It’s no surprise that musicians have a way with words. Some of the best writers of all time have been musicians. Bob Dylan, for example, recently won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Expressive writing comes naturally to many songwriters and can lead to unforgettable song lyrics. Business writing, however, can often come as a challenge for musicians who aren’t used to adopting such a formal writing approach.
In today’s world, it’s important for musicians to understand how to correspond with other business professionals to establish their careers. One of the most common ways to communicate with business partners is through email. Writing an email that grabs your reader’s attention will significantly increase your chances of forming new business partnerships. If you’re looking to refine your email writing skills, you’ve come to the right place. Below are our top five tips for writing a quality email.
1) Use proper spelling, grammar, and word usage
Using proper spelling, grammar, and word usage is one of the most important parts of writing a good business email. Many musicians are accustomed to communicating very casually when interacting with others. While this is a great way to relate to listeners and build a fanbase, business professionals both expect and prefer formally written emails from potential clients or partners.
A well-written email will create a good first impression, which is crucial in the music industry. Similar to how your resume and CV need to be grammatically correct, your emails should also be proofread numerous times before pressing “Send.” Be mindful of your word choices, as writing an email with professional word usage may give you the edge you need in order to excel in this industry.
2) Create an email signature
Creating an email signature with important contact information will not only save you time, it will also show other professionals that you take the business aspect of your music seriously. An email signature with your name, your band’s name, your phone number, and links to your social media accounts will make you seem more accessible and organized. For some ideas you can use to create your own email signature, take a look at this article.
3) Write an eye-catching subject line
The first thing the receiver of your email will see is the subject line. Just like any advertisement, the subject of your email should grab the reader’s attention. Sending an email with an overdone subject line, such as “New Music,” may lead to your email getting lost in a sea of other self-promotional messages the record label receives.
If you’ve met a producer in the past and have decided to follow up by sending your music to them, be sure to include this past meeting in the subject line. For example, “A Follow-Up From Our Meeting” will remind the recipient that you’ve already discussed music and business together in person. Allowing the person you’re emailing to attach a familiar face to an email will increase your chances of getting a response and subsequently working with them in the future.
4) Understand the difference between CC and BCC
If you’re emailing a record label for the first time, be sure to keep your email personal. Carbon copying (or CC’ing) allows you to include other recipients’ email addresses in your message, all of which can be seen. This means CCing all of your band members when emailing a potential business partner may come across as impersonal, or even rude.
When sending emails to promote your music, you’ll come across as much more personable by sending a private message between you and the recipient. Don’t include other email addresses in the CC line unless the recipient knows these individuals personally and would expect them to be included. If you want to include your other band members in the email, blind carbon copy (or BCC) them. This will ensure that the recipient doesn’t see numerous email addresses of unfamiliar people when they open the message.
5) Include the right kind of attachments
Since you’re a musician, many of your attachments will likely be audio files of your work. Attaching your music to an email in a way that will be easy for your reader to open on their device is absolutely crucial. Music managers or record label companies often get hundreds, if not thousands, of emails every day. If a file can’t be opened properly on their computer system, they’ll likely skip over your work without contacting you to send a different type of file.
To avoid this from happening, send your music through a reliable online platform. Soundcloud is a great way to upload your music to the internet for free, and share it with others simply by sending a link to your profile. By including a link instead of a file, you won’t have to worry about download issues hindering your chances of forming a new business relationship. Some other great platforms to use are Spotify, Audiomack, and Apple Music. If you want to read more about how best to market yourself on social media, check out our previous article on “The Top 5 Places to Publish Your Music.”
If you’re a DIY musician and are interested in obtaining a list of playlist curators, music blogs, influencers in the industry and more, check out the IndieBible.