So you've recorded a CD that you're proud of and think that it deserves to be on the radio. You have a list of contacts at targeted stations who have agreed to listen to your CD and a supply of envelopes at the ready. Before you mail your CDs off though, you need to spend some time working on a one sheet. A courteous cover letter is all well and good, but even more importantly, your CD needs an effective one sheet. Think of this as an accompanying sales pitch; a mini-bio that quickly informs a programmer or DJ of pertinent details about the release and hopefully results in it being considered for airplay.
Instructions
1. Scan the artwork of your CD and save it to your desktop.
2. Create a new document in the word processing software of your choice and place the CD image prominently at the top of the page along with your name and the CD title.Alongside the CD image, type in a list of the songs on your CD, in the correct running order, along with the exact running length of each track. This is critically important, as DJs and programmers need precise running times of songs when planning their shows. Leave off this information and even if the DJ likes your song, they'll have no way of knowing if it will fit into any available slots on their playlist.
3. Write a brief introductory paragraph about the CD, explaining who the artist is, what genre the CD fits into and the CD's release date.
4. In the next paragraph, add any interesting selling points or details that might be of interest to a programmer. If you have a known producer on board, mention that person by name and mention his credits. Do the same with any notable musicians appearing on your CD; it can only give your release more credibility and help it stand out from the crowd.
5. Next, focus on what you consider to be the most representative and standout tracks. Pick two or three and write a brief description of each focusing on the feel, tempo and lyrical content of the song. You can also mention similar artists to further help categorize your music. This saves the programmer time by seeing themes at a glance rather than having to search lyric sheets or listen to the whole album. These are very busy people, so any accurate guidance you can give them about your music will benefit all concerned.
6. This is also a good time to slip in a testimonial quote or two from reviewers or DJs who have previously played your music. If you have quotes about specific tracks on your CD, all the better. There's no need to overdo this by adding a long list of these from your press kit, but those relevant to the CD (especially if they're credited to other DJs), can only help your cause.
7. Equally as important as the song titles and genre specifics is your contact information. Make this large and easily readable. It helps to set this information in large reverse type so it stands out. Make sure you include your website and your contact email, along with details about where the CD is available for sale. Remember that most stations list their playlists online and they often link to artists' websites. Sometimes they'll even link to your product at retail outlets like Amazon or CDBaby. This is too good an opportunity to waste.
8. When you're happy that your one sheet is a concise and professional representation of your CD release, save it to your hard drive and print out as many copies as you'll need for your initial mailing.
