Music Press Release
A music press release is a one-page announcement sent to music writers, blogs, playlist curators and local press when you release music, announce a tour or sign a deal. It uses the same format as any press release — headline, dateline, quote, boilerplate — with streaming links and dates at the top.
What is a music press release?
A music press release announces news about an artist, band, label or venue in the standard news-release format. Unlike a bio or a one-sheet, it is written to be published: a headline that states the news, an AP-style dateline, a lead paragraph with the release date and where to listen, one quotable line, and a short boilerplate about the act.
Your readers — music writers, genre blogs, playlist curators and college radio — decide in seconds whether the announcement fits. That is why the format (single, EP, album), the release date and a working streaming link belong in the first two sentences.
When to send a music press release
Send one whenever there is a fact to announce, not when you simply want coverage. The six announcements that reliably earn pickup:
| Announcement | Best time to send |
|---|---|
| New single or video | 3–7 days before release day, with a private link |
| Album or EP release | 2–4 weeks ahead, then a short reminder on release day |
| Tour dates | The day tickets or presales go on sale |
| Record label signing | The day the deal is announced |
| Festival or support slot | When the lineup is public |
| Award, chart or milestone | Within 48 hours of the result |
One event, one release. A single and a tour announced the same week should still be two releases, sent separately.
What to include in a music press release
- Artist name and format: "Low Static will release its debut album…" — say album, EP, single or mixtape.
- Release date and whether it is out now or coming.
- Streaming and pre-save links: Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, YouTube — plain URLs, not hyperlinked words.
- Genre and comparison in one clause, so a writer can slot it into a playlist or column.
- Tour dates with city, venue and on-sale date, or a single line pointing to the full list.
- One quote from the artist or producer — a real opinion, not "we're so excited".
- EPK or press kit link with hi-res photos, credits and artwork.
- Contact for interviews and guest-list requests, using a working email.
Sample: single release press release
Portland Indie Trio Night Ledger Releases Debut Single "Paper Hour" Oct. 9
PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 2, 2026 — Night Ledger, an indie rock trio from North Portland, will release its debut single "Paper Hour" on all major streaming platforms on Friday, Oct. 9. The track is the first from the band's debut EP, due in February.
"We kept the second take because the first one was too careful," said singer and guitarist Marisol Vega. "Everything on the EP sounds like three people in one room, because that is what it is."
Night Ledger plays a release show at the Alberta Street Pub on Oct. 10. Pre-save and press photos: nightledger.example/presave and nightledger.example/press.
About Night Ledger
Night Ledger is an indie rock trio formed in Portland, Oregon, in 2024. The band has played 30 shows across the Pacific Northwest.
Media contact: press@nightledger.example
###
Fictional example for illustration.
Sample: shorter tour announcement
Night Ledger Announces Six-City West Coast Tour, Tickets On Sale Oct. 15
PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 13, 2026 — Night Ledger will play six West Coast dates in February in support of its debut EP, with tickets on sale Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 10 a.m. local time. The run includes first-time shows in Sacramento and San Diego.
"Last year we drove to shows in a sedan. This time there's a van and a sound engineer," said drummer Theo Baptiste.
Dates: Feb. 4 Portland, Ore.; Feb. 6 Seattle, Wash.; Feb. 9 Sacramento, Calif.; Feb. 12 San Francisco, Calif.; Feb. 14 Los Angeles, Calif.; Feb. 17 San Diego, Calif. Venues and tickets: nightledger.example/tour.
Media contact: press@nightledger.example
###
Fictional example for illustration.
Music press release template
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Artist or Band Name] [Releases / Announces] [Title] on [Date] [CITY, State], [Mon. DD, YYYY] — [Artist Name], a [genre] act from [city], will release [single / EP / album] "[Title]" on [date] on [all major streaming platforms / specific service]. [One sentence on the sound or the recording.] [Pre-save or listen link.] [Key details: tracklist, runtime, producer, studio, collaborators.] "[Quote about the song or why it matters]," said [Full Name], [role] of [Artist Name]. [Tour or release-show dates with city and on-sale date.] Press photos, credits and artwork: [EPK link]. About [Artist Name] [Artist Name] is a [genre] act from [city], formed in [year]. [One sentence on releases, tours or notable support slots.] Media Contact [Name] [Email] [Phone] ###
Tips that get music releases picked up
- Put the artist name and release date in the headline — never a teaser.
- Lead with the most local or most specific detail you have; regional outlets need a local angle.
- Link to your EPK rather than attaching files, so the email survives spam filters.
- Follow the AP-style dateline rules — "Sept. 21, 2026", not "September 21st, 2026".
- Keep it under about 500 words, then send it to your local press, genre blogs and college radio.
Working on a different announcement? See all press release samples, or start from the general press release template and the writing guide.
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How long should a music press release be?
300–500 words. One page is the ceiling; anything longer belongs in the EPK.
Should I include every streaming link?
List the two or three that matter — usually Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp — plus one pre-save link.
Can I send the same release to blogs and to a wire service?
Yes, if you adjust the local angle. A blogger wants the sound and the story; a paid distribution service needs the plain, factual version.