A Press Release needs to be news worthy. It should be significant news that grabs the attention of the reading public. Even though you want your press release to lead to more fans, it should not be your focus. The main purpose of the press release is to deliver a newsworthy story about your band to the readers.
The Headline needs to be in bold font to catch the reader's attention. Again, simplicity and creativity are key; this can make the difference between music lovers skimming the release or reading the release. The headline should summarize the information in the press release, but in a way that is exciting and dynamic. The headline should be centered and in bold.
Do not submit just background information. Don't write an advertisement. If it turns out like an advertisement, rewrite it.
Choose an authentic angle to present your press release.
New music is released every day. The public needs to know what makes your music worth listening to. What is different about your music? Whatever differentiates your music from the rest of the music industry, keep it interesting and to the point.
The body of the press release should provide further details about your event. Uniqueness grabs readers' attentions. The press release needs to stay in a positive perspective because it can greatly influence the opinions of music lovers. Use quotes to gain credibility. Use band members and those who are associated with the band for quotes. However, you must gain permission first. The press release should be no longer than one page; otherwise you run the risk of losing the reader's attention.
- A good press release answers these five questions:
- Who
- What
- When
- Where
- Why
Who are you trying to reach?
To write an effective press release, you must know your target audience. It is very important to target the media when you are writing your press release. Journalists will often use a press release as a source material for a fuller feature. The journalist is not someone to be initially targeted to listen to or buy your music. A journalist is looking for news to fill a need. You need to target media that will ensure maximum impact.
- Things to Avoid:
- Embellishment and stories which sound far-fetched. This can damage your credibility.
- Hype!!! The exclamation point (!) is your enemy. Credibility can be damaged if you use lots of hype (ntsi.org).
- Avoid clichés, redundancy, and flowery language
- Avoid the passive voice. Always use Active Voice.
Press Release Presentation:
The Headline Should be Written in Title Case. This means that the beginning letter of each word should be capitalized except for words of three letters or less. Do not end titles with periods.
Use mixed case letters; otherwise your press release is likely to be overlooked
Correct Grammar is extremely important. If there are too many errors in your release, editors will reject it.
Include a summary paragraph. Make sure this paragraph does not repeat previously stated information.
Do not use logos or trademarks names unless you have permission to do so.
- Include your contact details:
- Name
- Role (if not a band member)
- Web Address
- Street Address (optional)
- Telephone (optional)
- * Include any necessary information for liability reasons
- Kelia Thurman