With Music Press Release Templates
Working out how to write a music press release can be a difficult task for new artists. It is hard to write about your own achievements in a way that is appealing to the press. Fortunately, we’ve put together the best advice and examples press releases for singles, debut singles, albums, videos and events.
A press release for an artist needs to be focused on the music release or event. You need a title with the artist’s name and press topic. You can include more headings for related press news, an image or artwork and quotes from press reviews of interviews.
There is an art to writing a good press release that many aspiring musicians and artists struggle with. Find out how you can write like a professional with our top tips, templates and examples. Continue reading to find out how to write a music press release.
What is a music press release?
A music press release is a written statement to various media outlets that inform them of a release or an event. This could be a debut single, EP, album, music video or show.
How to write a press release for music?
- Press release title
- Headings for related press news
- Artwork or press image
- Quotations from reviews or features
- Who, what, when, where, why?
- Quotations from the artist
- External links
How do press releases work?
Press releases are a collection of existing information about the artist as well as new information regarding the release or event. Existing reviews from publications are typically included as well as images and tour dates.
Who do you send a press release to?
The press release is sent out to journalists and media publications with the aim of getting press coverage. The release should include everything that a journalist would need to write about the topic in question, as well as seem interesting enough to write about in the first place.
How do you write a good press release?
#1 Press release title
The title of your press release is the main point of the press release. Although you may cover other topics or have other news, there needs to be a single selling point. All you need to do is include your artist’s name and the event. This will be either a new single release, a music video, a tour or anything that you feel is newsworthy.
#2 Headings for related press news
Your subheadings are a great opportunity to plug in some related releases or events. For example, your title may be for a single release. However, you can also promote the album that the single is from and your upcoming shows in the subheadings.
#3 Artwork or press image
You don’t want to clutter the press release with images so include one great press picture that is relevant. This could be artwork, a press shoot image or even a still from your video. It helps if it is as visually engaging as possible and something that a journalist would want on their site.
#4 Quotations from reviews or features
You may not be at this stage if you are a new artist. However, it is important to start small and begin putting together your portfolio of reviews. The bigger the publication, the more weight the review will hold. However, even a small blog or local newspaper could open a door to a bigger publication, helping you move up the press ladder.
You don’t need to include a huge quote from the review. A sentence or a few short words that are really positive will make a much bigger impact than a whole paragraph. Make it concise and easy to take in for whoever will be reading it.
If you’re starting to collect a large share of reviews, don’t use all of them in your press release. Think about the publications you’re trying to reach and include the most relevant quotes. If a journalist from one publication sees a good review from a familiar or similar size blog or website then they will be more likely to look at your press release and write something.
#5 Who, what, when, where, why?
This will be the core of the text in your press release. Your opening should cover the title and maybe the headings as well. From there you need to start creating the story and the background of the artist and the release. You’ll need to inject character and include compelling details regarding your work and the experience you had making it. Hype up your achievements and drop any familiar names that you may be associated with. Don’t push it though because if you haven’t done a lot then it will come through. A small and concise press release is far better than one that drags on about irrelevant accomplishments.
#6 Quotations from the artist
Include some quotes from yourself, whether it’s from an interview or just for your press release. Journalists will be able to use these in their articles and make the feature seem more personal and authentic. A couple of sentences should be enough so make sure you only include a message that you really want to make.
#7 External links
Finally, include links throughout your press release. This can be a private SoundCloud or YouTube link so that they can listen to or watch your work. It could also be for tour dates or your store. The essential links to remember are for your social media pages so that even if the journalist doesn’t write about you, they can still follow you.
Music press release examples and templates
We’ve put together a variety of press releases from Warner and Universal Music. They differ slightly in format and topic but there is a general template that runs through all of them.
Music single press release example
MABEL UNVEILS NEW SINGLE, “MAD LOVE”
DEBUT ALBUM – HIGH EXPECTATIONS – OUT AUGUST 2
GLOBAL TOUR DATES CONFIRMED
“One of the year’s breakout stars” – Sunday Times
“Unflinchingly honest, earnestly positive, and resolutely single-minded” – Vogue
“Mabel has cemented herself as one of the most exciting (and consistently great) British talents”- Gay Times
“Flipping the music-world male gaze without missing a beat” – Dazed
“A richness and honest that sets her out” – Noisey
07 JUNE 2019 (TORONTO, ON) – Mabel has today unveiled “Mad Love”, the lead single from her hugely anticipated debut album High Expectations, out August 2 via Polydor Records/Universal Music Canada.
