A music press release is a short announcement that gives journalists, editors and radio producers the facts about a new single, EP or album: who made it, what it sounds like, when it comes out, where to hear it and whom to contact.
You can write one yourself. You do not need a record deal, a publicist or impressive streaming numbers. You need a clear reason for the announcement, accurate details and a working music link.
Use the free music press release templates below as a starting point. They include a single announcement, an album or EP announcement, a completed fictional example and a short email pitch. Replace every bracketed field, remove anything that does not apply and follow the submission instructions of the person receiving it.
Free music press release template for a single
This template works for a debut single or a new song from an established project. Write the main announcement in the third person, using your artist name. Save the first person for the artist quote and your personal email introduction.
“For immediate release” means the announcement can be published now, even if the song comes out later. If you need the information kept private until a particular date, agree that arrangement with the recipient before sharing it.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Artist name] announces “[Single title],” out [release date]
[Optional subheading: one specific detail about the song, recording or wider project.][City, country] — [Announcement date] — [Artist name] will release “[Single title]” on [release date] via [label name, or “independently”]. The [genre or brief sound description] track explores [specific subject] and is [a standalone release / the first single from the forthcoming EP or album, if confirmed].
Listen: [Direct public or private streaming link; include a password if needed]
[Two or three sentences about the music itself. Describe the instrumentation, mood, performance or a meaningful recording decision. Add relevant production credits.]
“[An approved artist quote explaining a particular lyric, creative choice or experience behind the song],” says [artist or band member name].
[One short paragraph of relevant background: where the artist is based, what the project makes and any verified context that helps explain this release. Include a confirmed launch show or video only if relevant.]
Release details
Artist: [Name]
Single: [Title]
Release date: [Day, month, year]
Label: [Name / self-released]
Credits: [Relevant names and roles]
Artwork and press photos: [Link, with creator credits and usage information]
EPK: [Link, if available]
Official artist page: [Link]Press contact
[Contact name and role]
[Email address]
Keep only useful fields. If you have no label, say “self-released.” If this is your first song, describe the project and the recording rather than filling the space with invented achievements. Add a download link if the recipient requests one.
Album and EP press release template
An album announcement needs a little more context: the idea connecting the songs, the release format and an accessible place to hear the project. Identify a focus track so someone opening the email knows where to start.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Artist name] announces [album / EP] “[Title],” arriving [release date]
[Optional subheading describing the project’s central musical idea.][City, country] — [Announcement date] — [Artist name] announces “[Title],” a [number]-track [album / EP] released on [date] via [label / independently]. The record brings together [specific musical elements] around [central theme or creative approach].
Listen to the album or EP: [Public or private stream]
Suggested starting track: “[Track title]” — [Direct link or track number][Explain how the record was made. Include the location or collaborators only when they add meaningful context. Describe how two contrasting tracks help show the range of the project.]
“[An approved quote about a decision, idea or experience that shaped the record],” says [name and role].
[Brief artist background and relevant, verified release context.]
Release details
Artist: [Name]
Album / EP: [Title]
Release date: [Day, month, year]
Label: [Name / self-released]
Formats: [Only confirmed digital or physical formats]
Track listing: [Ordered track titles, or a direct link to them]
Credits and lyrics: [Link]
Artwork and press photos: [Link, with credits and usage information]
EPK: [Link, if available]
Confirmed release show: [Date, venue, city and ticket link, if applicable]Press contact
[Contact name and role]
[Email address]
If the album is not available for preview, say exactly what the link contains. Do not label a single-track preview “listen to the album.” Keep any unconfirmed vinyl edition, tour or collaboration out of the announcement until the details are settled.
Music press release example: a fictional debut single
The following example is entirely fictional. The artist, song, credits, dates and quotation are invented to demonstrate the format. It does not describe a real release or a Kallitone artist’s results.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rowan Fenn announces debut single “Spare Key,” out 12 November 2026
A home-recorded folk song about the objects left behind after moving away.Leeds, UK — 22 October 2026 — Rowan Fenn will release the debut single “Spare Key” independently on 12 November. Built around fingerpicked acoustic guitar, close vocal harmonies and the sound of a hallway door, the song follows a former tenant returning a key to a home that no longer feels familiar.
