New to regional press?
We love hearing new music. And we love sharing it with our contacts – regional and student publications, and publication-linked websites up and down the UK.
Most of the acts we represent are signed to record labels or management companies, often both. This means we are part of a promotional team that includes a radio and television plugger; a national press officer; a social media plugger; a concert agency and various satellite promoters. Many have others also spreading the word: companies creating and promoting videos; poster and leaflet suppliers and distributors, agencies that secure advertising space and air-time etc.
All these elements help establish profile for an act. This means that when we mail out a link to music or send an e-mail or make a phone call, there is already an awareness so that a review or feature is much more likely.
Most self-funded groups seldom have such a team. Instead they have self-belief, commitment, enthusiasm and, sometimes, great songs just waiting to be heard. We want to work with such bands. It is important, however, that we firstly point out a few things. Here goes:
We strongly recommend
Assemble a team if possible: Although being represented by Pomona is a major ‘leg up’ and will establish credibility for an act, it stands for so much more if other elements of the promotional team are in place. Imagine a football team. Well, we’re the solid but unsung full-backs. We can beaver away but without a striker (who, in this metaphor might be your national press officer or radio plugger, say) we’re going to struggle to win matches.
UK dates are vital: It is (as good as) crucial that an ‘unsigned’ band has UK dates to support a record release, ideally six or more shows in areas with a strong media presence. We need to be made aware of a tour a good two months upfront. Publications often have long lead-in times and they have to trust that these shows will actually take place.
What we need from you
Band photos: A jpg of at least 1MB is essential. If you want to see your band photo standing a good chance of being used, it must be clear, in focus, nothing too arty and ideally – and we know this is difficult – an interesting framing. We will need two pictures – one portrait, the other landscape.
Album artwork, bio and press release: A jpg of the album sleeve, a biography of the band (straight-forwardly written), press releases for the album and tour – again, these are essential. We do not write any copy at Pomona but will give advice if requested.
Albums: We will need some album stock which we will limited to as few as possible & we will supply most reviewers with stream or downloadable options.
We hope this hasn’t put you off and doesn’t sound stroppy or unfriendly. We’re lovely, passionate people. Honest. It’s just that we want to make everything brilliantly clear from the start.
Let’s do it.