Editors and curators open a pitch on their phone, read the subject line and the first two lines, and decide. They are not reading your bio. They are checking three things: is this for me, is it any good, and can I act on it without replying. A pitch email that answers those in order gets a click. This is the template, one line at a time, with the versions that get deleted.
The short answer
Five lines. (1) Why them, specifically. (2) What the song is, in one sentence with the genre and the date. (3) One checkable reason to care. (4) The private link. (5) What you are asking for, and thanks. Under 120 words, no attachments, one link, sent at least three weeks before release, to an outlet whose last post is recent. Then one follow-up, a week later, and stop.
Before you write: the one check
When we read the feeds of 5,000+ music blogs in September 2026, 29.5% no longer loaded and only 33.8% had published in the previous 90 days. The full data is in We Checked 5,000+ Music Blogs. Open the outlet, find the newest post, read the date. If it is older than three months, nobody is there. That check takes a minute and removes half of most artists' lists.
For Spotify itself, there is no email. Pitch through Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release, one song per release, and it goes to your followers' Release Radar whether or not an editor picks it. Everything below is for humans: blogs, independent curators, radio, premiere outlets.
Line 0: the subject
Format: [Genre] single from [City], out [date]: [Artist], "[Title]". Example: "Bedroom pop from Leeds, out Nov 14: Nova Reyes, 'Last Train North'". It tells the reader the three things they filter on before they open. Deleted versions: "Submission", "New music!!", "Would love your thoughts", and anything with the word "unique".
Line 1: why them
One sentence that proves you read the outlet. Name a post or a playlist and say what about it made you write. "You ran the Maria Somerville session in August and the quiet-vocal thing you picked out is what this song does." Deleted version: "I'm a huge fan of your blog." Every pitch says that and the editor knows it is a template.
Line 2: what it is
Artist, title, genre, release date, one descriptive clause. "I'm Nova Reyes, a producer from Manchester. 'Last Train North' is a four-minute electronic track built on a field recording of the night bus, out 14 November." That is the whole story if they stop reading here. Deleted version: three sentences of biography before the song is named.
Line 3: one reason to care
A single checkable fact. A previous placement, a producer credit, a stream count that is real, a show they would recognise. "The last EP was on Fresh Finds UK and mixed by Tom Keyes." One. Not a list. A list reads as insecurity, and an editor only needs one reason. Deleted version: "My music has been compared to Radiohead, Burial and Phoebe Bridgers." Comparisons are the editor's job.
Line 4: the link
One private streaming link that plays without a login, labelled with what it is. Before release that is a private link; after release it is one smart link that routes to every platform. No attachments: large files get a pitch filtered or ignored. If you have a hosted EPK, add it after the stream link, not instead of it.
Line 5: the ask
Say what you want in plain words, and make it small. "If it fits, I'd love a premiere on the 14th, or a mention in the Friday roundup. Either way, thanks for listening." A specific, small ask gets more yeses than "let me know if you're interested in covering me". Sign with your name, your artist name, and a city. No signature block of nine social icons.
The whole thing
Subject: Bedroom pop from Leeds, out Nov 14: Nova Reyes, "Last Train North". Hi Sam, you ran the Maria Somerville session in August and the quiet-vocal thing you picked out is exactly what this one does. I'm Nova Reyes, a producer from Manchester. "Last Train North" is a four-minute electronic track built around a field recording of the night bus, out 14 November. The last EP was on Fresh Finds UK and mixed by Tom Keyes (Porridge Radio). Private listen: [link]. EPK: [link]. If it fits, I'd love a premiere on the 14th or a line in the Friday roundup. Either way, thanks for listening. Nova— 97 words. Names are invented for the example.
Playlist curators: two changes
- Replace line 1 with the playlist name and the track on it that yours sits next to. "'Night Shift Electronics' has Loraine James at track 6 and this would sit there." Curators think in adjacency, not in genre labels.
- Replace line 3 with fit, not credentials. Tempo, mood, energy and vocal presence are what they check. If you have run the song against the playlist and it scores well, say so in one clause. Our playlist pitching guide goes deeper, and the SubmitHub, Groover and Musosoup comparison covers the paid routes.
The follow-up
One, seven days later, three lines: a reply to your own email so the thread is intact, one new fact (a playlist add, a show, early numbers), and the link again. Then stop. A second follow-up costs you the next pitch to that outlet.
What to track
Keep a sheet with outlet, last-post date, send date, follow-up date, and result. After thirty sends you will know your reply rate, which is usually between 5 and 15 percent for a well-targeted list, and far lower for a scraped one. If you are below that, the problem is almost always line 1 or the list, not the song.
Where Stage fits
Stage checks whether a press outlet is still publishing before it goes on your list, drafts the pitch in this structure from your real catalog, and keeps the hosted EPK and the smart link the email points at. Playlist Fit scores a track against a target playlist using real audio features, so line 3 for a curator is a measured claim, not a hope. Writing and sharing are free; the full press contact network is Pro.
The honest summary
A pitch is five lines: why them, what it is, one reason, one link, a small ask. Check the outlet is alive, send three weeks out, follow up once. The song still has to be good. The email just has to get it played.
Frequently asked
How long should a music pitch email be?
Under 120 words. Five lines: why this outlet, what the song is with genre and date, one checkable reason to care, one private link, and a specific small ask.
What should the subject line of a music pitch be?
Genre, city, release date, artist and title, for example "Bedroom pop from Leeds, out Nov 14: Nova Reyes, 'Last Train North'". Avoid "Submission" and "New music".
When should I send a pitch email?
At least three weeks before release for blogs and curators, earlier for premieres and long-lead press, with a private stream link. For Spotify's own playlists, pitch inside Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release.
Should I attach the song?
No. Send one private streaming link that plays without a login. Attachments get filtered and ignored.
How many times should I follow up?
Once, about a week later, in the same thread, with one new fact. Then stop.