Private listening link: [Insert working preview link]
Fenn recorded the guitar and lead vocal together in a spare room, keeping the pauses and chair noises from the original performance. The final verse introduces a second vocal part, answering lines that appear alone earlier in the song. Fenn wrote and produced the track; fictional collaborators Alex Venn and Morgan Pell handled mixing and mastering respectively.
“I kept writing about leaving, but the song only made sense when I focused on the key itself,” says Fenn. “It was a small object that still suggested I belonged somewhere I had already left.”
“Spare Key” introduces a solo project centred on domestic details and restrained acoustic arrangements. The single will be available digitally, with artwork and full recording credits included in the accompanying press materials.
Artwork and credits: [Insert link]
Official artist page: [Insert link]
Press contact: [Insert name and email]
The example gives a writer something concrete to investigate: an identifiable subject, an audible recording choice and a quotation that explains the songwriting. It does not need a claim that the artist is “taking the industry by storm.”
How to write a music press release that is useful to an editor
Put the actual announcement in the headline
Include the artist name, the release title and the news. A headline should remain understandable when it is copied into an inbox or document without the rest of your introduction.
| Vague headline | More useful headline |
|---|---|
| A bold new chapter begins | [Artist] announces debut EP “[Title],” out [date] |
| The single everyone will be talking about | [Artist] releases “[Title],” recorded with a live string quartet |
| Prepare for something unforgettable | [Band] announces “[Album]” and a hometown release show |
Only use a detail if it is true. A modest, precise announcement is easier to work with than a prediction about how successful the record will become.
Give the first paragraph a clear job
Answer who, what and when, then add one detail that makes this particular release worth hearing. Keep your childhood influences and complete band history for another page.
In her press release guidance published by Hypebot, music publicist Angela Tyler emphasises a specific story angle and concise writing. Use that principle to select relevant facts, rather than adding more adjectives.
Describe sounds a listener can recognise
“Distorted bass, dry drums and a spoken vocal” tells someone more than “a genre-defying sonic journey.” Describe the arrangement, the performance or a change within the song. One or two accurate reference points can help, but a long list of famous artists can obscure what your own recording does.
A personal story is optional. A production technique, local collaboration or unusual instrumentation can also provide context. You do not need to disclose private experiences to make a release interesting.
Use an artist quote to add information
Ask a question that produces a specific answer: Which line changed during writing? Why did you keep that take? What did the collaborator contribute?
“We are excited to share our new single” offers little beyond the announcement. A sentence explaining why the drums drop out in the final chorus gives an interviewer a possible follow-up question. Get the named person’s approval before using their quote. Any review quotation should be accurate and linked to its original source.
Keep the biography short
Two or three sentences are often enough for this part of the announcement: who the artist is, where the project is based and one relevant piece of background. If you need help, use our musician bio examples and template. You can link the longer biography from your press kit.
Make listening and fact-checking easy
Place the music link near the top. Test it while signed out, including on a phone. Check any password and expiry date. A private preview should play without requiring the journalist to request access from you.
Give files descriptive names and identify the people credited. If you supply photos or artwork, include creator credits and clear information about permission to use them for coverage. Keep this material accessible through a direct link rather than making the recipient search your social feed.
Press release, email pitch and EPK: what is the difference?
| Material | Its job | What to include |
|---|---|---|
| Press release | Explain one announcement | Release facts, musical context, quote, links and contact |
| Email pitch | Introduce the announcement to a particular recipient | Why it fits their coverage, a listening link and a clear request |
| Electronic press kit, or EPK | Provide reusable background and media assets | Bio, music, photos, credits, relevant live information and contact |
You can include the press release in your EPK and link to it from your pitch. Our band EPK template explains how to assemble those materials when you have no previous press coverage.
A short email pitch to send with your press release
Adapt the introduction for the publication. Refer to its coverage only if you have actually read or heard it. The request should match the recipient’s role: a review editor, radio producer and local arts journalist may need different information.
Subject: [Artist] — “[Title]” — [genre or relevant angle], out [date]
Hi [Name],
I’m [name], [artist / role]. I’m sharing “[Title],” a [brief description] release coming out on [date]. [One specific sentence explaining why it fits this publication or programme.]
The song [one sentence about its sound or story]. You can listen here: [direct link].
Would you consider it for [appropriate review, feature or programme]? The press release, credits and photos are here: [link]. I’m available to answer questions if useful.
