Music PR for Indie Artists: What to Do Before Hiring a Publicist
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Let’s be real. PR is powerful — but expensive.
And in 2025, not every indie artist needs a publicist right away.
What you need first is clarity, story, and structure. Most artists waste money on PR before they’re ready — with no EPK, no content plan, and no angle.
This blog will walk you through the 4 things you must do before hiring a publicist, so when you finally invest — it actually works.
Step 1: Build a Strong Electronic Press Kit (EPK)
Your EPK is your artist CV — clean, confident, and clickable. Journalists, blogs, and curators won’t take you seriously without one.
Your EPK should include:
- Artist Bio
Short & sharp (150–200 words)
Tone should reflect your genre and vibe
Mention your influences, key releases, and what makes you unique
- Press Images
2–3 high-quality images (portrait, full body, live shot)
Professional-looking, even if DIY (natural light, clean background, consistent style)
- Streaming Links
Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music
Make sure your profiles are optimized and up-to-date
- Latest Release Info
Title, release date, artwork
Short write-up: what it’s about, why it matters, any cool backstory
- Social Media & Contact
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, website
Management/artist contact email
- Press Mentions
If you've been featured anywhere (blogs, interviews, playlists), highlight it.
Step 2: Craft Your Story (Because "New Single Out Now" Isn’t Enough)
PR is about narrative, not just noise.
Every artist has a story. You just need to shape it.
Ask yourself:
- What’s the emotional DNA behind your music?
- What inspired this project?
- What makes your journey different?
- Are you blending cultures, genres, languages?
- Is your process unique — AI-powered? Home studio? Live instruments?
Turn your story into 3 key talking points that publicists, blogs, and interviewers can pick up.
Example: “After quitting my job in finance, I wrote this EP during a 3-month solo trip across Rajasthan. It blends lo-fi indie with ambient field recordings from the desert.”
Now THAT is press-worthy.
Step 3: Build Your Own Press List
You don’t need to be famous to get blog coverage.
You just need to reach the right people the right way.
Start with:
- 10–15 indie blogs in your genre (Google “best indie folk music blogs 2025”)
- Local or regional outlets that support new artists
- Podcasts and YouTube reviewers in your scene
- Spotify playlist curators (search their names on LinkedIn or Submithub)
- Instagram pages that post about your genre or vibe
Create a Notion or Google Sheet with:
- Name of blog/person
- Email / Instagram handle
- Type of content they post
- Last article they wrote
- Why they might like your music
This is your press radar. You’ll grow it over time.
Step 4: Send Your First 10 PR Pitches (Even Without a Publicist)
What your pitch email should include:
- A personalized intro (mention their blog/podcast/playlist)
- Who you are and what the release is
- 1–2 sentences about the music’s story/sound
- Streaming link + press images + EPK
- A call to action: “Would you consider reviewing it / featuring it / sharing it?”
Pro Tips:
- Keep it short and real — don’t oversell
- Always personalize at least one sentence
- Follow up once after 7 days
- Track replies and update your sheet
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait to Be “Ready”
You don’t need a million streams or a label to do real PR.
You just need intention, clarity, and effort.
Doing the groundwork yourself — even once — will make you 10x more powerful when you do hire a publicist later. And if you decide to stay indie? You’ll already have the tools.
Need help building your press kit or writing your first pitch?
That’s exactly what we do.
Let’s work together to build a DIY campaign that actually gets you noticed.
📧 contact@vivamusic.in | DM viva_music_official
