When searching for a music publicist in Los Angeles, you may feel overwhelmed by all the available choices. Hollywood offers no shortage of talented professionals to choose from and it can be daunting trying to decide if a firm is worth your time and money. You might even be questioning whether you need to hire one at all! In this article, we’ll outline the role of a publicist, how to select one, what services to expect from your PR firm and more.
What is a music publicist?
Music publicists are responsible for garnering media attention to promote an artist’s work, increasing their visibility. Furthermore, they provide advice on marketing tactics. Furthermore, publicists collaborate with artists on creating narratives for albums, music videos, and live acts.
Why is a music publicist important?
Music publicists can help your music create more of an impact. A music publicist maintains relationships with media outlets and journalists, which is integral to secure media coverage to promote the artist. Music publicists pitch stories to media outlets, write press releases, bios, blogs, and social media posts. Often, music publicists help develop their client’s public image and brand. Overall, a music publicist can help craft a public image, media presence, as well as a social media presence that will increase their client’s fan base, exposure and brand.
What does a publicist do for a music artist?
Music publicists work with their contacts to get their clients media coverage – i.e. album reviews, blog features, interviews, etc. One thing a publicist can do for their client is put together an Electronic Press Kit (EPK). An EPK is essentially a portfolio that helps music industry professionals get to know you and your music. An EPK provides things your bio, tour dates, performance videos, contact details and links to social media to promoters, booking agents, music journalists and record labels.
Online Promotion – This includes social media, Spotify campaigns, blog and content marketing, and online news and entertainment outlets. A publicist’s job is to maintain relationships with social media users, media outlets, writers and editors in order to reach out to them to promote an artist’s work.
Social media has exploded in popularity in recent years, and the best way to take advantage of that is to work with a publicist to develop a brand strategy and content creation.
Radio Promotion – One of the reasons why music PR firms are so important is because radio real estate is extremely competitive, and publicists have connections to DJs, station managers, and production directors. Think radio is an outdated medium? Think again: a 2017 study showed that radio consumption was about 14 times bigger than the aggregated consumption through streaming. Not to mention the radio reaches 92 percent of Americans each week, making it the most powerful medium in the U.S. Radio interviews are another powerful way to promote your band.
Consulting – A music PR firm can help devise marketing and branding strategies by performing market research and following industry trends.
Tour & Event Promotion – Music publicists promote an artist’s tour by contacting local news outlets in the cities where they are playing. Often, publicists are hired on retainer to work in the region where the artist is touring.
When do you need a publicist?
An artist or band may require the services of a publicist as their career takes off and they become more established. When just starting out, without an established resume or being able to tour nationally, bands can create some buzz by reaching out directly to journalists and maintaining social media presences. But once local papers start covering your band and you start seeing mentions online and in magazines, hiring a publicist may be necessary in order to take brand awareness to new heights.
What topics are typically the focus of PR campaigns? Well, artists may decide to invest in publicizing a music video release, album release, single release, tour or story about the band.
Make sure you find a PR firm that meets your needs. If your band is just starting out, a larger, more expensive firm might not be able to offer much help; you need someone with relationships with smaller regional outlets so considering hiring a boutique PR firm might be best. Conversely, for larger and established acts, make sure the firm is within your league with connections to national outlets.
How much does a music publicist cost in Los Angeles?
With good PR, you typically get what you pay for. Prices vary based on a firm’s experience and reputation; typically, a month-long campaign with an experienced PR firm will cost between $1000-3000. Generally speaking, the more money a firm requests from you, the greater amount of work they will do to promote your music.
How do you find a music publicist in Los Angeles?
When searching for a PR firm to represent your band, look for one with similar aesthetic. For instance, if you are a pop artist, look for an agency specializing in pop acts. Additionally, take note of any successful campaigns and identify who behind them. Finally, research artists in your desired genre to determine who represents them.
Another excellent way to locate a music publicist in Los Angeles is through referrals. Suggestions from other artists, managers or booking agents could lead you to the PR firm that best suits your needs. Do your due diligence and research the company thoroughly until you find one that has good credibility, experience and transparency; an ideal PR firm will have an established reputation within the industry.
When selecting a PR firm, client-to-staff ratio should be taken into consideration. A small team with dedicated personnel will give you more personalized service.
Overall, it’s essential to find a publicist who can comprehend your vision and assist in its realization.
What should you expect from your publicist?
Your publicist should primarily deliver hard work.
It’s essential to manage your expectations when it comes to music PR. While a music publicist is essential in getting coverage from the press, there are limitations that may limit their effectiveness. No publicist can guarantee coverage in any outlet – in fact, any promise of coverage should be seen as an alarm bell. Even if they work tirelessly on behalf of their client, things like reduced budgets at music outlets may prevent coverage from taking hold. Sometimes popularity takes time; nevertheless, you should expect some results eventually or else the PR firm has failed you.
What you should expect from your publicist is honest and open communication. Most publicists send bi-weekly reports outlining their efforts to promote your music. It’s essential that you remain open-minded, even if some of their suggestions can be challenging to hear.
Contacting music PR firms in Los Angeles
Introduce yourself to a publicist by sending them some key information via email. It’s best to reach out via email and send an audio stream rather than downloading. Never send mass emails nor casual messages via social media channels.
Best Music Publicist in Los Angeles
Loaded Media was founded in 2021 by producer Donavon Warren as the only PR firm in Los Angeles that guarantees feature article press placements each month. We draw upon our vast network of journalists, editors, influencers and outlets to expand your fanbase and visibility. Furthermore, all service packages include at least two articles each month – many featuring clients in major publications like Holr, Paradox Beverly Hills Magazine Film Daily Flux The Hollywood News Film Threat and more – featuring them as featured artists with feature articles or interviews rather than simply dropping names off lists! A feature tells your audience who you are as an artist and why they should listen to your music.
Your first article can be expected within your first week as our client. After onboarding, an article writer will contact you to get started on your piece right away. We then begin building your Google Knowledge Panel, work on cleanup and SEO optimization, filling in any missing gaps – we specialize in tech-driven publicity! Finally, remember: revisions are welcome – we strive for perfection!
At Loaded Media, we understand that your success as a band is directly tied to your online credibility – which includes Google search rankings, Knowledge Panels, social media presence and publication mentions. Even if you already have 1 million followers, is that verified? Are articles about you available online? Are tickets selling well? At Loaded Media we want to create an impression about you that will expand your audience and give you the credibility needed in today’s digital landscape.