Thanks for your time,
[Name]
[Contact details]
If the outlet asks for the release in the email body, paste it underneath your introduction. If it provides a form, use the form. A pre-save link can be included as an extra, but the recipient needs a way to hear the music itself.
Where should you send a music press release?
Start with publications and programmes that already cover music reasonably close to yours. Read recent articles or listen to a recent show. Check the publication’s current contact page and establish whether it accepts submissions, which person handles them and what that person requests.
For example, Post-Trash’s official About page identifies a contact for submissions and corrections. That is a starting point for researching the publication, not a promise of coverage or evidence that every genre is suitable.
Radio submissions can require additional material. KEXP’s official guidelines request streaming and WAV download links without attachments, alongside release information, credits and supporting materials. They also specify clean edits where needed. KEXP says airplay is not guaranteed and a response should not be expected. Follow the full current instructions rather than sending only a generic press release.
For local media, explain a real local connection: where you live, where the record was made or a confirmed show in the area. For a specialist outlet, focus on the music and scene it covers. Rock and alternative artists can also consult our guide to free music submissions and check each outlet’s latest requirements.
When should you send it?
Check the outlet’s stated lead time first. A publication preparing a long review needs different preparation from a site posting short news updates. There is no single submission deadline that applies to all music media.
As a planning suggestion, have your materials ready several weeks before release. Send them once the date, music and essential credits are settled, allowing time for the recipient to listen and ask questions. If the music is already out, state that clearly and explain the current reason for the pitch.
Keep the announcement date separate from the music release date. Write dates in full to avoid UK/US ambiguity. For an agreed embargo, specify the exact date, time and time zone; simply adding “embargoed” to an unsolicited email does not establish an agreement.
If the recipient permits follow-ups, one brief follow-up after a reasonable interval can be enough. Refer back to the original email and add useful information if something has changed. Follow any “no follow-ups” instruction and move on when there is no reply.
Does a music press release cost money?
You can write it and send individual submissions yourself without paying a press release service. Your main investment is the time spent preparing accurate materials and finding relevant recipients. Hiring a writer or publicist is optional.
Payment does not guarantee an editorial result. Musician and former journalist Monica Strut explains in Bandzoogle’s guide to music PR that agencies cannot compel media outlets to cover an artist.
Before buying a package, establish what it actually delivers: writing, pitching, sponsored placement or distribution of your announcement. When recording results, distinguish a paid placement or a reproduced announcement from an independently commissioned review or interview.
Check these details before sending
- The headline names the artist and release.
- The release date is confirmed and consistent across your materials.
- The listening link works without an access request.
- All template placeholders have been replaced or removed.
- Quotes, credits and any achievement claims are accurate.
- Photos and artwork have usable credits and permissions.
- The email follows this recipient’s submission instructions.
- The reply address reaches someone who will answer.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a music press release be?
For a straightforward single announcement, around 300–500 words including a short bio is a useful editing target, not an industry requirement. A simpler release can be shorter. Keep track lists and extensive credits in linked supporting materials when they make the announcement difficult to scan.
Can I send one if I have no followers or previous press?
Yes, where the outlet accepts submissions from independent artists. Explain the release with specific facts about the music and its creation. Leave out the achievements section if you have nothing relevant to put there. Previous coverage is not a substitute for a useful announcement.
Should I send a PDF or put the press release in the email?
Follow the recipient’s instructions. When none are given, a short email with a listening link and an accessible text version is a practical starting point. You can keep a PDF in your press kit for download, but avoid making it the only way to read the essential information.
Give the release more than one route to listeners
Keep a simple record of whom you contacted, when you sent the release and any actual replies or coverage. A sent email is not a placement, and a published article does not tell you by itself how many people listened.
Continue sharing the music through your own audience, relevant communities and live activity while you wait. Kallitone offers another route through human music discovery. Its role is separate from a journalist’s decision to cover your release; neither a submission nor participation should be treated as a guarantee of attention.
Prepare the announcement, test the listening link and choose a recipient who has a clear reason to care about the music. Those are concrete steps you can take before paying for a campaign.
Editorial note: External submission pages checked on 14 October 2026. Submission requirements can change. The templates and fictional example are original teaching materials; suggested lengths and planning intervals are editorial guidance, not universal publication rules.