ARTIST INSIGHT | Artist self promotion + press kits

Urbanology Media Group: Founded in 2004, by Scarborough natives Priya Ramanujam and Adrian McKenzie, the company publishes Canada’s forefront urban lifestyle publication. Urbanology Magazine has featured hundreds of artists ranging from international and local artists.

TOP 5 TIPS

1)    DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL & CREATIVE PRESS KIT -> Your press kit acts as your creative resume. It gives the media a quick look at everything you’ve accomplished, what makes you worth covering and what’s the most newsworthy thing you have going on right now. Taking into consideration how many press kits a day media outlets receive, you have to make yours stand out. For starters, be sure there are no spelling errors, low-resolution images or broken links in your kit – immediate turn offs for the person on the other end. And then go the extra mile to present it in the most creative way you can think of.

2)    PITCH YOURSELF, DON'T SPAM, PESTER OR DEMAND! -> With the onslaught of social media platforms, media outlets are constantly being bombarded by artists trying to get their latest music or video or whatever “looked at”. But spamming a journalist’s Twitter timeline just isn’t the way to go about it. You’re better off interacting with journalists as human beings on social media platforms and submitting your art with a proper pitch (and press kit) to the media outlet. When in doubt of submission guidelines, pick up the phone or drop them an e-mail – find out what they prefer and do it their way! You’re much more likely to get noticed.

3)    KNOW THE MEDIA YOU'RE TARGETING & BUILD REAL RELATIONSHIPS -> If you’re pitching yourself to a magazine, blog, radio show, whatever, you have to know their content and their audience. Would you make a good fit? Why? Be sure to tell them that using specific references to their content when you pitch yourself. And build relationships with the media. Invite media to all your shows, exhibits, etc. even if they aren’t covering them, invite them anyways. Chances are if you impress them, they will cover you the next time.

4)   BE VERSATILE IN WHAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WITH THE PRESS -> Self-promotion all day, every day is boring. No body wants to read an article from start to finish and hear over and over again that they should download your mixtape. Make readers interested in you enough to seek out your mixtape. That means you should be ready and willing to talk about anything from politics to sports to social issues and all that is in between when it comes to talking to the media.

5)    CREATE MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOURSELF -> When you’re putting your art on exhibit or you have a new project releasing, remember that in order to generate media attention there has to be something worth covering. So if you’re putting on an art exhibit, invite some prominent people or have a talk, or have a well-known DJ spin at the exhibit, something that might catch the media outlet’s attention. Be creative. So if you’re releasing a mixtape for example, maybe develop a thematic campaign that can go with the release and engages and interacts with the public, something that the media would be interested in covering.

BIO| Urbanology Media Group: Founded in 2004, by Scarborough natives Priya Ramanujam and Adrian McKenzie, the company publishes Canada’s forefront urban lifestyle publication, Urbanology Magazine in print and digital formats quarterly, along with a multi-tiered website which is updated daily and weekly. Over the years Urbanology Magazine has featured hundreds of artists ranging from international (Drake, Kendrick Lamar, T.I., Young Jeezy, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, etc.) to local (Andreena Mill, Jully Black, Famous, etc.) as well as covered countless arts events, exhibits, showcases, etc. Urbanology Magazine is also a presenting partner in Canada’s premier producer competition, Battle of the Beat Makers and works with dozens of organizations and events to grow the urban arts culture in Canada.www.UrbanologyMag.com

Twitter/Instagram @UrbanologyMag

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