Syntax and NRT Music are working to improve our pitching process to DSPs (Apple Music, Syntax, etc.). One thing that will help with this process are details of your specific marketing strategy.
This will be included moving forward on your NEW PROJECT CHECKLIST that you’ll submit to NRT Music with each new project.
Examples of helpful details:
- Social media: What platforms? How many posts? What kind of content? What’s your current follower and engagement rate?
- Press/media: Any planned premieres, write-ups, interviews, or editorial features? On what outlets?
- Radio: Are there any stations or networks confirmed to play the track? Will it be going to any syndicated shows? Is there a radio promoter involved? Are there any planned radio interviews? What is the artist’s radio track record?
- Live events: Are there shows, tours, or release events scheduled? Where and when?
- DSP strategy: Are you doing a waterfall release? Pre-saves? What DSP tools are you using?
- Advertising: Any paid ad campaigns? If so, on which platforms and with what budget?
- Partnerships: Are you partnering with any organizations or collaborating with other artists or brands for the promotion of this release? (This is beyond NewReleaseToday which NRT Music will submit.)
- Previous Successes: What are some notable achievements that may bring attention to the new release?
The more specific details you can provide here, the better we can represent this release when pitching it to editors. Please avoid one-word responses—this section should give us a clear, data-supported picture of the effort behind the release.
Example: This release is supported by a 6-week social media plan across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts (XX followers, X% engagement). Content includes countdown posts, behind-the-scenes clips, and performance videos posted 3x per week or more. Every post consists of a CTA to the pre-save campaign. The track will premiere on [insert publication], which averages XXXX viewers per day. We’re running $XXX in targeted Instagram ads to promote pre-saves, followed by a post-release campaign to drive traffic and engagement. This is the final track in a 3-song waterfall series—singles 1 and 2 have generated X total streams and a combined reach of XXXX. The artist is also on a 10-show tour during the 3 weeks following release, where the new single will be promoted via screen graphics, QR-coded seat cards, and inserts in every merch table purchase. A radio promoter is servicing the track to 20+ stations; last year, the artist charted at #X on [station name] for X weeks.
While this will require some additional work and planning, this is an incredible way that we can help your track rise above the tens of thousands of songs that are uploaded every week to DSPs in the Christian categories alone. Spending time here will always be valuable and will also encourage you to plan ahead on marketing your own your music!
Schedule a call if you want to brainstorm this early!
