An Independent Artist Guide To Public Relations.

Mastering the Art of Public Relations: A Humorous Guide for Independent Artists

It really is 😏

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Welcome, dear independent artists, to the wild and wonderful world of Public Relations (PR)

You've mastered your craft, honed your skills, worked on your EP and released it through Distrokid.

And now you're ready to share your music brilliance with the world.

(Hint: You Should Have Worked On Your PR While Working On Your EP)

But wait, before you jump headfirst into the PR pool.

Picture this: you're a musical Picasso, a lyrical Michelangelo, but unfortunately, your genius isn't going to magically catapult you to stardom.

Not in these circumstances

That's where PR comes in.

A PR is like the fairy godmother of the entertainment industry, except instead of turning pumpkins into carriages, it can turn you obscure indie project into the next big thing.

First things first, let's tackle the basics: what exactly is PR?

Think of it as the art of making people think you're cooler than you actually are.

Unable to Convert Your 1000 Fans?

Here's the Uncomfortable Truth: Maybe Your Music Isn't as Cool or Innovative as You Think, and/or worse...Your Tune Might Just Suck.

Or maybe your father would rather listen to his Dad's tune on repeat, rather than your new single he paid your Fiver's producer for.

The world has already witnessed legends like Prince and The Beatles, so why should they tune into yours? Relax.

Oh No! Did we hurt your ego?

Pause, step away from the screen, and consider removing your music from streaming platforms. Focus on living your life beyond the spotlight because readiness to become the next big thing entails being open to criticism.

We are independent and chill, if you were to be a major label signed artist you'd most likely be sued by your label

So yes; quit before even your major label sues you because they wanted you to be more "pop".

If you are still here...too bad, we thought we could scare you away (save you from this music business) but let's keep going.

Public Relation is all about crafting a narrative, shaping perceptions, and convincing the masses that you're the hottest thing since sliced bread (or avocado toast, for you trendy types).

Of course, no PR journey would be complete without a healthy dose of shameless self-promotion.

But here's the catch: subtlety is key.

Nobody (not even your grandma) likes a shameless artist clogging up their newsfeed with incessant pleas to "Check out my new song on Spotify".

Instead, think of yourself as a stealthy ninja, subtly weaving mentions of your latest project into impressive magazines and impressive outlets like a master of the craft.

EXAMPLE

Versus

See the difference ?

Now, let's talk about press releases. Ah, the humble press release – the bread and butter of any PR campaign.

It's like sending out a message in a bottle, hoping that some kind soul in the vast ocean of journalists will stumble upon it and decide to give you a shot.

Reality is that unless your dating Selena Gomez, unless your mocking someone, or you fake your death- Nobody Cares. (Trust me, I am a Journalist)

Remember, journalists are busy people with short attention spans, so keep it short, sweet, and straight to the point.

Even then, they would rather cover Lil Tay fake dying rather than your latest single, because they can do so, and because who tf are you?

Lastly, never underestimate the power of networking.

Rub elbows with industry insiders, schmooze at events, and shamelessly name-drop like your life depends on it.

Who knows, maybe one day you'll find yourself sipping champagne with Jay-Z at an exclusive rooftop Billboohard party, casually discussing collaborations like it's no big deal.

An alternative is to buy your way into Rolling Stohnes or work with a PR that may be able to get you a feature.

It has always been a pay to play industry anyway,

it is not uncommon for Majors to own shares, or even the enterity of your favorite and dream music magazines.

So there you have it, my fellow indie darlings –

a crash course in PR.

Remember, in the crazy world of showbiz, anything is possible with the right attitude, a sprinkle of charm, and a whole lot of hustle.

Now go forth and conquer the world of PR!

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