A label hears more demos than anyone can listen to. Most are ignored, and not because the music is bad. They are ignored because the email is addressed to nobody, the files are too big to open, or it is clear that the sender never looked at what the label does. A good demo email is short, personal and easy to open. That alone puts you ahead of most of the pile.
Research the label first
Spend an hour on this before you write anything. Look at what the label actually releases: the genres, the size of its artists, the way it presents them. Ask yourself honestly whether your music would sit next to theirs. A trap producer sending a demo to a folk label wastes both sides' time.
Then look for their demo policy. Check the website, the social media bios and any contact page. Some labels say plainly that they do not accept demos. Others ask for a form or a particular email address. Follow the instruction exactly, even if it is boring. If nothing is written, a polite short message to the general contact, or to the person who handles new artists, is fine. Find a name and use it. "Dear Mr. Rza" beats "Dear label".
What to send
Pick two or three of your best songs. Not an album, not your whole folder. The first song should be the strongest, because many people stop after thirty seconds. Send finished or near-finished tracks. If a song is still rough, leave it for later.
Send a private streaming link, not attachments. A private link on a music hosting site or an unlisted video is easy to open on a phone, does not fill an inbox and does not need a download. Check that:
- it opens without a login or an account
- it does not expire in a week
- the song titles and your name are shown clearly
- it works on mobile
Add one link to your released music or your artist profile, if you have one, so they can see you are active. If you have real numbers or real press, put one line in. If you do not, skip that and let the music speak.
Write a short, personal message
Four to six sentences are enough. Cover these:
- Who you are and where you are from, in one line.
- Why this label, with something specific: "I liked how you released Elvin Rza's EP."
- What you are sending: two or three titles, the link, the style.
- One line of context: what you have released, where you have played.
- A friendly close, with your name and links.
A subject line that makes sense: "Demo: Lalə Nova, alt-pop from Baku." Then something like: Hello Aysel, I am Lalə Nova, a singer from Baku. I follow your releases and the way you worked on the latest EP. Here are two new songs, "Yay gecəsi" and "Dalğa," in a private link. I released my last single in May and played three shows this summer. I would be glad to send more if it fits. Thank you for listening.
If your lyrics are not in a language the label speaks, add a one-line translation of what the song is about.
What not to do
- Mass emails with everyone in the To or Cc field. People notice immediately and they delete it.
- Large attachments. They get blocked or never opened.
- A dozen songs. You are asking them to do your editing.
- Hype. "The next big thing" and "guaranteed hit" tell them nothing and make them smile. State facts.
- Pressure. Do not write every few days or contact the whole team on social media after you have sent an email.
- Asking for feedback instead of sending music. Send the music first.
- Paying to be heard. A real label does not charge for listening to a demo. Be careful with anyone who asks for a fee, and read any contract carefully before you sign.
Follow-up etiquette
Labels are slow. Wait three or four weeks before you do anything. Then send one polite follow-up, ideally with a piece of news such as a new release, a show or a milestone. Keep it two sentences long. After that, move on. Silence is common and it is rarely a verdict on your music.
If someone replies with a no, thank them. Industry circles are small and a gracious answer is remembered.
Keep a simple list: label, date, what you sent, reply. It stops you from emailing the same person twice and tells you which labels responded.
While you wait
Do not freeze your career. Keep releasing and playing. A label looks at what you do on your own, and your own releases show that. A distribution service such as CULT gets your songs onto streaming platforms without needing a label, so you do not have to wait for anyone's permission to be heard.
Checklist
- You have read the label's demo policy.
- The message is personal and addressed to a person.
- Two or three songs, private link, no attachments.
- Your name and contact links are at the bottom.
- You have a plan for one follow-up in a few weeks.