Labels submissions
Submitting your music to a label is not just about sending tracks — it’s about starting a relationship. Whether you’re aiming for a boutique imprint or a well-known platform, the way you present your work can open doors or close them. This isn’t about playing the industry game — it’s about respecting the process, being intentional, and offering your art to someone who can carry it further with you.
1. Choose the Right Labels
Before you send anything, ask:
- Does this label release music like mine?
- Do I admire their vision, artwork, sound, and catalog?
- Would my project complement their existing artists, not compete with them?
Study their roster. Follow them on Bandcamp, Instagram, and radio. Listen deeply. If you feel a genuine connection, that’s a good sign.
Quality > quantity: Sending to 5 labels you deeply respect is better than spamming 50 blindly.
2. Prepare Your Submission Materials
You want to make it easy for them to listen, understand, and respond.
Include:
- Private streaming link (SoundCloud or Dropbox) — don’t send attachments
- Download enabled (especially for unreleased tracks)
- 3–5 finished tracks — either a full EP/album, or a very solid selection
- Brief message (1–2 paragraphs max)
- Artist bio or link to EPK (if available)
- Optional: concept note, visuals, or moodboard if it’s a highly visual/audio project
Keep it human — no hype language. Show you’ve done your research.
3. Write a Thoughtful Email
Example:
Subject: Submission: “Fragments” EP by [Your Name]
Hi [Label Name or Person],
I’ve been following your label for a while — releases by [Artist A] and [Artist B] really inspired this new project of mine. I’m sharing it with you because I feel it could resonate with your world.
Here’s the private link: [streaming link]
(downloads enabled, 4 tracks, unreleased)
Let me know if it speaks to you. Thanks for taking the time to listen.
All the best,
[Your Name]
[Instagram / Website / Contact]
4. When to Send
- Avoid weekends, holidays, and major release days
- Best times: Tuesday–Thursday, mid-morning (their time zone)
- Give at least 2–3 months ahead of when you’d like to release
If you don’t hear back after 2–3 weeks, you can send a gentle follow-up. If still no reply, move on — silence is a soft no, not a personal rejection.
5. Respect Exclusivity and Label Etiquette
If you’re sending your music to multiple labels, be transparent:
- Some labels expect exclusive submissions (no shopping around)
- Others don’t mind, as long as they’re first to reply
Once a label expresses interest, pause all other pitches. Never double-book your release.
6. What Labels Are Looking For
Beyond the music, labels often look for:
- Cohesion: tracks that form a clear sonic identity
- Finished product: well-mixed (mastered is optional, they often do that)
- Visual potential: cover, merch, vibe
- Personality: someone communicative, collaborative, and aligned with their ethos
What they’re not looking for:
- Generic mass emails
- Incomplete demos or 15-minute voice notes
- “Hey bro, here’s a banger”
- Entitlement or pressure
7. What If They Say Yes?
- Read their offer carefully — is it fair? Are royalties explained?
- Ask what they’ll do for the release: promo, press, playlisting, physical distro
- See if they pay for mastering or share those costs
- Get everything in writing
- Be grateful and collaborative, but stay informed and empowered
8. What If They Say No — or Nothing?
Don’t take it personally.
It doesn’t mean your music isn’t good — it just may not fit their context right now.
Keep growing, refining, and submitting. Some artists take 3–5 years to land the right home. Others decide to start their own label, build a scene, and let labels come to them.
Final Thought: Submitting Is Sharing, Not Begging
When you submit music, you’re not asking for validation. You’re offering a piece of your world — your sound, your story, your signal.
Do it with clarity, care, and confidence.
Not every door will open. But the right ones might — if you knock like you belong there.