How to Send a Demo to a Record Label So Someone Actually Listens

You've got a song you really believe in, and you think: a label needs to hear this. Makes sense. But most demos never get played, and often that's not because of the music. It's how they arrive: a bare link with no context, a mass email with twenty addresses in the cc, or a file called "WhatsApp Audio". In this guide you'll learn how to send a demo to a label so someone actually clicks it, what to avoid, and what to sort out before you hit send.

Quick answer

• Pick labels that fit. Only send to labels that release music like yours.
• Follow their own instructions. If a label has a demo form or a specific email address, use it.
• Send a private streaming link, not an attachment or a download link.
• Send your best song, not your whole hard drive.
• Write a short, personal email to one label at a time.
• Make sure the song sounds finished and that the rights to the beat and any samples are in order.

First: is your song ready to send?

A demo doesn't have to be a final master, but it does need to show what the song is. UK dance label Toolroom says in its demo submission tips that you shouldn't present a demo as a "work in progress": it should be pretty much finished, with only small tweaks left. A rough mix is fine. Half a song is not.

So quickly check these points:

• Your vocal is easy to understand and sits well in the beat.
• There's no clipping or distortion in your bounce. Drop your file into the free Master Checker and look at your LUFS and true peak. What those numbers mean is in how many LUFS for Spotify.
• The song starts strong. An A&R often listens for just a few seconds before deciding whether to keep going. A one-minute intro where nothing happens is a waste.

Not sure your mix is good enough? Get it finished first. With mixing and mastering by NameOnTheBeat you choose whether to get just your vocals or your vocals and the beat mixed. That way you send a version that shows what you can do.

Sort out the rights before you send anything

A lot of artists forget this. A label wants to release your song, so it needs to know you're allowed to.

• Rapping or singing on someone else's beat? A leased beat usually gives you non-exclusive rights with limits. Check what your license covers in which beat license you need for Spotify and YouTube. If a label really wants to release your song, the question of exclusive rights often comes up on its own.
• Is there a sample in it? Say so honestly. An uncleared sample is one of the fastest ways to kill a deal.
• Made the song with other people? Write down who owns what with a split sheet. Then you have an answer ready when a label asks.

How to send a demo to a label, step by step

1. Make a short list of labels that fit. Look at what they've released in the past year. If your song wouldn't sound at home there, skip that label. Toolroom calls this one of the most important tips: research the label and only submit if your track fits what they already put out.
2. Find out how the label wants to receive demos. Check their website and socials. Many labels have a demo form, a dedicated email address or their own portal. Use exactly that. A demo sent as a DM to a staff member easily gets lost.
3. Upload your song as a private track. On SoundCloud you can upload a track as private. It won't show on your profile and can't be found through search. Only people with the secret link can listen, and you can reset that link later. That's how SoundCloud explains it in its help article on private tracks. Toolroom prefers a streaming link like this, because A&Rs don't want to download piles of files via WeTransfer.
4. Give your file a clean name. Artist name and title, so something like "Yourname - Title". In a VICE Netherlands article where Dutch labels explain what works, the label Noah's Ark says it skips files named "WhatsApp Audio" plus a number right away.
5. Write a short, personal email. How to do that is below.
6. Send it to one label at a time. No mass emails, and definitely no list of every address in the cc. Both Toolroom and the Dutch labels in the VICE piece call that a big annoyance.
7. Keep track of what you sent where. A simple list with the label, date, song and response. That way you don't send the same thing twice, and you know when it's okay to follow up.

What to put in your email

Shorter is better. Toolroom puts it simply: let the music do the work. A good demo email has this:

• A clear subject line, for example "Demo: Yourname - Title (rap)".
• Who you are in one or two sentences: your artist name, your city and what kind of music you make.
• Why this label. In the VICE article, Noah's Ark specifically asks artists to explain why their music fits the label. Mention one of their releases that's close to your song, for example.
• The private link to your best song, with the title.
• Anything you've already achieved, if you have it, like a release that did well or a show you played. Keep it short and don't oversell.
• Your contact details and links to your socials, plus your Spotify profile if you've already released music.

Watch your spelling too. In the same article, Excelsior mentions a clean text without typos and a good photo as things that really stand out.

Example of a short demo email

Hi [label contact or team],

I'm [artist name], a rapper from [city]. I've been following your releases for a while, and [label release] really stuck with me. My new song "[title]" is in a similar lane: [one sentence about the vibe].

You can listen here (private link): [link]

I've previously released [short achievement]. I have more songs ready if you're interested.

Best,
[name] · [Instagram] · [Spotify]

What not to do

• Sending ten songs at once. Toolroom recommends sending your best demo and mentioning you have more.
• Sending attachments or download links when the label didn't ask for them. A streaming link is quicker for the person listening.
• An email with no context, just a link. Those are easy to skip.
• Asking for help instead of showing your music. In the VICE article, Neerlands Dope says it wants to see that you can record and perform on your own. So don't ask for studio time before you have a finished song.
• Sending a song that's been out for ages without saying so. If it's already released, say that in your email.
• Following up every day. Give a label time. Toolroom's advice is that if you don't hear back after about a week, don't keep pushing the same track, send a different demo instead.

Be realistic, and keep building on your own

Labels get a lot of demos. In the VICE article, Excelsior says roughly one in a hundred demos actually gets released. The same labels say most of the artists they sign had already put out music themselves.

So it's smart not to wait. Release your music yourself, build an audience and show that something is happening. How to get your own song on Spotify is in how to put your own music on Spotify, and with Spotify for Artists you can see who's listening. Then when a label asks how things are going, you have numbers to show.

Should your demo be a WAV or an MP3?

For a first introduction, a streaming link is usually enough. If a label does ask for a file, check what they want. For listening, a 320 kbps MP3 is fine and nice and small. You can convert your WAV for free with the audio converter, without your file being uploaded anywhere. Always keep your WAV: you'll need it if the label actually wants to release the song.

FAQ

How many songs should I send?

Start with your best song and mention that you have more. If the label wants to hear more, they'll ask.

Can I send the same demo to multiple labels?

Yes, but send each label its own personal email. Never one email with every label in it. And if two labels show interest, be upfront about that.

How long should I wait for a reply?

It depends on the label, and many labels don't reply at all if it's not for them. Don't follow up every day. After a week or a few weeks, it's fine to check in once briefly or send a new demo.

Does my demo need to be mastered?

Not necessarily, but it should sound finished and shouldn't distort. Check it with the Master Checker before you send it.

Can I send a demo on a leased beat?

Yes, to show your music. But mention that the beat is leased. If the label wants to release the song, the rights to the beat will need to be sorted out.

Sources: VICE Netherlands, "We vroegen platenlabels wat je wel of niet moet doen om ontdekt te worden" (Excelsior, V2, Noah's Ark, Neerlands Dope); Toolroom Academy, "The dos and don'ts of demo submissions"; SoundCloud Help, "Edit your track's privacy settings".