How can I submit my music for a blog post or a playlist feature?
You don't have to because I don't work as a music blog. And I don't work as a Spotify playlister. I'm the editor of a monthly magazine that goes out on Patreon, with a monthly "Mixtape" (a Spotify playlist). But my playlists can't be considered alone. They're part of a package that my readers love to enjoy with their magazine every month. This allows me to put much more care into my work in the background and provide my readers with very high-quality and engaging content.
So how can I submit my music for an article in the magazine?
The only way to submit is to use my submission form. Keep reading, don’t be afraid, I’ll guide you along the way :) A hint for the most impatient: trying to cheat and going straight to the end won’t help you either :D
I haven't dealt with emails since 2017 and I've left submission platforms to be fully independent and neutral. If you send me an Instagram DM, there’s a 10 out of 10 chance that either I or my dear friend Emmy will direct you to this FAQ :)
What about interviews in the magazine? How can I submit my music for an interview?
Interviews are offered to IMC Family members only. You will automatically become an IMC Family member after I've featured your music 5 times. So, there's no other way to apply than to keep on making good music! :) You can learn more about the IMC Family program here.
Do I have to pay for the magazine, to see the coverage you've done about me?
Of course, not! That'd be payola, and that's not for me. If you're approved for a feature, on the day the magazine is released, I’ll send you an email with the article in PDF format for free, promotional visuals for you to share with your fans, and a 50% discount code in case you'd like to purchase the full issue. But there's no obligation at all.
Do you accept AI-generated content in bios or song descriptions?
No. Any submission containing AI-generated content in the song description or artist biography will be declined without listening. We focus on authentic, human-created content. You can learn more in this article. So this is mandatory: please use your brain to talk to me if you want me to use mine to write about you ;)
Are all submissions accepted?
Unfortunately, not. Only 3 genres are covered by IMC: Folk, Pop, and Rock. That's it because I receive a high volume of submissions, and while I do listen to everything sent my way, I can’t guarantee coverage for each submission. Days only have 24 hours, and I don't know how to do magic. The magazine would be 200 pages (who would read that? It would be too much for my readers!) and the quality of the articles wouldn't be that good. My priority is to support independent artists aligned with my editorial focus and with quality features. As you can guess, quality features take time.
Can I submit a song that hasn’t been released yet?
Yes, I do welcome pre-releases, it's even better because I work most of the time in advance! Just set up the right release date when you submit it so I can plan the timing of the article accordingly.
How long does it take to get a response?
Response times vary depending on the number of submissions. Generally, I aim to get back to you via Instagram within a week. If you haven’t heard back in three weeks, please consider that it wasn't a good fit.
Is there a fee to have my music reviewed?
No, I never charge fees for music reviews. Let’s leave paid articles to blogs that use ChatGPT to work. Uh, sorry. To make crap, because that’s not working. Yes, I swear, I’ve seen it, and some of my artists didn’t even notice. I didn’t even dare tell them :(
My mission is to support independent artists authentically. If you want to support my work, my greatest reward would be for you to subscribe to the magazine. It's cheap and this would be really helpful because this money is reinvested in ads and promotions so all the other artists benefit from it (including you for your next features, as we'll reach more people).
My single/album isn’t on streaming platforms like Spotify. Is that an issue?
Yes. Because Niko's Music Magazine comes out every month with Niko's Music Mixtape, and it's... a Spotify playlist! So if your song isn't on Spotify, it's kind of an issue.
Do you offer social media promotion for artists?
Yes, I tag artists on Instagram when my magazine issue is released and also make a dedicated post later in the month. I do my best to give you visibility among our audience. As previously said, the money I get on Patreon from subscriptions and magazine sales goes to ads and promotions.
Can I submit multiple songs or projects?
I prefer one submission at a time. If I cover your first project, you’re welcome to submit future projects.
What happens if my song is accepted?
You’ll receive an Instagram DM to announce the good news.
Then, when the magazine is released, I'll send you an email with the article as a PDF file, promotional visuals so you can share it with your fans, and a 50% discount code in case you'd like to buy the whole issue.
In this email, you’ll find the date when a dedicated post about you will be published on Instagram.
And on this date, there will also be a short blog post on Indie Music Center's website with half of the article, and the whole post on Patreon for supporters of the first tier.
And what if I had scrolled all the way to the bottom of the page just to skip the whole article, submitting blindly?
Easy: you won't be able to skip the whole article. Because I only work with people who are human, conscious, and logical. That's why, if you want to find the submission form, you'll need to find the magic link. And it’s quite simple, all you need to do is find the magic word in this article. It will lead you to the submission form. If you've read everything properly, it shouldn't be a problem, because you will remember that I said I wasn't able to do magic :) Well, apparently, I lied, because I can!
