Radio pitch email templates for independent artists
A radio pitch has one job: make it easy for a busy programmer to decide, in under thirty seconds, whether to click your link. The templates below are built for that reality. Each one is short, follows the structure music directors see from professional promoters, and marks the exact places where you personalize — because the personalized line is the entire difference between a pitch that gets answered and one that gets archived.
The anatomy of a radio pitch
Every working pitch contains the same five parts, in order:
- Subject line: artist, release, genre, date. Plain and informative.
- Opening line: the personalization — the reason this station, specifically.
- The offer: one or two sentences on the release, genre, and the story.
- The link: one streaming link, on its own line.
- The close: what you're asking for and a thank-you.
That's it. No paragraphs of biography, no award lists, no attachments.
Template 1: First contact with a music director
Subject: New single — [genre] — [Artist Name] ([Release Date])
Hi [First name],
I'm [Name] from [City]. I caught [Station]'s [specific show or playlist reference] and heard [reference artist] in rotation — that's the exact lane of my new single, "[Title]," out [date].
It's [genre] with [one concrete descriptor, e.g., "warm analog synths and a halftime hook"], and it's here if you'd like a listen: [one streaming link]
If it fits your programming, I'd be glad to send anything else you need — bio, art, clean edit.
Thanks for listening,
[Name]
[Artist] — [city, links]
Template 2: Pitching a specialty show
Subject: Music for [Show Name] — [Genre] — [Artist]
Hi [First name],
[Show Name] is one of the few places playing [subgenre] properly — the [specific episode or track] you aired last month was a great pick, and my music sits right next to it.
I'm [Artist], [one-line genre/city]. My new [single/EP] "[Title]" is [descriptor] and would suit a [night/time] slot. Stream: [link]
Would love to be considered for the show. Happy to send a clean edit or a longer intro if useful.
Thank you,
[Name]
Template 3: The polite follow-up
Subject: Re: New single — [genre] — [Artist Name ([Release Date])
Hi [First name] — floating this back up in case it got buried. The single is out now and early adds include [station or two, if true]. Link again in case it's useful: [link]
If it's not for [Station] right now, no problem at all — thanks for the time.
[Name]
Template 4: The local-angle pitch
Subject: [City] artist — new [genre] single — [Artist]
Hi [First name],
I grew up [X minutes] from [Station]'s transmitter — [short, true local detail: the venue you played, the scene you came up in, the college you attended]. I've just released "[Title]," [genre], and I'd love for it to be heard at home first.
Stream: [link]. I'm playing [upcoming local date] if you ever want the live version of the story.
Thanks for keeping [City] radio alive,
[Name]
Template 5: The chart-week nudge
Subject: [Artist] — "[Title]" — chart week [date]
Hi [First name],
Following up on "[Title]" — reporting to NACC [genre chart, if applicable] for the week of [date]. If it's been spinning on [Station], thank you; if it's still in the review pile, here's the one-sheet and stream: [links].
Either way, grateful for the listen.
[Name]
Template 6: The thank-you after a spin
Subject: Thank you — from [Artist]
Hi [First name],
Saw "[Title]" in [Station]'s playlist for [date] — thank you, genuinely. I'm [one line about what you're working on].
If you ever want an interview, a station ID, or a live session, I'm easy to reach. Next single lands [season] and I'd love to send it early.
[Name]
This email is why some artists get added again and again: programmers remember the artists who treated them like people instead of slots.
A bank of subject-line patterns
- New single — [genre] — [Artist] ([date])
- Music for [Show Name]: [subgenre] from [City]
- [City] independent release for [Station]'s [show/format]
- [Artist] — "[Title]" — [genre] — debut [month]
- Submission for [Station] new music review — [Artist]
Keep it informative rather than clever. Programmers sort by usefulness, not wit.
The 60-second personalization checklist
Before any template leaves your outbox, it must contain at least two of these five:
- A show name from the station's actual schedule
- An artist the station recently played that sounds like you
- A real geographic connection
- The correct current name and role of the recipient
- A specific programming fit ("your Friday night electronic block")
If you can't fill two, you haven't researched the station yet — and the pitch will read exactly like the mass emails every programmer deletes.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a radio pitch email be?
Under 150 words. Programmers skim on purpose. Your email needs to answer four things in seconds: who you are, what the release is, why it fits this station, and where to click. Everything else lives in your one-sheet or EPK link.
Should I attach MP3 files to my pitch?
No. Attachments trigger spam filters and clutter inboxes. Use one streaming link (or a private download page if the station asks). If a station explicitly requests files, follow its instructions.
What subject line works best for radio pitches?
Specific and boring wins: artist name, release, genre, and date — for example, "New single (May 9) — dream-pop — [Artist] for Night Signals." Cute subject lines read as marketing and get skipped.
Can I send the same email to many stations?
Use a template, not a blast. Send each station its own individually addressed email with at least one station-specific line. Identical mass emails hurt deliverability, your reputation, and your results.