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# Use The Right Format To Submit Music To Blogs, Radio, Festivals And More
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/the-right-format-for-the-occasion-submitting-your-music-to-blogs-radio-festivals-and-more/
- Published: 2017-02-23T11:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2017-02-23T11:00:00.000Z
- Description: Getting the attention of music blogs, DJs, and licensing agencies etc. is a tricky business, as each one requires a special approach. Here Michael Corcoran helps explain the best way. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/02/the-right-format-for-the-occasion-submitting-your-music-to
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: DIY Advice & Tips, Music Business, Music Marketing, Active noise control, Alexander Wang (designer), Android (operating system), Apple Lossless, Apple Music, Disc jockey, Extended play, New York City, Secure Digital, United States, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:13

[![1](https://a1.typepad.com/6a016766638dee970b01bb097c3929970d-150wi "1")](http://a1.typepad.com/6a016766638dee970b01bb097c3929970d-popup?ref=hypebot.com)Getting the attention of music blogs, DJs, and licensing agencies etc. is a tricky business, as each one requires a special approach. Here Michael Corcoran helps explain the best way to pitch your music to various different entities within the music business.

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[![Music-notes](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b7c8d94719970b-400wi "Music-notes")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b7c8d94719970b-popup?ref=hypebot.com)  

*Guest post by *Michael Corcoran* on [DIY Musician](http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/music-promotion/right-format-occasion-submitting-music/?ref=hypebot.com)*Many artists write to ask me how they can get their songs to blogs, DJs, and music companies without breaking the band promo budget. I get it; band budgets are tight and you want to save everywhere you can. You’re willing to put in the time & energy to reach out and follow up with radio stations, music blogs, and labels on your own.Maybe you’ve read *[this article](http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.discmakers.com%2F2013%2F06%2Fsubmit-songs-to-music-blogs-and-record-labels%2F&t=ODMwZTYyOGExYjQxZTg1MmM0YzUwMmM0ZTJiNzE3ZjEzNWU5NGJjMyxHTm9IMHRkYQ%3D%3D&b=t%3ASs2lAt5P7nFzqbAbdSYqXA&p=http%3A%2F%2Fmusicsubmitpromo.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F157068335864%2Fdiy-graphic-to-submitting-your-music-to&m=1&ref=hypebot.com)* by David Wimble (the Indie Bible) advising how to contact music sites. It’s a long read but contains crucially important information, and so I’ve taken the liberty of breaking it down into general guidelines, with an **easy-to-reference graphic.** Keep in mind, **you’ll still want to check with each individual website** for the specific instructions before submitting – but the graphic should help you with the basics.And, of course if you wear yourself out doing all this muckwork, re-check the band fund for spare change and use one of these [*submission services*](http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hypebot.com%2Fhypebot%2F2016%2F03%2Fband-promo-tips-tactics-to-avoid.html&t=MDRhNzdlNGYxOWE5YzI4MzFlM2I3M2I5NWZiZTlhNDgyOTBiMWIwMixHTm9IMHRkYQ%3D%3D&b=t%3ASs2lAt5P7nFzqbAbdSYqXA&p=http%3A%2F%2Fmusicsubmitpromo.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F157068335864%2Fdiy-graphic-to-submitting-your-music-to&m=1&ref=hypebot.com). They’re much better today than the[ *earlier years of internet music promotion*](http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fevolvor.com%2F2008%2F04%2F08%2Fwhy-automated-music-submission-services-dont-work%2F&t=ZDUxZDY3ZDc2MWM2MjA0MjZmODUzMzNjYzgwNWQyMGY1NzQ0YTk3OCxHTm9IMHRkYQ%3D%3D&b=t%3ASs2lAt5P7nFzqbAbdSYqXA&p=http%3A%2F%2Fmusicsubmitpromo.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F157068335864%2Fdiy-graphic-to-submitting-your-music-to&m=1&ref=hypebot.com)*,* and pricing usually start at under $15\. Okay, Back to DIY!

