How to Write a Great Music Press Release for Rock and Metal Bands
Music press releases can be an incredibly important aspect of music promotion. The goal of a press release is outreach for media/newscoverage - aka blogs, radio, and influencers. Bands use press releases to increase exposure, reputation, and gain attention from new sources of media.
A music press release is one of the most essential tools for bands looking to promote new releases, tours, or significant events. Whether you’re launching an album or announcing a tour, an effective press release can generate media buzz, attract new fans, and boost your band’s reputation.
Sections:
- What Is A Music Press Release
- How To Write A Compelling Music Press Release
- Common Mistakes To Avoid In Press Releases
- Press Release Formatting/Examples
- The Role Of A Music Press Publicist
- Where To Get Rock and Metal Press Releases?
What Is A Music Press Release?
A music press release is an official announcement designed to inform media outlets (such as blogs, radio stations, and influencers) about a newsworthy event related to your band. Events typically covered include new album releases, upcoming tours, interviews, and other noteworthy achievements.
The primary goal of a music press release is to secure media coverage and generate excitement around your band. It serves as a pitch to journalists and bloggers, giving them the information they need to feature your band in their publications. A well-crafted press release can amplify your exposure, improve your band’s credibility, and create buzz among fans and industry insiders.
Why Are Music Press Releases Important?
A music press release is not just about announcing an event. It’s about storytelling — crafting a compelling narrative that grabs the attention of media outlets and fans alike. This makes press releases a vital part of any music promotion strategy. Key benefits of a music press release include:
• Media Coverage: Increases your chances of being featured in blogs, on radio stations, or by influencers.
• Reputation Building: Enhances your band’s public image by keeping the media and fans informed about your activities.
• Build Hype: Promotes your music, tour dates, or other events, sparking curiosity and excitement among listeners and media alike.
How To Write A Compelling Music Press Release
Writing an effective press release is all about structure, clarity, and purpose. Here’s how to craft one that stands out:
Create an attention-grabbing headline
Your headline is the first thing that media outlets and readers will see. It needs to be informative, exciting, and descriptive. Always include your band name, location, and the key event. A strong headline can make or break your press release.
Example:
“London’s Very Own SLEEP TOKEN Unleashes Electrifying 3rd Album ‘Take Me Back To Eden’ on May 19th”
Write a captivating opening paragraph
If the headline grabs attention, the first paragraph needs to seal the deal. It should summarize the key points of the press release — what you’re announcing, why it’s important, and any other crucial details. Keep it concise and engaging to hold the reader’s interest.
The first paragraph should be a short excerpt that explains the most important details of the press release while following paragraphs delve more into other topics like the creation or concept of the music.
Include Essential Details
Ensure your press release contains all the information a journalist or blogger needs. Some essential elements include:
• Event Details: What are you promoting? (album, tour, single release, etc.)
• Band Information: Who is involved? (brief history, current lineup)
• Dates and Locations: Where are you from, when is the album, tour, or release?
• Media Links: Include links to your music, videos, and social media profiles for easy access.
Use Quotes and Press Links
The more sources you can add, the better. Showing relevance through previous press and quotes is an excellent way to show your band’s importance and give media outlets great sources to reference and utilize so they better understand/cover your band! Quotes allow journalists to add a personal touch to their stories, making it more likely that they’ll cover your band.
Adding a quote from the band on the new release or song lyrics is another great idea that media outlets often love to include.
Add Visual Elements
Including high-quality band photos, album artwork, and logos is crucial for giving your press release a professional look. Visuals can also make your press release more engaging for media outlets to feature. Attach images and provide links to any relevant media (e.g., album teasers or music videos).
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Music Press Releases
Overwhelming with Information
As a music blog ourselves, we can’t stress enough the importance of not loading up too much information into your press release. If you send out a 10-page press release, chances are most media sources won‘t even bother skimming through it. Make sure you keep your writing concise and only include what is relevant to media outlets.
