Your first useful step in TAP is a pitch you have checked and sent to someone who fits your music. Start with one contact you know.
This guide takes you from the release brief to that first send, then shows where to find replies. Your first release is free, with no card or trial clock.
1. Gather the release details
Have these ready:
- Your artist name, track title and release date.
- A working listening link. Open it yourself and check what a recipient can hear.
- A few true details about the track: what happened, what inspired it and why you are releasing it now.
- Previous support worth mentioning, with names and facts you can check.
- One relevant radio, press or playlist contact, ideally someone who already knows your music.
Rough notes are enough to begin. Avoid inventing a story to fill a box; specific details give you something useful to work with.
2. Tell TAP about yourself
Create your account. The first setup screen is Tell TAP who you are. Enter your artist or act name and closest genre.
The extra background questions are optional. Add what is useful, then choose Next to open the release brief.
Already set up? Go straight to create a release. You can return to your saved releases from Releases.
3. Create your release
Enter the track title, artist name, release date, genre and listening link. Add the story, existing support and what matters most for this release.
Use the brief's listening-link field for the version you want recipients to hear. Check access before you include it in a pitch.
Choose Start the release, then Open the desk. Your release has five stages: Track, Story, Send, Socials and Results.
Follow the release checklist. In Track, check your saved details and add the materials the release needs. You can edit the brief later.
If contact research has not produced contacts yet, add your own or use Find new contacts. Check any suggested contact before pitching them.
4. Check your story
Open Story. Choose Let TAP draft it to work from your brief, or Import press release if you already have a document.
Read it carefully. Correct names, dates, credits, claims and links. Approve the version you want to use before continuing when Story is required.
A radio-only release can show the press release as optional. Follow the requirement shown for your release.
5. Choose the first contact
Open Contacts. Add an existing contact, or import your contacts if you have a list. Use Add to release to attach them.
Start with someone whose show, publication or playlist suits this track. Check the address and their current submission instructions, including whether they accept email.
Keep useful relationship notes: previous support, an earlier conversation or a reason to wait. Those details help you approach the person appropriately next time.
6. Set up Gmail
Open Connections and choose Connect Gmail. Return to the connection's setup details to finish enabling sending and reply syncing.
For the app-password setup, open Google App Passwords, name the password TAP and paste the generated 16 characters into TAP's Gmail app password field.
Choose Test and save. Check the test succeeds and TAP shows sending is ready. Connecting the account alone can leave another setup step to complete.
Google requires 2-Step Verification for app passwords. If the option is unavailable, check Google's app-password help for the account requirements.
The release checklist also offers Gmail setup. Its app-password button is labelled Save & test.
7. Read your first pitch
Return to the release's Send stage. Choose your contact and select Draft & Send, or Draft on mobile, to open their pitch.
Check the subject and read the whole message. Edit anything that sounds unlike you, overstates the story or gets the recipient wrong.
Before sending, check:
- The recipient and email address are correct.
- The opening explains why this track suits them.
- The release date, artist name and listening link are right.
- The message follows their submission instructions.
If a ready pitch appears under Waiting on you, use Read to open it fully. Read through the message to enable Send.
8. Send the checked pitch
When the message is ready, choose Send via Gmail in the composer, or Send on the ready pitch.
If Confirm send appears, check the recipient, message and relationship warnings. Choose Confirm & Send when you are ready to send that message.
Check the sent confirmation and the contact's Sent status. Resolve any error before moving on. You can also check your Gmail Sent folder.
9. Read what comes back
Open Results and look at Replies as messages sync. Read the actual reply before deciding whether to respond, follow up or leave it there.
Keep contact notes current. For your next release, earlier replies and support give you a starting point for a personal conversation.
After your first successful send, work through the next suitable contact. Placement decisions belong to the recipient; a sent pitch does not guarantee coverage.
You can also use Socials to prepare release posts. Check each draft and copy the text when ready. If your connected Buffer option is available, review its action before using it.
What happens after the free release?
Your first single, EP or album counts as one free release. There is no trial clock or card requirement.
Later packs cost £59 for a single, £99 for an EP or £149 for an album, paid once per release. See current pricing before your next release.
Start your first release free, bring one relevant contact, and work towards your first checked send.