![music-formats-blog-chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/diymusician-cdbaby-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/music-formats-blog-chart.png)

**First Universal rule:** Remember this! **Never attach an MP3 file** to in email unless specifically asked to. Instead, use a download link to your mp3 that also streams the music, like Dropbox or Box.com.**Second Universal Rule:** With very few exceptions**, sites will almost always accept a streaming link** of your music at first. Streams are most convenient for screening your music. However, streams are not always that last step. Many types of sites will need more than just a stream, as you’ll find below & in the graphic.**Use these guidelines for submitting music, depending on What Type of Music Company you are sending to.**

### Radio Stations

![image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/68-media-tumblr-com/af91d1b9de4855c8b2b577bc79e1b3df/tumblr_inline_ol6878wpn81rk2gr2_400.jpg)

*Preferred vehicle:*   **Hardcopy CDs** *Might accept:*   **MP3s, EPKs with download links** *Can’t use:*   **Streaming links, Videos**Most **radio stations** have staff working different hours, with no central digital database to store potential music for the air. **CDs are much easier to share and pass around at a radio station.**Usually they prefer to screen your music first – so don’t waste a CD on a station that hasn’t heard you yet. A streaming + download link may be acceptable – but to air your music, the station will eventually need your digital file or hardcopy. Be ready to reply and get the station what they ask for.

### Webzines & Blogs

![image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/68-media-tumblr-com/8abcbaa87d7c74e8b1be6db130b1668e/tumblr_inline_ol68cvvh1y1rk2gr2_400.jpg)

*Preferred vehicle:*   **Embeddable music player, Videos** *Might accept:* **CDs, digital press kits** *Can’t use:* **MP3s** **Bloggers** share music in a different way than DJs; they do it digitally, **usually with streaming links.** Some webzines that do full album reviews prefer the hardcopy CD, but this is getting rarer.**MP3s are of no use to most bloggers –** they don’t have the bandwidth to host a database of MP3s. Streaming links from Soundcloud, [Bandcamp](http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fbandcamp.com%2F&t=YTYyNTBmNjU1YzVmODQyODA2MmVjOThmMGIwOTJjZGI4YTA1MTQ2MixHTm9IMHRkYQ%3D%3D&b=t%3ASs2lAt5P7nFzqbAbdSYqXA&p=http%3A%2F%2Fmusicsubmitpromo.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F157068335864%2Fdiy-graphic-to-submitting-your-music-to&m=1&ref=hypebot.com), Spotify, and YouTube are so much easier.

### Festivals

![image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/68-media-tumblr-com/419bfc4bb2134100a06696c13af34c73/tumblr_inline_ol68i4infg1rk2gr2_500.jpg)

*Preferred vehicle:* **Digital Press kits** *Might accept:* **CDs, hardcopy press kits**Can’t use: **MP3s**Your digital press kits contains your band’s pertinent info: Music, Bio, Photos, Links, Press Release information, Short Description.**A festival will need to learn a lot about your band** before considering you for a slot. Basically, they need every piece of music marketing material you have.

### Record Labels/Producers

![image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/68-media-tumblr-com/d6439aba39412449c3ba36af6c1f3a20/tumblr_inline_ol68l9q4du1rk2gr2_250.jpg)

*Preferred method:* **CDs or press kits**Might accept: **Video or streaming links**Can’t use: **MP3s** **Labels** generally prefer to listen to your music first, then **request more material if they like you.**It’s best to send your streaming music, then wait. Be ready to send a Hardcopy CD + press kit, or a digital press kit. MP3s aren’t useful, unless the label loads all their music into iTunes, which they don’t.

### Venue/Promoter

![image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/68-media-tumblr-com/2187c55d8dc6ff70379953e7bc318c91/tumblr_inline_ol68outlwg1rk2gr2_400.jpg)

*Preferred Method:* **Digital Press Kit**Might accept:   **Live Video** *Can’t use:*   **Streaming link, MP3s, CDs**For venues, it’s more about your **band information** you provide rather than the music itself. Don’t waste your hardcopy CDs with a venue owner – save it for the merch table!

### TV/Film Sync

![image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/68-media-tumblr-com/103e7c9f7621d3365aa4955ffb5f8ce0/tumblr_inline_ol68rz0mms1rk2gr2_250.jpg)

*Preferred method:* **MP3s ( use download link, and properly tagged)** *Might accept:*   **Hardcopy CDs, video** *Can’t use:*   **Digital press kit** **Sync supervisors** collect large databases of digital music that they can refer to later. They may use streaming links to weed out the bad stuff, but they’ll still need your **fully-tagged digital file** for keeping track of who gets paid what in the event of a placement.Hardcopy CDs may or may not contain the necessary information. A video may be used to judge your “sync-ness.” A digital press kit contains too much irrelevant info for a sync supe.\[*This article originally appeared on [MusicSubmit](http://www.musicsubmit.com/blog-detail/index.cfm/16/diy-graphic-to-submitting-your-music-to?ref=hypebot.com)*.\]

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