Lack of a Clear Call To Action
Your press release should have a direct purpose, make it clear what you are asking for or hoping to achieve. If you are announcing an upcoming album, make sure to include early download links so blogs/radios can premier your music or create some press in advance. If you are announcing a tour or big show, include dates, locations and names.
Make sure whatever your are trying to achieve with your press release is direct and the purpose is clear to who you are sending it to.
Ignoring Your Target Audience
When you are distributing/creating your press release keep in mind your audience; who is the person you are trying to target? Only send the release to blogs, influencers, and radio stations that are in your genre and have audiences that you are trying to target.
Press Release Formatting & Examples
How should I format a Music Press Release?
We recommend experimenting with what looks the best for your press release – for a general guideline, here's a basic format template:
- Title
- Band Promo Picture
- Info on Release and Short Bio
- Music Download Link
- A Quote from Lyrics or a Band Quote on the Release, for Media Use
- More Info On The Band, Creation of the Music, or Overall Sound
- List of Member's Names and Instruments
- Track List
- Any Relevant Press Articles/Quotes
- All Your Social Media & Streaming Links
Examples:
Here are some examples of music press releases that you can use as a guide or inspiration while writing your own.
Example 1:
Example 2:
Here's An Example of a press release we created for Vagrant Son.
The Metalverse
The Role of a Music Press Publicist
What Does A Music Press Publicist Do?
A music press publicist specializes in writing and distributing press releases. They have established media contacts that are often difficult to reach independently. Hiring a publicist can significantly increase your chances of securing high-profile media coverage.
Benefits of Hiring A Music Press Publicist
- Access to Exclusive Media Contacts: Many media/radio contacts are hard to reach unless you have a line of contact with them already, press publicists act as a third party to talk to news outlets for you that otherwise would not respond to submissions.
- Expert Guidance: Publicists have years of experience with what works (and doesn’t) — helping you create the most effective and successful press release possible.
- Use The Publicist's Work for the Future: You can utilize quotes from a professional press release for other aspects of your band like bios, Electronic Press Kits, and pitches.
- Time-Saving: Press publicists handle all aspects of writing and distributing a press release for you, allowing you more time to focus on other aspects of music/promotion and connecting with your fans.
- Create Buzz About Your Band: A well-done press release can help build awareness, create a portfolio of press links, and help with overall promotion efforts.
Do I Need A Music Press Publicist?
While hiring a publicist can be a good investment, bands on a budget can still achieve great results by learning to write and distribute press releases effectively on their own.
If you don’t mind doing research and building a list of contacts, creating your own press releases can be a cheaper alternative, although most bands opt for hiring a professional music publicist as professional campaigns are typically much more successful.
Where To Get Rock and Metal Press Releases?
The Metalverse: Rock/Metal Press Release Campaigns
With a community of hundreds of thousands of fans that we reach per month, The Metalverse is a blog that helps bands increase exposure, internet coverage, and provides useful promotional tools and content.
If you’re a rock or metal band seeking professional press release services, partnering with a specialized music publicist or company can be a game changer. The Metalverse offers customized press release campaigns which we will write and share to our high-traffic blog. We also pitch to the biggest internet radio stations in the world and to our vast connection of blogs, influencers, and more!
Whether you’re launching a new album or preparing for a major tour, an expertly crafted press release can make all the difference in getting your band noticed by the media and fans.
Want to learn more? You can contact The Metalverse to talk more so we can create a personalized music marketing campaign for you. Message us here.
What We Offer:
Professional Press Release - we will create a private link that will be shared with you for your personal use and also sent to our list of contacts, after release it will be posted to our popular metal blog.
Pitch to Radio - we will pitch to our contacts in the #1 and #2 biggest rock/metal radio stations, among many others.
Pitch to Blogs - we will send the press release to dozens of relevant blogs
Contact Popular Influencers - we will reach out to huge social media influencers to get your music featured across huge audiences
Spotify Playlist Placement - we will put your music on one of our curated playlists that fits your music.
Have any questions or want to customize our services? Message us here.
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