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How to get local press coverage for your band
By BandManager · 1 min read ·
Local press reads plenty of messages every day. The ones that get a mention make the journalist’s job easy: a clear story, a link and photos ready to use.
Who to write to
- The culture section of local and regional papers.
- Blogs and outlets specialized in your style.
- Local radio and music programs.
- Your city’s cultural listings, which often publish gigs for free.
What to send
- A clear subject with the news: "[Band] play [venue] on [date]".
- A first paragraph with the essentials: who, what, when, where.
- One line of context: why it matters to their audience.
- A link to the press kit with quality photos, music and video.
- Contact details and availability for interviews.
The right timing
Two or three weeks before a show so they can publish in time. For a release, tell them before it comes out and offer an early listen. And avoid writing to every outlet the same day with the same text: each journalist appreciates a personal touch.
Follow up without nagging
If there is no reply in a week, send a one-line reminder with something new. If there is still nothing, let it go and come back with the next story. Always thank them for a mention and share it on your socials, tagging the outlet.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a PR agency?
Not for a local band. With a well-written note and a tidy press kit you can get coverage in your city on your own.
Which photo do I send?
A good-quality band photo with good light, in landscape and vertical, with permission to publish it.
What if nobody replies?
That is normal. Try another outlet with another story. Sometimes the answer comes weeks later.
A press kit ready for the press
BandManager lets you build your band’s press kit and share it with a link for venues, press and festivals.
Keep reading
- How to make an EPK for your bandWhat to put in your band’s EPK (press kit), in which order and what to cut. With a one-screen layout, before-and-after examples and a checklist.
- How to promote a gigA week-by-week promotion plan for a gig: poster, socials, trackable links, local press and how to fill the room.
- How to design a gig posterWhat a gig poster needs, how to organize the information, which sizes to use and the mistakes that make nobody read it. With a checklist.
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