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Music Blog Pitch Checklist

Checklist

Music Blog Pitch Checklist

Last reviewed 12 March 2026

By TAP Editorial Team

A music blog pitch that lands is built on research, specificity, and respect for editorial voice. This checklist walks through the non-negotiables before you hit send—from identifying the right contact to structuring follow-up timing. Skip these steps and your pitch joins the noise.

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Research & Target Verification

Confirm the blog actually covers this genre or artist type
Critical
Spend 10 minutes reading recent posts. A blog about lo-fi bedroom pop won't engage with a K-pop group pitch, no matter how well-written. Check their archives, category tags, and recent coverage patterns.
Identify the correct contact person by name
Critical
Generic 'Editor' pitches get deprioritised. Find the writer who covers this genre or the editorial contact listed on the blog's About or Contact page. Check their bylines, social media handles, and Twitter/LinkedIn to understand their editorial interests.
Note the blog's submission guidelines or preferences
Critical
Many blogs specify whether they accept unsolicited pitches, preferred formats, lead times, or exclusivity windows. Ignoring this signals you haven't done basic homework.
Check if you've pitched this blog before or if they've covered similar artists
Maintain a simple log (spreadsheet, CRM, or notes app) of who you've pitched and what they covered. This stops redundant pitches and helps you reference prior coverage in future outreach.
Verify the blog is still active (updated within last 3 months)
Critical
Abandoned blogs waste your time. Last post from 2021? Move on. Stale contact lists are a budget drain.

Asset & Information Preparation

Gather high-resolution artwork (3000px minimum, RGB, under 5MB)
Critical
Blogs use artwork for thumbnails, social sharing, and editorial layouts. Low-res images get rejected or look unprofessional. Have a dedicated folder with press images, album art, and artist photos ready to send.
Prepare a short artist bio (50–100 words) with key facts
Critical
Include notable releases, achievements, upcoming dates, and one sentence on their sound. Keep it punchy; don't make the journalist hunt for basics.
Confirm all links work (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, artist website)
Critical
Broken links kill momentum. Test each one before sending. Dead streams or outdated websites suggest a sloppy campaign.
Prepare a short supporting quote or statement from the artist (optional but powerful)
A two-sentence quote about the work, creative process, or upcoming plans gives the journalist material to work with and adds authentic voice to a feature.
Document release dates, single schedules, and tour dates (if relevant)
Critical
Journalists need timing context. If you're pitching a single, what's the release date? When are they touring? Missing this kills exclusivity windows and newsworthiness.

Personalisation & Angle Development

Reference a specific recent post or artist they've covered
Critical
Open with: 'I saw your piece on [Artist] last month—loved your take on [specific angle]. I think your readers would connect with [Your Artist] for similar reasons.' This proves you've read their work.
Explain why this artist fits their editorial voice, not why they should care
Critical
Blogs care about their audience. Frame it as: 'Your readers who love [Genre/Artist] will respond to this because [reason].' Don't pitch the artist; pitch the fit.
Develop a specific story angle, not just a release announcement
Critical
'New single out' is noise. 'Artist tackles [social issue] over genre-blending production' or 'This marks their first full band recording after 5 years solo' gives something to write about.
Note any exclusivity hook (premiere, interview, live session availability)
Exclusive content moves pitches up the queue. Clearly state if this blog gets first dibs on a premiere, interview, or session footage, and specify the exclusivity window (48 hours, one week, etc.).

Subject Line & Pitch Body Structure

Write a subject line under 50 characters with the artist name and one hook
Critical
Avoid 'New Music' or 'Press Release.' Use: '[Artist] – [Angle]' or '[Artist] announces [Event].' Test that it's visible on mobile without truncation.
Open with the personalised reference or name-drop
Critical
First line: '[Journalist Name], I saw your recent coverage of [reference]. I think you'll connect with [Artist] because...' This gets your email read, not skipped.
Limit body copy to 150–200 words total
Critical
Journalists scan. Three short paragraphs: (1) who they are, (2) why now, (3) call to action. Keep it dense and specific.
Include one clear, single call-to-action
Critical
Don't ask for a review, interview, and live session in one email. Ask for one thing: 'Are you open to an exclusive premiere on [date]?' or 'Can we set up a 20-minute call?' Make acceptance easy.
Embed or attach assets inline (don't over-attach)
If artwork is under 2MB, attach it. If links are long, use a short URL service or Dropbox. Make it frictionless to see what you're offering.

Pre-Send Quality Check

Proofread for typos, spelling, and grammar (UK spelling)
Critical
Errors signal carelessness. Read it aloud. Use spell-check. If you're pitching British press, check you're using 'colour,' 'organise,' 'realise'—not US variants.
Verify the journalist's email address is correct
Critical
A single-letter typo bounces your pitch into the void. Double-check against the blog's website, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Check that tone matches the blog's voice (formal vs. casual)
Critical
A stuffy press release email doesn't work for a casual, personality-driven blog. Scan their recent posts and match their tone—conversational, witty, or analytical.
Confirm you're not pitching multiple blogs at identical times (if claiming exclusivity)
Critical
If you offer exclusivity, honour it. Don't pitch the same premiere to five blogs simultaneously. Stagger pitches by 24–48 hours per tier.
Remove any generic placeholder text or developer notes
Critical
Search your email for '[INSERT]' or '[NAME]' before sending. Lazy find-and-replace errors torpedo credibility.

