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Liner Notes
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How to: 7 Ideas for News Releases for Musicians
By Joan Stewart
How to write a compelling news release-and knowing what to write about-is sometimes so
confusing that just one little mistake can mean you’ll hit a wrong note with the
media.
The most important element of a news release is that it must convey news. News is what
happens that is different. Here are 7 ideas to consider for standard news releases:
When you book a public show for a fair, festival or other community event, ask the event
planner if they are sending a news release to the entertainment sections of local
newspapers and magazines. If not, you send it. Don’t forget second- and third-level
publications such as alternative weeklies which focus heavily on entertainment, free
weekly shoppers, the calendar listings for your local cable TV stations, and your local
city magazine.
Some musicians give free performances for non-profits and other organizations. This is
worth a short news release.
If you are performing at an unusual party, ask the host for permission to send a news
release to local media.
Consider a free class for children who want to learn more about music and musical
instruments. This is a great visual for TV. Announce the class in a news release.
Team up with a non-profit or other community group that is sponsoring a big event and plan
a fun publicity stunt. Announce it in the news release.
Create your own TV show, or an entire series of shows, on your local cable TV
company’s public access channel. Air time is free. You pay a small fee to rent the
camera equipment. Announce the shows in a news release.
Donate your services for your public television station’s on-air auctions and other
on-air promotions. This is a great way to get in front of people who might later hire you.
Send a release to local print media. You also might consider donating a free gig to the
auction, so viewers can bid on it.
Now for some tips on how to write a good release:
--The best ones are no more than one page, typed and double-spaced.
--Don’t try to cram the entire story into the release. Give just enough information,
including facts such as the time, date and place.
--Then include one enticing piece of information that encourages a reporter to call you
for the rest of the story. For example, my friend Robert Ian, a hypnotist and magician,
says this about one of his after-dinner programs: "Under good-natured hypnotic
suggestion, audience volunteers sing like Elvis, talk like Martians and dance the
Macarena."
--Include contact information such as a telephone number and email address.
--If you’re writing about an event, the date should be in the headline so reporters
know immediately that it’s timely.
--Post all news releases at your website.
--If there’s a good visual that would interest photographers or TV camera crews, you
can suggest that at the bottom of the release.
Don’t be intimidated by news releases. The more of them you write, the better you
get. Now get going. There’s an editor out there somewhere just waiting to hear about
your news.
For more publicity tips, read the "The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,"
a free ezine delivered each Tuesday. Subscribe
and receive free the handy checklist "89 Reasons to Send a News
Release." "How
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