SUBMISSION POLICY:

SUBMISSIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.

Wise Blood is now closed to unsolicited submissions. We receive demo pitches of varying quality every day, and as a one-person label it takes a lot of hustle to release one record a month. Our calendar fills up quickly and we prioritize working with returning artists. We respect the work it takes to create and share your music, so we have created this post with our suggestions when searching for a label partner. Here are some general tips for bands pitching to record labels:

WISE BLOOD SUBMISSION MANIFESTO

1) Treat it like a job interview.

Have a cover letter, your bio, and all your links ready to share. Be organized and prepared. Unless you have a history with the label rep to permit a casual pitch, your first message should be a professional query. This does not mean using a dry, boring template. Write from the heart about why you're a great match for the label. I strongly recommend e-mail so you have full control over the formatting. An intro DM asking if submissions are open is usually fine with me because it saves everyone time, but it might frustrate other label reps. Definitely check their website and accounts prior to see if they have submissions policies listed.

2) Listen to the record label's music.

Most labels are a labor of love and are lucky to break even. The absolute minimum you should do is listen to a few of the bands and make sure you fit on the roster. Better yet, mention which albums are your favorites and why being on a roster with them excites you. Make a personal connection. 75% of the requests I receive are lazy copy/paste requests with no mention of the label name or a single band on the label. These immediately go in the rubbish bin. If you spam-submit to a hundred labels every single one of them can tell.

3) Following Up

I never blame a band for checking in if they sent a query that went unanswered. But please do not do this more than once.

4) Rejection

You will inevitably be rejected by labels that are not interested or lack the time/financial resources. Graciously accept the rejection and thank them for the reply. Do not air grievances, and don't make it personal. I regularly have the displeasure of rejecting albums I really enjoy because the timing isn't right.

5) Checklist of items I'd recommend having available for your pitch:

a) Band Name and Music. I'm serious, I get pitched "concepts" of bands that don’t have an official name and have not recorded a demo. This is only permissable as a “keep my new project on your radar” message if you already know the label. Demos of new material are always helpful, but at the least share links to stream your previous work.

b) Logo. Pay an artist to make an awesome logo, unless you have a top-notch drawing/design talent in the band. It matters.

c) Social Media Links. At this point, if the band doesn't have a history of giving a shit in the slightest on social media, it's unlikely I work with them. We are trying to build connections between people and music, and a little effort goes a long way. I'm gonna do a whole ass tl;dr "social media" manifesto at some point with my thoughts on all that as well.

d) A paragraph specifically about the label and music they have put out. This is your time to appeal to the label on a personal level. It's not about stroking egos if it's genuine. It's about bonding over this chasm we call the wilderness of the internet and building a bridge.

e) A summary of what you're looking for and the status of the project. Are you pitching an upcoming album? Reissue an old demo on cassette? Vinyl or bust? State your intentions from the start and give a quick update. Your recording status, if you have album art, the release timeline you have in mind, etc. Add anything that you feel makes your album more appealing and interesting. Convey your passion for your music and what makes it significant and singular to you.

The Finale: For years I pitched movie screenplays. I successfully optioned a few, but was rejected hundreds, maybe a thousand times. It's difficult out there to find someone to press pause on all their other responsibilities and believe in you and your project enough to focus on it for a few months of their life. I truly empathize with the hustle, and this list is not meant to throw shade. But I also believe that connection, effort, and organization are the best ways to share music in this increasingly detached world. If you truly believe in your music, wow someone with your preparation and drive. Yes, this label is mostly about releasing the music I love. But I regularly invest in the PEOPLE I believe in. That all begins with the pitch, friends.

XOXO, 

Wise Blood Records