20 Categories of Music Press Outlets to Research

Start by identifying which categories are relevant to your genre and audience. You don’t need contacts in all 20 categories. Pick the 5-8 that make the most sense for your music and focus there.

How to Find the Right Contact at Each Outlet

1. Check the “About” or “Contact” page. Most blogs and publications list their editorial staff with roles. Look for: Editor, Music Editor, Reviews Editor, Features Editor, or Submissions.
2. Read recent articles in your genre. Note the byline (author name). That person is more likely to care about your pitch than a generic submissions inbox.
3. Check social media bios. Many music writers list their outlet affiliation and sometimes their email on Twitter/X or Instagram bios.
4. Look for “Submit Music” or “Contact” pages. Many outlets have a specific submission process. Follow it exactly. Ignoring submission guidelines is the fastest way to get deleted.
5. Use LinkedIn. Search for the outlet name and filter by “People.” You can often find staff writers and editors with their roles listed.

Tools for Finding Journalist Emails

Contact Spreadsheet Template

Set up a spreadsheet with these columns. We recommend Google Sheets so you can access it from anywhere and share it with your team.

Tips for maintaining your spreadsheet:

• Color-code rows by status: green for positive response, yellow for pending, red for declined, gray for no response.
• Add a “Priority” column (High/Medium/Low) to focus your energy on the outlets most likely to move the needle.
• Keep notes on submission guidelines so you don’t have to look them up again next time.
• This spreadsheet is a long-term asset. Update it with every release, not just for crowdfunding.

Press Pitch Template for Crowdfunding Campaigns

Keep pitches short, specific, and focused on what makes your story interesting to their audience (not just to you).

Pitch tips:

• Personalize every pitch. Reference a specific article they wrote or a specific reason you chose their outlet. Copy-paste pitches get deleted.
• Lead with the story, not the ask. Journalists want interesting stories, not crowdfunding advertisements.
• Include a direct link to your music. Don’t make them search for it. Use a private SoundCloud link, Bandcamp, or YouTube.
• Keep it under 250 words. Journalists receive hundreds of pitches. Respect their time.
• Send from a real email address, not a no-reply or info@ address.

Follow-Up Timeline and Templates

How to Track Outreach Results

At the end of your campaign, review your press outreach to learn what worked for future releases.

Key metrics to track:

• Response rate: What percentage of outlets responded at all? Industry average is 5-15%.
• Coverage rate: Of those who responded, how many published something?
• Traffic impact: Use UTM parameters on your campaign link (e.g., ?utm_source=blogname) to track which press coverage actually drove backers.
• Conversion rate: Of the visitors from press coverage, how many backed the campaign?
• Best outlet types: Did blogs, podcasts, or YouTube channels drive the most backers?

What to do with this data:

• Outlets that covered you are warm contacts for future releases. Send them a thank-you and keep them updated.
• Outlets that declined may still be open to future projects. Note what they cover and pitch them when you have a better fit.
• Double down on the outlet types that drove the most backers for your next campaign.