHub or Groover save time and guarantee your pitch reaches a real curator, though they charge per send and never guarantee coverage. Many artists use a mix.
How far in advance should I submit?
Usually one to three weeks before release. Many blogs prefer to post on or just before release day, and some want an exclusive first listen, so pitching early gives them time to plan a feature.
What if I get no responses?
It’s normal — rejection and silence are the default. Tighten your targeting, improve your pitch and the music, and keep building. Coverage compounds over time, and a few early features make the next round easier.
How long should my pitch email be?
Short enough to read in well under a minute — a few sentences plus the streaming link. Lead with the most relevant detail, make the link obvious, and let the EPK carry the rest. If a curator wants more, they’ll click through; burying the song under three paragraphs of backstory only gets it skipped.
