How to Get Your Music Reviewed
For Artists
Mar 15, 2026
Music reviews build credibility, drive discovery, and give you press quotes for your EPK. The key is targeting the right outlets, sending pitches that respect reviewers' time, and following up without being annoying. Most artists pitch wrong: too broad, too generic, too late. A strategic approach gets better results with less wasted effort.
Reviews do something playlists cannot. They give you third-party validation that compounds across every part of your career. A quote from a respected blog becomes an asset you use in your Spotify bio, your press kit, your booking emails, and your social media. One good review works for you long after it is published.
Reviews also drive a different kind of listener. Someone who reads a review and then seeks out your music has higher intent than someone who stumbled onto a playlist. These listeners are more likely to follow, save, and buy tickets. For the complete promotional framework that includes press alongside other channels, see Music Promotion Guide (With and Without a Budget).
Finding the Right Outlets
The biggest mistake artists make is pitching outlets that are wrong for their music. Sending a metal blog your ambient electronic single wastes everyone's time and burns a contact you might need later.
Where to Look
Genre blogs. Search "[your genre] music blog" and dig past the first page of results. Smaller blogs with engaged readerships often respond faster and cover more emerging artists than the big publications. A feature on a 5,000-reader blog that covers your exact genre is worth more than a rejection from Pitchfork.
Music podcasts. Many podcasts run new music segments or dedicate full episodes to reviews. Search podcast directories for shows covering your genre and check their submission process.
Local publications. City magazines, alt-weeklies, and local music sites cover artists from their region. If you are from Austin, pitch Austin-based outlets first. Local press is achievable and the coverage resonates with the audience most likely to attend your shows.
YouTube reviewers. Channels dedicated to music reviews have loyal audiences who trust their taste. Search for reviewers who cover your genre and check their submission guidelines.
Submission platforms. SubmitHub, Groover, and Musosoup connect artists with blogs, playlist curators, and podcasts. The fee covers the reviewer's time to listen, not guaranteed coverage.
The Outlet Research Framework
Before pitching any outlet, answer these four questions:
Question | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
Have they covered music similar to yours in the last 6 months? | Confirms they are active and your genre fits |
Do they accept submissions, and how? | Respects their process and avoids wasted pitches |
What is their typical format (full review, roundup, premiere)? | Shapes your pitch angle |
Who writes about your genre at this outlet? | Lets you address the right person |
A pitch to the right person at the right outlet is worth more than 50 spray-and-pray submissions. Spend the research time upfront.
The Pitch
Reviewers receive dozens of pitches daily. Most get deleted in seconds. The ones that get opened and read follow a consistent pattern: they are short, specific, and make it easy for the reviewer to say yes.
Structure
Subject line: Artist Name - Song/Album Title (Genre, for Review)
Body: One sentence on who you are and what you are pitching. Two sentences on what the song sounds like and why it fits this specific outlet. One sentence on release date and any relevant context. Then links: private streaming link, press photos, EPK if they request one.
Four to five sentences maximum. Reviewers do not read paragraphs. They scan.
What to Include
A private streaming link so reviewers can hear the music without searching for it. A one-sheet or EPK link with everything they need in one place. A high-resolution press photo, which is required if they write about you. The release date and a short bio for context.
What to Leave Out
Your life story. How hard you worked on the record. Comparisons to massive artists unless genuinely accurate. Multiple songs when you should pitch one at a time.
Sample Pitch
Subject: River Oaks - Midnight Architecture (Indie Rock, for Review)
Hi [Name],
I'm River Oaks, an indie rock artist from Denver. My new single "Midnight Architecture" releases March 14 and I think it fits the guitar-driven, mid-tempo sound you featured in your recent Slow Bloom and Field Museum reviews.
The track pairs layered tremolo guitars with lyrics about rebuilding after a cross-country move. Private link and press materials below.
[Private link] | [EPK] | [Press photo]
Short. Specific. References the outlet's recent coverage. Easy to act on.