Stream/download “Mad Love” HERE
Pre-order High Expectations HERE
Mad Love
The release of “Mad Love” follows the unstoppable success of recent single “Don’t Call Me Up”, which peaked at number 3 in the UK and spent 8 weeks in the top 10 (as well as going top 10 globally on Spotify and landing Mabel her first hit around Europe and the US). Off the back of performances on The Graham Norton Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Mabel has also been confirmed as the UK’s first ever Youtube Artist On The Rise (following the likes of Brockhampton and Maggie Rogers), which was just launched at Piccadilly Circus with a preview of ‘Mad Love’. An extensive run of live dates now follows into the end of the year, including Mabel’s UK & European tour with Khalid.
Thrilling, unapologetic and liberated, ‘Mad Love’ is an anthem for women to call the shots and talk about exactly what (and who) they want. Written by Mabel alongside Steve Mac and Kamille – the winning trio behind ‘Don’t Call Me Up’ – ‘Mad Love’ arrives alongside an iconic video directed by Marc Klasfeld, who has previously worked with the likes of Cardi B, Destinys Child, and Jay Z. The video further showcasing this fierce, increasingly-fearless young woman living out all her wildest pop-star-dreams, but in thoroughly modern, warts-and-all style.
High Expectations
It’s this extraordinary journey to where she finds herself now that is encapsulated on Mabel’s debut album, High Expectations: a record – and a state of mind, in many ways – that she has worked towards her whole life (even getting the title tattooed phonetically on her neck when she first thought of it two years ago, knowing firmly that it would never change). Still aged just 23 years old, the twice-Brit-nominated artist has already sold over 3.5 million singles in the UK (three platinum, three gold, and two silver), surpassed 1 billion streams, and sold out the likes of Brixton Academy.
Across her formative singles and first long-form project, “Ivy To Roses” (which also went silver), Mabel has written with startling candour on young love, identity, girl power, and mental health – topics which are taken to greater heights on High Expectations. And on that road to her first record, Mabel’s music has become a soundtrack – for her impassioned young female fanbase, but also for herself – on how to turn those vulnerabilities into your advantages. “Talking about it really does give you a kind of confidence,” Mabel says now, “and that’s new for me. If you’re really going to make a record that talks to people you have to sit and pick at old wounds – put everything under a microscope. I would’ve loved that from my heroes when I was a kid. That dream of pop stars having a perfect life has gone for our generation.”
Fizzing Debut
Stripping away music’s artifice while keeping true to its giddiness and excitement is Mabel’s special gift. Out of some troubling times, she has fashioned a sensational, fizzing debut record, a blue-chip British album which can sit proudly on a global stage next to The Weeknd, Ariana, Drake and whatever Queens B and R have in mind for their 2019. In mood, if not exactly in sound, it has some of the complete realisations of early TLC or Aaliyah, had they spent their teenage years in Sweden, Malaga, or the backstreets of West London.
The calling card of High Expectations is the brusque, street charm that hides in plain sight among its hooky gloss, and anchors the album’s core theme of expectations (those as a woman; of love; of others; and ultimately of yourself). “I want to send a positive message to everyone that’s going to listen to it. I’ve gained so much confidence from writing this album and that’s what I want people to take away.”
Now poised to join the pantheon of international pop greats, her tireless energy, positivity and drive were never going to allow Mabel to settle for anything other than ‘High Expectations’. In 2019 watch Mabel meets them and keep reaching higher still. See a full list of upcoming live dates online at mabelofficial.com/live/.
Follow Mabel:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Music event press release example
DUA LIPA MAKES SNL DEBUT
GLOBAL SMASH “NEW RULES” REACHES #1 ON THE US TOP 40 CHART
SET TO PERFORM ON THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW ON FEBRUARY 13TH
This past weekend, Dua Lipa made her debut on the famed SNL stage as the musical guest alongside host Natalie Portman. Continuing her U.S. takeover, Dua will next make her debut on The Ellen DeGeneres show on February 13th.
