Music PR companies - are they worth the money?

If I were a Manager of an Artist - I would say Music PR is needed, there are hundreds of releases a week. Information is Power.

I would TALK to at LEAST 3 PR Companies - see what they can do for you - re: services and prices - and then decide.

I have observed artists that don't do PR - their music may be excellent - but they get zilch coverage and low sales.

the best PR companies also realize that Online PR is important - they put up press releases online - they know search engine optimization techniques, construct usable websites that take information design seriously.

I wouldn't trust any PR company that didn't provide these services.

I have seen some PR companies online that don't even know how to market themselves and have hideous websites - useless splash pages, slow loading macromedia flash and fancy graphics etc.

As mentioned upthread, Zzonked specialise in leftfield dance and hip-hop stuff - they're not the best in their field (that's probably the Darling Department) but they're pretty good. They also do radio plugging, which might be worth looking into.

If this percentage is over 1% then they are either A) lying B) Everett True or C) writing for a fanzine so inconsequential they're just not on the right PR mailout lists.

Not that that's anything personal - the ones who have no apparent interest whatsoever in the music they're trying to foist on you madden me, but it's churlish to complain overly.

Also someone should tell Mingo PR that it's no good her sending out excitable newsletters saying WE NEED REVIEWS NOW when she DOESN'T FUCKING SEND REVIEW COPIES EVEN WHEN I'VE ASKED HER FIVE FUCKING TIMES!!!!

Like any profession in life, there are good and bad music PRs. The main thing I would say is go for one who really likes your music, not how many column inches they promise to get you. If the PR doesn't really like your music, how are they going to persuade journalists you're worth listening to?

kate! na na na. music journalism is inconsequential so why should a pr company be consequential?

run by an American woman based in Scotland
dj mingo-go

she seems an enthusiastic and fun person from her dj slots on Radio Magnetic, Marcello why don't you phone and charm her with your distinguished Scots accent?

marcello, calm, calm... uncut probably isnt a good domain for her - i.e. the type of music doesntn suit uncut so that's why she is leary of sending stuff out.

however, if the specialist magazine want the stuff - she's going to send it to those specialist magazines first and then to uncut. which just makes sense, y'know?

That's really obvious but my point is that sometimes bands/artists get focused on the business/sales end to the detrement of what comes first (making the music). Everything else will fall into place if you've done your job (making the music).

That said, with the small/mid-size-ish label I work for, we've started working with a few PR firms within the last year. It's not a situation where we're suddenly getting reviews we probably couldn't have secured in the first place. But it does bring a certain level of professionalism to have, well, professionals handling the mailouts and follow-ups. There are a few more doors opened and overall it's been a positive experience. But we still work closely with many writers (hi writers) and so it's not a matter of handing someone the keys to the house, but rather an outside company hired to take on a bit of the burden.

is it possible to avoid being a complete annoyance but still promote the hell out of an album?