Timing & Follow-Up Strategy

Send during business hours in the journalist's timezone (9am–11am is peak open rate)
If pitching UK blogs, send 9–11am GMT. Monday–Thursday performs better than Friday. Avoid holidays and industry shutdown periods (late December, August).
Plan one follow-up email 5–7 days after initial send (if no response)
Keep it brief: 'Following up on [Artist] pitch below—wanted to see if you had capacity this week.' Not aggressive, just a gentle reminder.
Never send more than two follow-ups for a single campaign
Critical
After two unanswered emails, move on. A third email tips from persistent to unprofessional. Respect their silence and focus energy elsewhere.
Document the send date and response (or non-response) in your tracking system
Log: sent [date], response [yes/no/date], outcome [feature/pass]. This builds institutional memory and prevents duplicate pitches.
If declined, ask for brief feedback on why (optional but valuable)
A short note—'Thanks for considering. Is there anything about the artist or story that didn't fit your editorial?'—can yield insights for future pitches.

A disciplined pitch process reduces noise and builds trust with bloggers. The difference between a pitch that lands and one that gets deleted is rarely the artist—it's preparation, research, and respect for the journalist's time.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I pitch a blog for a single or album release?

Blogs operate on shorter lead times than print magazines. Pitch 2–3 weeks before release for standard coverage, or 4–6 weeks if seeking an exclusive premiere or interview. Always check the blog's stated lead time in their guidelines.

Should I personalise every single pitch or use a template?

Use a template structure for efficiency, but personalise the opening, reference, and angle for each blog. A generic mass-pitch reads as mass-pitch. Spend the extra 5 minutes per contact—it's the difference between 5% and 30% response rates.

What if a blog doesn't list a specific contact person?

Check the blog's 'Contact' page, Twitter handle, or Instagram bio for an editor email. If it's truly missing, try editor@[blogname].com or check recent bylines and reach out to the author directly on Twitter or LinkedIn. A small effort here pays dividends.

How do I know if a blog has actually received my pitch?

Use email tracking tools (Mailchimp, Gmail's native tracking, or Superhuman) to see if your email was opened and clicked. If it wasn't opened after 3–4 days, follow up. No tracking tool? Send yourself a test email first to confirm the address is valid.

Is it better to call a blog instead of emailing?

No. Unsolicited cold calls are invasive and hurt relationships. Email gives journalists time to consider your pitch and respond on their schedule. Call only if you have an existing relationship or they've invited direct contact.

What's the difference between pitching a blog and pitching a music journalist at a major publication?

Blogs often favour exclusives, premieres, and direct artist access. Major publications want unique angles and interviews. Blogs prioritise speed and audience fit; magazines prioritise editorial depth and brand alignment. Adjust your angle and assets accordingly.

Can I pitch the same artist to multiple blogs simultaneously?

Yes, but respect exclusivity claims. If you offer Blog A an exclusive 48-hour premiere, honour it—don't pitch the same premiere to Blog B until the window closes. For non-exclusive coverage, simultaneous pitches are fine; just stagger timing by a day or two to manage any feedback overlap.

How do I recover from a poor first pitch to a blog I want to work with long-term?

Wait 2–3 months, then pitch again with a different artist or angle. Reference your past pitch only if you learned something: 'My last pitch missed the mark for your readers; this one should fit better because...' Show that you're listening to their editorial voice now.

From the field

Proof points

Named contact reply rate vs studio@: 5x higher (Liberty Music PR campaign data, 2024-2026)
Specialist shows beat playlist pitches: Named producers respond, playlist-only emails get dropped (Liberty 2024-2026)
Best UK send window: Tue/Wed 09:00-10:00 UK (Across 60+ campaigns)
Optimal follow-up cadence: +7 days from initial pitch (Liberty internal data)

What actually happened

Roam Belle, Specialist UK radio + community stations: 96 plays across the campaign window, declining after week 5. Named-contact pitches outperformed generic submissions. (February 2025)

Music press writers reply to named pitches that fit their column or section. They do not reply to generic submissions to news@ or tips@. I read the writer's last three pieces before sending anything. The pitch fits the writer's beat in two sentences or it does not get sent. Trade press, consumer press, and online-only outlets all run on the same logic: named contacts beat generic inboxes by five to one.

Chris Schofield, Radio plugger, Liberty Music PR

Related resources

Long-Lead vs Short-Lead Press Strategy: A Practical Guide

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Music Press Contact Research: A Practical Guide