That was a very helpful interview. There’s an Alt Music paper in my city as well, and this gave me some insight into the inner workings of publications such as these.

[...] Every artist knows that getting established organizations (websites, newspapers, and magazines) to review your music can also be a big momentum builder. Public perception is that the more reviews means more popularity. Therefore, people assume the bands with the most reviews are the ones that deserved to be listened to. To hear one professional music critic’s advice on the best way’s to get your music reviewed, check out CD Baby’s free DIY Musician podcast episode #27, with former Willamette Week Music Editor Amy McCullough (http://cdbabypodcast.com/?p=85). [...]

Thank you for this article. I have a nie review from a local paper in Atlanta Georgia some years ago. I wrote the points down that Amy said were important.

Thank you very much.

Very educating although quie hard to accomplish.

Great interview, really useful.

Thank you Amy! I loved your suggestions and your nervous laugh.

Robert

The truth is cold and hard. If you are interesting enough people will feature you, otherwise you get left behind. I discovered that being unexpected in introduction letter sometimes gets me noticed, and get the editors listen to my stuff. Many musicians don’t know this, but getting the editors listen to your music is almost half the battle as far as getting featured is concerned.

Good podcast but Amy McCullogh is not the music editor of Willamette Week – it’s Casey Jarman.

Hi Amy,we would like very much for you to review our “Guardians of the Grain” CD with vocals by Mark Everett from Alberta, Canada.
We are an “indie” out of Arizona.
Thank you so much,
Clyde Jorgensen

Mark – This podcast is an older episode. When it was recorded, Amy was the music editor for the Willamette Week. The info coved holds true even if she’s not at that post anymore.