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Build lists. Run campaigns.
Lists turn the directory from something you read into something you work. Here is how to build them, and a simple campaign system that keeps your outreach organized.
The basics
- Save contacts as you browse. Every contact card and profile has a save button. Saves land in your default pile, and you can drop a contact straight into a named list from the same control.
- Make one list per campaign, not one giant list.“Spring single: blogs + curators” is workable. “Everyone I might ever contact” is where outreach goes to die. Create and manage lists from your lists page.
- Log your outreach. When you pitch someone, mark it on the contact. You can record the outcome as replies come in: no reply, replied, placed or covered, declined. The point is that three weeks later you will not remember who you emailed; the log will.
- Export when you need to. Any list exports to CSV, so you can work in a spreadsheet or your own tools if that is your style.
A campaign in five steps
1. Build a target list of 30 to 60 contacts
Filter by genre and country first; those two filters do most of the work. Prioritize contacts with a recent “last verified” date and an active status. Quality beats size: 40 right-fit contacts outperform 200 random ones.
2. Pitch in batches of 10 to 15
Small batches let you personalize each message and learn as you go. If batch one gets zero replies, fix the pitch before burning the rest of the list on it.
3. Personalize the first line, always
Name something real: a playlist they run, an artist they covered, a show their venue hosted. One specific sentence beats three paragraphs of bio. Our pitch templates and readiness checklist help here.
4. Log every send, then follow up once
Mark each contact when you pitch. After 10 to 14 days of silence, send one short, polite follow-up. One. Then record the outcome and move on; persistence past that point costs you goodwill.
5. Review and reuse
When the campaign winds down, skim the outcomes. Everyone who replied, even with a no, goes into a “warm” list; they already know your name, and they are the first people to pitch next release.
Campaign ideas
Single release campaign
Curators + blogs + radio in your genre. Build the list 3 or 4 weeks before release day, pitch blogs and radio first (they need lead time), curators the week of release.
Local shows list
Venues filtered to your city and the two or three cities you can actually drive to. Add the local blogs and radio stations in those same cities; a show plus local press beats either alone.
Sync list
Music supervisors whose projects fit your sound. Keep this one small and personal; supervisors get pitched constantly, and a specific "this track fits the kind of scene you cut" note goes much further than volume.
Long-game list
Labels, managers, publishers and booking agents you would want in a year. Pitch these sparingly, with milestones (a release that performed, a packed show) rather than every song.
Ready to build your first list?