How to Contact Record Labels and Submit Demos in 2026

How to Contact Record Labels and Submit Demos

To contact record labels, research labels that sign artists in your genre, prepare a professional demo package (2-3 best songs, EPK, streaming links), and send a concise email to their A&R or demo submission address. Most labels receive hundreds of submissions monthly, so targeted outreach and professional presentation are essential.

Key Takeaways

  • Research labels that actually sign artists in your genre and size
  • Prepare 2-3 polished songs (not full albums)
  • Create a one-page EPK with bio, stats, links, and press
  • Find the right contact: A&R reps or official demo submission emails
  • Keep emails short (under 150 words) and include streaming links, not attachments
  • Follow submission guidelines exactly—labels ignore emails that don't
  • Build momentum first: labels want artists with existing traction

Should I sign with a record label?

It depends on your goals and career stage. Record labels provide funding, industry connections, and marketing support, but require giving up a percentage of your earnings and creative control.

Signs you might benefit from a label:

  • You need funding for recording, marketing, or touring
  • You want access to industry connections (playlist curators, radio, press)
  • You're ready to tour extensively and need tour support
  • You've maximized what you can do independently

Signs you should stay independent:

  • You have sustainable income from your music
  • You want to keep 100% ownership and creative control
  • You're building a fanbase successfully on your own
  • You have the skills or team to handle marketing/distribution

Many artists now use distributors (DistroKid, TuneCore) and stay independent, then approach labels only when they have significant traction and negotiating power.

How do I find the right record labels to contact?

Research labels that sign artists in your genre, at your career level, and with similar sounds.

Step 1: Identify artists similar to you

Make a list of 10-15 artists whose music is similar to yours in genre, style, and career stage (not mega-stars, but artists with 50k-500k monthly Spotify listeners).

Step 2: Look up their record labels

On Spotify:

  1. Go to the artist's profile
  2. Click on any album or single
  3. Scroll down—the label name appears under the copyright symbol (℗)

On Apple Music, the label is listed under each release's information.

Step 3: Research each label

Visit the label's website and check:

  • Roster: Do they sign artists like you?
  • Size: Are they a major label, indie, or boutique label?
  • Activity: Have they signed new artists recently?
  • Submission policy: Do they accept unsolicited demos?

Good label types for emerging artists:

  • Indie labels with 20-100 artist rosters
  • Boutique labels specializing in your subgenre
  • Artist-run labels with 5-20 artists
  • Subsidiary labels of majors (e.g., Republic Records imprints)

What should I include in my demo package?

A professional demo package includes: your 2-3 strongest songs, streaming links, a one-page EPK, and a brief bio. Do not send full albums or unpolished recordings.

Required elements:

1. Music (2-3 songs)

  • Your absolute best tracks, professionally recorded and mixed
  • Songs that represent your sound clearly
  • If submitting a variety of styles, choose songs that showcase your range but still sound cohesive

2. Streaming links

  • Spotify, Apple Music, or SoundCloud links (not file attachments)
  • Make sure tracks are already released and publicly available
  • Use clean, functional links

3. Electronic Press Kit (EPK) - one page Your EPK should include:

  • Artist name and genre
  • Short bio (2-3 sentences about your sound and background)
  • Key stats: Monthly Spotify listeners, social followers, notable achievements
  • Press mentions (if any): blogs, playlists, radio play
  • Streaming links: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube
  • Social links: Instagram, TikTok, website
  • Contact info: Email, phone

4. Professional artist photos

  • At least 2-3 high-quality promotional photos
  • Press-ready resolution (300 DPI, 2000px minimum width)

What NOT to include:

  • Long backstories or personal life details
  • Unfinished or demo-quality recordings
  • More than 4 songs
  • Lengthy manifestos about your artistic vision
  • Requests for meetings or phone calls in the first email

How do I find A&R contacts at record labels?

Check the label's website for a demo submission page or general contact email. If there's no submission info, research A&R reps on LinkedIn or industry databases.

Where to find contacts:

1. Label websites Most labels have a "Contact" or "Demos" page with submission guidelines and email addresses. Always use the official submission channel if one exists.

2. LinkedIn Search for "[Label Name] A&R" and browse profiles. A&R Coordinators and A&R Managers typically handle new artist submissions.

