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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.​
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Let’s do it.