I've had another raft of questions about how to deal with the press. Obviously everyone want to maximise coverage for the fantastic things they're up to, so I'm putting together another rough guide with a few pointers in that might help...
The last one is below, but I need to know where the gaps are, so do let me know if there's anything else I can do...
From the outside, approaching a media organisation can be a bit of a nightmare.
It helps if you can find out who you need to speak to. I'd say the best way of finding out who you want to contact is by reading the paper and seeing whose name is on the stories that are in a similar area to yours, or for a radio station, listen out for shows that cover material that sounds similar to yours.
Reviews
A positive review is a great thing to have. You can use it on your publicity material, send it off to record companies and greatly enhance your standing with a few well chosen quotes.
But, until you are well-established it's hard to get a writer to give up their evening to come out and see you, let alone sit down and write the whole thing up.
There are a number of reasons for this, the main one being that writing a review takes time and concentration.
They are almost always written in the reviewer's own time, generally after they have been at work all day, and the last thing they want to do after spending the day in front of a computer screen is log on when they get in.
Also, music writers almost always specialise in music because they love it, and if they're going to a gig they want to enjoy it, not stand at the back with a notepad trying to work out what the set list is.
Also, be aware that every other band wants the same thing and there are only so many hours in the day.
That's not to say don't ask. Ask, make sure you give them plenty of notice, and if they can't come to this one, ask again.
CD reviews
Regional music journalists get roughly a carrier bag full of CDs every day, ranging from global stars to bedroom demos, and listening to them all takes up a fair bit of time.
Out of these most papers pick between three and six to review each week, depending on how much space there is in the paper. That doesn't mean the rest don't get listened to. One of the best bits of the job is hearing all the great new music that's out there.
To do them all you'd need a team of thousands and a paper the thickness of the telephone directory.
There really is no complicated way of making yours stand out. Talent always shines through, and interesting, thoughtful songs will get you noticed.
Put your best, most interesting, song first. The best way to introduce yourself is with your best work. For the same reason, beware of very long intros. One thing everyone wants to hear is a great singer, so don't hide your light under a bushel!
More than anything, do make sure you have the name of the right contact. Otherwise you risk your hard work never landing on the right desk in an office of hundreds of people. We get loads of post directed just to the paper each day, and without a name it's almost impossible to work out what is meant for who.
How to put together a press release
Most big PR companies send a press release about the artists with their CD, but you don't need an agency to write anything for you. In fact it's often better to do it yourself.
If you are doing something unusual as a one-off or you have a story that would interest people who don't follow music especially, it's a news piece you're looking for. In this case you'll normally be dealing with a general reporter who may not know a lot about your music.
The main thing here is to make it as easy as possible for the journalist to write lots about you.
Most newsrooms are over-stretched and understaffed, with reporters having to write too many stories in not enough time. This means the more relevant information you can give them, the better your chances are of getting good coverage.
This doesn't mean send in a 4-page document detailing your every thought, it means thinking about the information they might need, and organising it in a clear and easily readable format.
Before you begin, think about why you are looking for coverage. Is there a particular angle? Are you doing something else that no-one else has thought of? It needs to be more than just looking for a bit of publicity or wanting to get more people to your gigs. There are few bands out there who don't want that.
What makes you unique?
If it's something more music-based you're looking for, then you will usually be aiming to get their music/features team to write about you. This tends to be more subjective.
Either way it might be an idea to have a look at the style of writing the publications you're targeting generally go for, and try to make your copy as close to that as you can. The Telegraph and The Star obviously have very different styles, but so do regional and weekly papers and magazines, and it's worth reading a few issues before you start writing.
Every story needs a great start to hook the reader, so make your intro paragraph fantastic and you're often halfway there.
And always put a daytime and evening contact number on so they can reach you quickly. Evening papers work mostly in the morning, so don't be too surprised if they call you at 7am, morning papers work through the night to hit the stands at dawn, so again, don't be surprised if you get a call at midnight.
Always have a clear, high res jpg picture of you that you can email over in a hurry, if they need it, although don't send it speculatively or you'll just clog up their inbox, or get caught up in their firewall.
It's nice to be nice
I'm an old fashioned kind of girl I suppose, but I'd always suggest being nice and polite when you contact people. If you're going to ask someone to do something for you, the best way to start is by saying please, thank you and not treating them like they owe you something.
Also remember that most music journalists get bands contacting them every day with the same requests, and if they give you a review/interview/plug they are often pushing someone else out. Most papers/magazines have limited space, and radio and TV stations have limited airtime.
I got to know a lot of my favourite bands because they were friendly and funny on MySpace. They sent nice messages over not asking for anything, just talking to me as someone who likes music. It doesn't mean they get in the paper more than anyone else, but it's always nice to be nice.
I also know of bands (or more often their managers) who have managed to put up the backs of every journalist they've dealt with.
Remember, people talk! Journalism is a very small world, and people in papers, radio and TV tend to know each other. We often recommend bands who we know are good and easy to work with to other media people and they do the same for us.
Other than that, I'd say the best way to get the media to pay attention is by enjoying what you do, and creating music you're proud of.