Timing Your Pitch
Pitch 3 to 4 weeks before release for standard blog coverage. This gives reviewers time to listen, write, and schedule coverage to coincide with your release date.
For premieres (exclusive first plays of a song or video), pitch 4 to 6 weeks out. Premieres require coordination and outlets book them in advance.
For review roundups and smaller features, 2 to 3 weeks is usually enough.
Never pitch the day of release asking for coverage. The window has closed. Build press outreach into your release timeline from the start.
Following Up
One follow-up is acceptable. Send it two weeks after your initial pitch: "Following up on my submission for [Song Title]. Let me know if you need anything else."
If no response after the follow-up, move on. Silence is a no. Do not send five emails. Do not DM them asking if they got your email.
The relationship matters more than any single placement, and persistence crosses into annoyance faster than most artists realize.
Using Submission Platforms
Platforms like SubmitHub charge a small fee per submission (typically $1 to $3). The fee pays for guaranteed listening time, not guaranteed coverage.
How to maximize your success rate: Target aggressively by genre. Do not submit to outlets that do not cover your sound. Read the curator's notes because many specify exactly what they want and reject immediately when submissions miss the mark.
Check response rates before submitting. Use the feedback, especially when multiple curators give similar notes.
Submission platforms work best as part of a broader PR approach, not as a replacement for direct outreach. The artists who get the most coverage combine both.
Building Relationships Over Time
The artists who get consistent press are not the ones who pitch once and disappear. They build relationships with reviewers and outlets across multiple release cycles.
Share and comment on the outlet's coverage even when you are not pitching. Thank reviewers personally when they cover you. Send a genuine note when you appreciate a review they wrote about someone else. These small gestures make you a real person in their inbox rather than another anonymous submission.
A reviewer who remembers you positively is more likely to open your next email and give your next release a fair listen. For independent artists without a publicist, these relationships are your PR infrastructure.
When to Hire a Publicist
Most independent artists do not need a publicist for every release. You need one when the release is significant enough to warrant a major press push, like an album or a debut EP with momentum behind it.
Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
Early singles, building a catalog | DIY pitching, learn the process yourself |
Debut EP or album with existing traction | Consider a publicist ($1,500 to $5,000 for a campaign) |
Major release with tour or significant moment | Publicist recommended ($3,000 to $10,000+) |
Every single regardless of traction | Not necessary, save the budget |
For early releases, DIY pitching builds skills and relationships you will use for your entire career. For milestone releases, a publicist's connections and pitch expertise can reach outlets that ignore cold submissions.
For more on building your professional support team, see How to Market Your Music by Career Stage.
Handling Reviews
Not every review will be positive. That is part of putting work into the world.
For positive reviews, share them widely. Quote them in your bio, EPK, and social media. Thank the reviewer publicly.
For mixed reviews, pull the best quotes and use those. Every mixed review has a usable line.
For negative reviews, do not respond publicly. Do not argue. Do not post about it on social media.
A professional response to a bad review is no response at all. The review fades from memory. A public meltdown does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many outlets should I pitch per release?
Start with 15 to 25 well-researched outlets that fit your genre. Quality targeting beats volume. Expect a 10 to 20% response rate from cold pitches.
Do reviews directly increase streaming numbers?
The direct impact is modest. The indirect value is significant: press quotes strengthen your EPK, bio, booking emails, and social proof across every channel.
Should I pay for guaranteed reviews?
No. Legitimate outlets do not sell coverage. Pay for submission consideration through platforms like SubmitHub, not for guaranteed positive reviews.
When should I start pitching for a release?
Three to four weeks before release for blogs. Four to six weeks for premieres or larger publications with longer lead times.
Read Next
Time Your Outreach Right:
Press pitches that land too late miss the window. Orphiq's release planning tools builds press outreach into your release timeline so pitches go out at the right moment, not as an afterthought.