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If you're someone who's bewildered by offensive commentary from public figures — How could they say that? Why would they think that's okay? — then congratulations: It's quite possible that you don't need to read this. But the public relations disasters continue; clearly, there are some musicians who desperately need a refresher on how to not be a jerk.
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If you’ve ever tried to run your own music PR campaign, you know how grueling and downright discouraging it can be. But there are a few questions you can ask yourself to determine if you really want to invest your time into what can be a challenging, but rewarding, experience.
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Publicity is a useful promotional tool that can help increase your exposure and give credibility to your music. As an emerging artist, you may not be able to hire a publicist right away, but you can run your own successful PR campaign.
Running your own campaign requires preparation, strategy, time, and persistence. You can receive quality placements if you're willing to do the work. Here are eight things you need to do before you launch your next DIY music PR campaign.
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Before becoming a full-time writer, I worked in PR for a short period of time. Though I wasn’t anywhere near the music industry, my months repping people and brands taught me what can be promised by publicists and what can’t. My boss at the time used to always tell potential clients that any company that promises certain coverage is lying and shouldn't be trusted, and he was right.
Some people are confused about this, so I’d like to share what I believe you can (and should) demand from your music PR team, and why.
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In case you thought you were alone in feeling like your mind goes to mush during interviews – you're not. Even people who consider themselves outgoing can find themselves so anxious they can't think straight when asked questions on the spot, on the record. But talking with the press is an important part of promoting your music, so you absolutely must deal.
To be honest, I personally struggled with this. As a music journalist, I'm used to being on the other side, but since opening a music venue a couple years ago, I've been asked for interviews a handful of times. I thought my years of conversations with bands and artists had prepared me – nope! Again and again, my nerves have hit such brain-draining highs that I can't even bear to check out the story once it was published.
But, like you, I know I've got to get over my jitters somehow. I really do want to be a great interview subject, so I've created a five-step plan (yup, planning is key!) that I think will get me there. Maybe it'll help you too. Good luck!
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