Dua’s global smash single “New Rules” has officially topped the U.S. Top 40 chart at #1. The track, currently double platinum in the U.S., also continues to rise to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, where it is #8. Additionally, Dua’s current single “IDGAF” has broken the top 10 of the global Spotify chart, where Dua is the 7th most streamed artist in the world with over 36 million monthly listeners.
This month, Dua will hit the road to finish up her sold-out U.S. headlining Self-Titled Tour, including two shows in Los Angeles at The Hollywood Palladium. Dua added her second date on February 12th after her first show sold out almost immediately. Dua will then return to the U.K. for her headlining arena tour.
WEBSITE /INSTAGRAM /TWITTER /FACEBOOK
*This is a relatively small press release and it’s a great example of how an artist as big as Dua Lipa can be concise. If you’re curious to know what her big global press kit looks like, click here.
Album press release example
JONAS BROTHERS RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM HAPPINESS BEGINS TODAY
CHASING HAPPINESS DOCUMENTARY AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO NOW
HAPPINESS BEGINS TOUR KICKS OFF AUGUST 7 2019
TV TAKEOVER AT CBS SUNDAY MORNING, TODAY SHOW, THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON, & LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN
LISTEN TO HAPPINESS BEGINS HERE
07 JUNE 2019— After building overwhelming anticipation and delivering a number one hit single, GRAMMY® nominated multiplatinum powerhouse trio–Jonas Brothers—release their highly anticipated fifth full-length album, Happiness Begins, today via Republic Records/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company.
Listen to Happiness Begins HERE
Happiness Begins marks the return of Jonas Brothers following a six-year hiatus. Inspired by events captured in their newly released documentary Chasing Happiness—available now exclusively via Amazon Prime Video—the album features the band’s history-making comeback single, “Sucker”.
Upon release, “Sucker” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the first #1 for the band and the first #1 debut from a group this century. Recently ranked #1 on Billboard’s critic’s picks list of the “50 Best Songs of 2019,” it has become a song of the summer anthem, rapidly ascending to #1 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart for the last 7 weeks – the most for any song this year – with the band’s follow up single “Cool” climbing closely behind.
GRAMMY Ready
Produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter, producer, and lead singer of the multi-platinum band OneRepublic, Ryan Tedder, with additional production from Shellback on “Only Human” and Greg Kurstin on “I Believe” and “Every Single Time”, the music captures the band’s new sound and turns the page on a new Jonas Brothers era.
“For us, this album is a culmination of the last ten years and our story as brothers. We are so excited this album is officially out! We can’t wait for you to finally hear it and perform it in front of all our fans around the world!
PS – We’ve been to the year 3000. Not much has changed but they live underwater.”
To celebrate the arrival of the record, Jonas Brothers launch a full-scale media blitz, which kicked off earlier this week with an appearance at Wango Tango, a profile on CBS Sunday Morning, and gracing Harper’s Bazaar’s first-ever Men’s Bazaar cover. This morning, they celebrate the triumphant release with a performance for the Today Show Summer Concert Series. Next up, they take over NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 12 and co-host LIVE with Kelly and Ryan on June 13, with more appearances to follow. Be sure to tune in!
Amazon Style
In partnership with Amazon Studios, Philymack, and Federal Films—a division of Republic Records— the group’s official documentary Chasing Happiness premiered to rave reviews this week, bringing fans together closer than ever.
Available exclusively via Amazon Prime Video, the documentary follows the band from their earliest days through stratospheric success, disbanding, and ultimately reuniting for the comeback we’ve all been waiting for.
After selling out shows for the North American leg of the Happiness Begins Tour with special guests Bebe Rexha and Jordan McGraw, the group recently announced European dates. The full itinerary can be found below.
As if that wasn’t enough, the band continues to satiate their fans with news of their upcoming memoir Blood, which is available for pre-order HERE now and will be released in November 2019.
With Jonas Brothers back, Happiness has begun.
Jonas Brothers “Happiness Begins Tour” 2019 Dates:
Friday, August 23, 2019 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
Saturday, August 24, 2019 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
Friday, October 11, 2019 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
Tuesday, November 26, 2019 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
Wednesday, November 27, 2019 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
(Think about where the journalist you’re writing to is based and highlight shows that are local to them.)
