November 23, 2011 How To Get Your Music Posted In Hip Hop Blogs
Blogs are a great way for you to get your name out, many careers in hip hop over the past few years have been built via hip hop blogs. With today’s influx of aspiring rappers getting blog posts has become more difficult than ever. Many blog administrators are receiving hundreds of submissions daily. It is still possible but you have to differentiate yourself from the thousands of other people that call themselves rappers. It all starts with a good pitch, when you approach blogs you’re a stranger asking them for a service in exchange for your support and additional viewers (your fans). The key to your initial pitch is that it should be professional and personable. It is key that you convey to the website that you are a supporter. Do this by referencing some of their past posts, mention a song that you heard on that website, some thing you like about the site. It really doesn’t matter specifically what you reference as long as you convey the point that you follow the blog. Also leave comments on the blogs that you are seeking features in, make sure these comments are genuine thoughts about their various post and not shameless plugs for yourself. Many bloggers will ban you from a site for trying to promote in the comments section so leave genuine comments about the issue at hand. Also if a blog has a twitter, follow them. If they have a Facebook Fan Page like it. These are all things that just show that you are a supporter of the website and they do help. Here’s an example of a sample pitch putting all of those things together.
To: JohnDoe@RapBlog.com
Subject: Keep Up The Good Work!!
Message
JohnDoe,
I came across your site when I was reading up on Dustin Prestige, I’m a fan of his work and your site was one of the only one’s that had his early work Polo’s and AK’s. I can appreciate how you all ride with artist and really build from the ground up with them, that’s real. I’m an artist myself, I’ve got a growing buzz it’s more been based on live shows than internet exposure. When you get a minute check my stuff out and if you like it I’d appreciate if you could support it with a post in your blog.
Peace,
Hungry Rapper
Once you send your initial email remember the fortune is in the follow up. Now to improve your chances of getting post start with blogs that are most accessible to you. Nowadays you probably know someone who has a hip hop blog. The size of their following isn’t important, you just want to get some press links out the gate. If you are from Atlanta Google “Atlanta Hip Hop Blogs” try to find blogs specific to your geography or sound. These will be the ones to most likely support you out the gate. Stay tuned for more steps in part 2.
Robert J. Mayberry is the author of How To Get Your Music Posted In Hip Hop Blogs As an artists he has been featured in over 150 blogs and music web sites including The Source, Vibe, The Examiner and Kevin Nottingham.
.MUSIC Website, Book, music marketing, music promotion | tagged hip hop, music blog
Reader Comments (11)
How do I go from having my post from draft status to being posted?
Muscicians in other genres have to walk a fine line of art and commerce so they don't offend their fanbase
I LOVE YOU LORD,.,LOVE THIS SONGS MUCH
Teach me how to get my blog to link to othe hip hop blog sites plz
Thank you for this post! I been asking myself how to contact these blogs to increase my internet presence, but its been a pain in the a** getting anyone to respond. This is what I needed to see! Thank you again, and when you can, check me out at www.theartistluv.com
Peace,
Hungry Artist (lol)
great article for independent artists
Great info, thank you "D"
Hello Everybody,
Really hip hop music reduce the depression from the mind.
Music is a soul of life.
Music has a great effect on human mind and heart. It creates various emotions in human heart. It changes human mind. It is a kind of food to a tired mind. There are great musicians in India. A few of them who are reputed are Pandit Ravi Shankar, Bismillah Khan, Hariprasad Chaurasia and so on.
thank you
Dope article. It seems like the reoccurring theme in reaching out to blogs or gaining fans is just to be personable and genuine in your approach. If you show love and they see you showing as much support towards them as you would want them to do for you, then it's a more natural trade-off. Just my thoughts.
Peace
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