Industry directory of 53,612 contacts
Newspapers
The short answer
Newspaper contacts in the Artispreneur directory are local and national music desks that cover artists with a community story. Newspapers book coverage around local angles: a hometown release, a benefit show, a milestone with a human story. Pitch the arts editor with the local hook first and the music second, well before the event date.
What newspapers do, and what they look for
Arts and entertainment editors at newspapers cover music as community news. They are not looking for the next streaming hit; they are looking for a local story their readers recognize: the hometown artist coming home, the venue anniversary show, the benefit concert, the teacher by day and singer by night. A newspaper feature carries unusual weight with bookers, grant panels, and older ticket buyers.
Browse 2,200 newspapers in the directoryHow to pitch newspapers
- Lead with the local angle: hometown, neighborhood venue, community benefit, or local collaborator.
- Pitch three to four weeks ahead of a dated event, because print calendars close early.
- Offer a strong photo and a short interview window; papers need art and quotes.
- Send the pitch to the arts or entertainment editor, not the general news inbox.
Mistakes that end the conversation
- Pitching a national story with no local connection to the paper's readers.
- Sending the pitch the week of the show, after calendars have closed.
- Treating a newspaper like a blog and offering a premiere instead of a story.
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Start the free courseQuestions artists ask about newspapers
Why would a newspaper cover an independent artist?
When the story is local news: a hometown connection, a notable venue, a benefit, or a milestone their readers care about. The local angle is the whole pitch.
Who at a newspaper should I contact?
The arts, entertainment, or music editor for features, and the calendar editor for event listings. Both are separate inboxes at most papers, and a listing plus a feature is a realistic outcome.
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