I know a thing or two about SubmitHub approvals. In this post, I’ll explain what I look for when an artist sends me a track.
Why submit your music to SubmitHub?
The current go-to platform for music submissions is Submithub, boasting a network of over 1000 curators who review and potentially feature your music on various platforms such as:
- Blogs
- Social Media
- Playlists
SubmitHub stands out because it requires curators, including myself, to provide specific feedback when declining a song.
As an artist, investing 1 to 4 credits guarantees your music will be heard and critiqued, offering a more reliable option than emailing music sites like RGM with potential non-responses.
For example, if you submit your song to me and I don’t like it, I might hit you with something like this:
Why Should You Get Acquainted With SubmitHub?
SubmitHub remains a stable presence and is, in fact, encouraging music sites to discontinue their individual submission pages, opting instead for the convenience of using SubmitHub’s centralized submission platform.
While it can be discouraging when you get declined on SubmitHub, I’ll give you some tips on how to turn your denials into approvals.
Who am I, and what qualifies me to speak on this topic? To date, I’ve evaluated more than 15,000 songs and have created posts for over 200 songs since becoming a part of SubmitHub.
1. Quality Artwork
The first thing I look at when someone submits a track to me is their artwork.
I might not accept the submission if the artwork appears to be created on Windows Paint. This isn’t a criticism of Windows Paint—I loved using it when I was younger. However, in the contemporary era, numerous resources are available for obtaining high-quality artwork. Some that come to mind include:
- Fiverr
- Placeit
- Adobe
- Canva
Artwork holds significance for me because I see it as a reflection of your commitment to your craft. Quality artwork indicates that you have a clear vision for your single or album and are dedicated to investing in the details to ensure a meaningful connection with your audience.
2. Song Quality
The second thing I look at is the song’s quality.
Just as with album artwork, if your song’s quality is muddled, blurry, or marred by static, there’s a good chance I will skip over it. Your track is a reflection of our company, and featuring low-quality music on our site could erode the trust of our readers. However, if your song is mastered, crisp, and comparable to the quality we expect from mainstream artists, we will certainly give it a fair shot. No one wants to hear something that sounds like it came out of a TalkBoy.
3. Blow our heads up 🙂
Don’t you hate when your friends send Happy Holiday chain texts? You like it much more when someone takes the time to personalize your message, right?
SubmitHub works the same way. Our curators want to feel appreciated, so when you pitch your track to us with a message, it is very nice to personalize it with our names and perhaps something you like about our podcast, social media page, or blog. If you don’t have the time to completely personalize a message for us, at least take your generic message and switch its names to match who you are pitching to. Trust me, it makes a huge difference.
4. Don’t Be Demanding
I cannot stand when an artist tells me what they want to hear from me. “Hey, Quincy, can you tell me what genre my song is? Hey, Quincy, what do you think of the beat switch-up that occurs at 2:45?” I don’t care, that’s what I think!
Seriously, if your song is genuinely good and resonates with me, I’ll naturally recognize all the outstanding elements within it. It’s important not to dictate how someone should feel about a song. While you can certainly highlight specific aspects when pitching, avoid instructing us on what to pay attention to or what to like.
5. Make Sure Your Music is on Major Streaming Platforms
If your track isn’t readily available on Spotify, Apple Music, or, to a lesser extent, SoundCloud, it becomes an inconvenience for me. Additionally, with a focus on the former, there’s a high likelihood that we maintain Spotify playlists where your tracks could be featured. Moreover, these platforms facilitate easy embedding on our websites, making it a crucial consideration.
6. Make Sure You Have A Description
Craft a compelling description of yourself. Avoid generic statements like “I’m HIM” or using random quotes that aren’t your own. Providing a comprehensive self-description allows us to connect with you personally, allowing us to appreciate you as much as your music. When we develop a genuine fondness for you, there’s a higher likelihood that we’ll be more forgiving of your artistic shortcomings.
7. Don’t Overflow Us With Music
Sending three songs per week increases the likelihood that I may need to start declining some submissions. The more frequent the submissions, the better chance I might find myself thinking, “I’ve heard something similar from you before,” or “I’m not quite grasping your overall artistic plan.” In an ideal scenario, you would have a strategic career plan. A more practical approach is to strategically release a few singles to build anticipation for an upcoming mixtape or album. Rapidly releasing singles without a clear plan raises questions about the overall direction of your musical journey.
8. Try Not To Sound Like Lil Uzi Vert
Do you know how often I want to tell someone that you sound like a Lil Uzi Vert doppelganger?
In simpler terms, strive for originality. Humans have a remarkable ability to detect authenticity. If your songs resonate as genuine and true to yourself, that authenticity is the perfect pitch.
9. Make Good Music
Ultimately, good music prevails. When I encounter something that truly impresses me, I don’t concern myself with your appearance, background, or the reasons behind your music. I’ll wholeheartedly approve it and write a stellar review. While music is subjective, and opinions vary, I firmly believe that a high-quality track stands out and is easily discernible.
On your journey to SubmitHub success, never take a denial too personally.
No one is holier than thou. Being curators doesn’t elevate us to godlike status. If your song doesn’t resonate with us, it might be a subjective response on our part. I believe in the constant pursuit of improvement, so as long as you consistently strive to enhance your craft, you can succeed on platforms like SubmitHub.
If you have any questions or concerns, email us at info@ratingsgamemusic.com!
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
This Post Has One Comment
A well-legalised scam, you will always lose money with Playlist curators that’s for sure. Almost all playlisters have no intention of publishing your single, they are only interested in responding “politely” to your request so as not to lose the credit you are giving them and they often use copy and paste phrases for everyone, I know this because I have done many campaigns with Submit Hub and I have noticed that many playlisters always respond with the same format, and even when the quality is high (I have produced songs for major record labels then) they find the excuse not to publish you such as: “everything is great but I would have used another kick sound”. They do this to make money anyway and to keep their publishing rating low because a person is more likely not to go for a Playlist that publishes everything that is proposed to them, or rather hopes to make a killing to be among that 5% of choices. Pure Ludopathy. Again, all legal and above board, but stay away, spend your money in other ways, don’t give it away. Your music has more value than a judgement or sentence of a curator who listened to your song for 30 seconds. Sorry if my English is not perfect