3. Music industry databases

4. Album credits Check the credits on Spotify or Apple Music for albums by similar artists. A&R reps are sometimes credited as executive producers or A&R.

Email best practices:

Do:

  • Use a clear subject line: "Artist Submission: [Your Artist Name] - [Genre]"
  • Keep emails under 150 words
  • Include streaming links in the body (not attachments)
  • Attach your EPK as a PDF (keep it under 2 MB)
  • Be professional and concise

Don't:

  • Send music file attachments (MP3s, WAVs)
  • Follow up more than once
  • Spam multiple contacts at the same label
  • Send generic mass emails to dozens of labels at once

Email template for submitting demos

Here's a proven template structure:

Subject: Artist Submission: [Your Name] - [Genre]

Hi [A&R Name or "Team"],

I'm [Your Artist Name], a [genre] artist from [location]. I've been releasing music independently for [time period] and have built [specific achievement: "50k monthly Spotify listeners," "300k TikTok followers," "features on Spotify editorial playlists"].

I think my sound would be a great fit for [Label Name]'s roster alongside artists like [Similar Artist on Their Roster].

Listen:

  • [Song 1 Title]: [Spotify link]
  • [Song 2 Title]: [Spotify link]

Links:

  • Spotify: [link]
  • Instagram: [link]
  • EPK: [attached]

I'd love to explore working together. Let me know if you'd like to hear more.

Best, [Your Name] [Email] [Phone]

Keep it simple, professional, and easy for them to evaluate quickly.

What happens after I submit my demo?

Most labels do not respond to unsolicited submissions, even if they're interested. If a label wants to move forward, they'll typically reach out within 2-4 weeks. Silence means no.

If they're interested, expect:

  1. Initial call or email: A&R wants to discuss your project, goals, and vision
  2. Second meeting: You meet the team, discuss contract terms at a high level
  3. Offer: If both sides align, they'll present a deal (never sign without a music attorney reviewing it)

Timeline: From initial contact to signed deal can take 2-6 months with back-and-forth negotiations.

Do I need a lawyer to review a record deal?

Yes, always hire a music attorney before signing any contract with a label. Record deals are complex, long-term commitments that can impact your career for decades.

A music attorney will review:

  • Advance amounts and recoupment terms
  • Royalty rates and splits
  • Ownership of master recordings
  • Creative control and approval rights
  • Contract length and number of albums
  • Exit clauses

Cost: Music attorneys charge $250-$500/hour, and a full deal review can cost $2,000-$5,000. This is essential—never skip legal review.

Should I just focus on building my fanbase first?

Yes. Labels want artists with existing momentum. In 2026, most labels sign artists who have already proven they can attract an audience independently.

Build traction first:

  • Reach 25k-100k monthly Spotify listeners
  • Grow social media (especially TikTok/Instagram)
  • Get editorial playlist placements
  • Build an engaged email list
  • Tour regionally and sell tickets

The stronger your independent career, the better your label deal will be—or you may decide you don't need one at all.

FAQ

Do I need to copyright my music before sending it to labels?

Your music is automatically copyrighted when you create it, but registering with the U.S. Copyright Office adds legal protection. Labels will not steal your music—they want commercially successful artists, not lawsuits.

Should I send my music to major labels (Universal, Sony, Warner)?

Major labels rarely sign completely unknown artists. Focus on independent and boutique labels first, unless you have a significant following or industry connections.

How many labels should I submit to?

Target 10-20 carefully researched labels. Quality over quantity—personalized outreach to the right labels beats mass-blasting 100 generic emails.

Can I submit to multiple labels at once?

Yes, most artists do. You're not exclusive to a label until you sign a contract.

What if a label wants to sign me but the deal is bad?

Never sign a bad deal out of excitement. Consult a music attorney and negotiate better terms, or walk away. A bad deal can lock you into unfavorable terms for years.

Should I use SubmitHub to contact labels?

SubmitHub is useful for reaching playlist curators and blogs, but most reputable labels prefer direct email submissions. Use it as a supplement, not your primary strategy.

Related Guides

Made by an independent artist. This guide is created by Anarxhy, an alternative artist releasing music independently through digital distribution. Explore Anarxhy's music on Spotify, Apple Music, and all platforms.