How to get press coverage for R&B releases

R&B has its own media lane. Publications like Rated R&B, Soul Bounce, Essence, and The Fader regularly feature R&B artists. Mainstream outlets like Pitchfork, Complex, and Rolling Stone also cover R&B, though you'll need a stronger angle to break through there. Start by identifying 30 to 40 outlets that have recently covered artists similar to yours. For each outlet, find the specific journalist who writes about R&B. Read their recent pieces to understand their taste and what kind of stories they gravitate toward. Follow them on social media and engage genuinely before you pitch. When you send your track through Promoly, journalists can stream it right in the email, which saves them time and makes your pitch more convenient to act on.

For R&B press outreach, lead time is everything. Pitch major outlets three to four weeks before release and smaller blogs two to three weeks out. Always include the release date and specify any embargo terms if you're offering exclusives. After sending through Promoly, check your analytics to see who opened the email and who listened to the track. A journalist who played the full track is showing real interest. Follow up with them personally after four to five days if they haven't responded. Keep it short and friendly. When coverage does land, share it everywhere, tag the journalist, and thank them publicly. This builds the relationship for future releases. The best publicists treat journalists as long-term partners. Send them music consistently, respect their time, and only pitch releases that genuinely have a story worth telling.