JONAS BROTHERS HAPPINESS BEGINS
https://JonasBrothers.lnk.to/HappinessBegins
JONAS BROTHERS SOCIALS
http://instagram.com/jonasbrothers
https://www.facebook.com/JonasBrothers
https://www.youtube.com/user/JonasBrothersMusic
Music video press release example
CARLIE HANSON RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO FOR LATEST TRACK “NUMB”
ACCLAIMED INDIE ARTIST SIGNS TO WARNER BROS. RECORDS
WATCH “NUMB”HERE
“It’s explicitly honest and shapeshifting pop for your nerves….It’s the kind of music you’d imagine elevating a heist scene in a Sofia Coppola film” – PAPER MAGAZINE
“Pop’s next teen phenom is here.” – L’OFFICIEL
“The type of ambitious pop that will only continue to catapult her to the top. If you aren’t hip to Carlie yet, be sure to get familiar, cause she’s ready to join Sigrid, Maggie Rogers, and Billie Eilish as one of pop’s new stars.” – Hillydilly
(February 1, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA ) – Rising pop star Carlie Hanson released the official music video for her single “Numb” today. Filmed in Big Bear, CA and directed by Nicholas Jandora, the video matches the song’s dark tone with chilly imagery and inspiration from one of the most bone-crushing scenes in cinema history. Watch it now HERE.
“I’m a huge horror movie fan and I’ve always wanted to make a video that was inspired by the genre,” Carlie Hanson explains. “Obviously, this one is heavily inspired by the thriller, Misery. ‘Numb’ just seemed like the perfect song for me to channel my inner Kathy Bates.”
Numb
Carlie co-wrote the track, which was released last month. “Numb” and her previously released single “Toxins” mark the first tastes off her debut EP, due for release by Warner Bros. Records later this year.
Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-Chairman & CEO of Warner Bros. Records states, “Carlie has one of the most dynamic personalities I’ve ever come across in a young artist. She is fearless, wildly creative, marches to the beat of her own drum, has an incredibly strong sense of self, and is a total star. Her growth on both the recording and live side in just over a year since she hit the scene is nothing short of spectacular and it is not hyperbole to say she has already become a real voice for this next generation of emerging young artists. In addition, Dani Russin, Brandon Creed, and the whole Full Stop management team make this an unstoppable partnership. We at WBR are ecstatic about what the future holds for Carlie.”
Carlie says, “I’m so pumped to know that Aaron Bay-Schuck, Tom Corson and the entire badass Warner team have my back as we take over the world together. Watch out!!!”
YUNGBLUD
She is currently making her European/UK debut opening for YUNGBLUD. See below for the UK itinerary. Carlie also joined Gnash for select dates for “the broken hearts club tour” at the beginning of this year. Following performances at several notable US festivals last summer, including Bumbershoot in Seattle and Summerfest in Milwaukee, Carlie embarked on a successful run with Jeremy Zucker and most recently opened for pop superstar Troye Sivan on his fall 2018 “Bloom Tour.”
In just under two years, 18-year-old Carlie has made her way from working at a McDonald’s drive-thru in a small Wisconsin town to becoming a full-fledged artist and songwriter who has graced the pages of iconic magazines CR Fashion Book, Nylon, L’Officiel, Relix, Paper and more.
Carlie has self-released four vibrant breakout tracks, which have a collective 60 million-plus streams and earned her a spot on Paper Magazine’s list of “100 People Taking Over 2019.” Her viral hit “Only One” was prominently featured on Apple Music’s A-List Pop Playlist as well as an Apple Music Playlist curated by Taylor Swift and Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits. Listen to it now HERE.
CARLIE HANSON 2019 TOUR DATES
Mar. 6th, 2019 – Dublin, Ireland – Whelan’s
Mar. 7th, 2019 – Belfast, North Ireland – Empire Music Hall
Mar. 9th, 2019 – Glasgow – St. Luke’s
Mar. 10th, 2019 – Newcastle – O2 Academy 2
Mar. 11th, 2019 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy 2
Mar. 12th, 2019 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute 2
Mar. 14th, 2019 – Brighton, UK – The Haunt
Mar. 15th, 2019 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom
Mar. 16th, 2019 – Bristol, UK – SWX
# All listed dates supporting Yungblud
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Press Contacts:
Bobbie Gale / Warner Bros. Records
(818) 953-3692 / [email protected]
Follow Carlie:
Instagram: @carliehanson
Twitter: @carliehanson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carliehanson2000/
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