How to Find Music Industry Contacts (Without Wasting Hours)

Chris Schofield•5+ years contact research•9 min read

Right, let's get real. Contact research used to eat up half my promotion time. Here's exactly how I find quality music industry contacts without spending days hunting through outdated databases.

The Problem with Most Contact Research

Most artists approach contact research completely wrong. They either buy expensive databases full of outdated emails, or waste hours googling "radio DJ email addresses" hoping to strike gold.

❌ What Doesn't Work:

  • • Buying generic "10,000 radio contacts" databases (mostly dead emails)
  • • Random Google searches without a systematic approach
  • • Using the same outdated contact list for years
  • • Copying contact lists from other artists (they're probably wrong)
  • • Hoping submissions forms on websites actually work

The result? Bounced emails, ignored submissions, and weeks of wasted effort. Here's how to do it properly.

Method 1: Social Media Reverse Engineering

This is my go-to method because it gives you current, active contacts plus insight into their personality and preferences.

For Radio DJs:

  • Check the station's Instagram/Twitter: DJs often post about their shows with contact details
  • Look at their personal accounts: Many link to submission emails in their bio
  • Check show announcements: They often include "send music to..." details
  • Follow their music posts: See what they're actually playing recently

For Playlist Curators:

  • Instagram bio links: Many curators put submission details here
  • Spotify playlist descriptions: Often contain contact information
  • Twitter profiles: Check for submission guidelines or contact details
  • Recent activity: See if they're actively adding new music

Method 2: The Website Deep Dive

Most people check the "Contact" page and give up. But the real gold is buried deeper.

🔍 Where to Look:

  • • About pages: Often list individual team members with emails
  • • Press kits/Media pages: Usually have direct contact details
  • • Staff listings: Names you can cross-reference on social media
  • • Old blog posts: Authors often have contact info in bios
  • • Partnership/Collaboration pages: Sometimes list submission processes

Method 3: Network Effect Research

This is where most people miss out. Instead of finding contacts in isolation, look at who they interact with. Networks reveal quality connections.

  • Check who they follow: DJs often follow other DJs in similar genres
  • Look at their collaborations: Joint playlists, guest mixes, etc.
  • Find industry events they attend: Often tagged in posts with other contacts
  • Check their music recommendations: See who they're supporting

Method 4: Smart Database Mining

I'm not against databases entirely - but most people use them wrong. Here's how to extract value from contact databases:

  • Use them as starting points: Get names and stations, then verify everything
  • Cross-check with social media: Confirm they're still active
  • Look for recent updates: Databases older than 6 months are mostly useless
  • Focus on niche, not volume: 50 targeted contacts beat 5000 generic ones

Verification: The Step Everyone Skips

Finding contact details is only half the job. Verifying they're current and accurate saves you from embarrassing bounced emails.

✅ Quick Verification Checklist:

  • • Check their recent social media activity (active in last month?)
  • • Look for recent playlist updates or show announcements
  • • Verify the email format matches their domain
  • • Search their name + current year for recent mentions
  • • Check if they've posted submission guidelines recently

My Contact Research Workflow

Here's exactly how I research contacts for campaigns. This process takes about 10 minutes per contact but gives me 80%+ delivery rates:

My 10-Minute Research Process:

  1. Start with their official platform (Spotify, station website, etc.)
  2. Check all their social accounts for contact details and personality
  3. Note recent music they've shared/played to understand their taste
  4. Find their submission preferences (email format, timing, etc.)
  5. Verify contact details are current (not from 2019)
  6. Check their activity level (are they actually active?)
  7. Note any personal details that could help personalise outreach
  8. Save everything in a spreadsheet with contact date

Tools That Actually Help

Right, let's talk tools. Most are expensive and over-promise. But a few genuinely save time:

✅ Tools I Actually Use:

  • • Contact enrichment tools like Audio Intel (shameless plug, but it works)
  • • Social media search tools for finding contact details in bios
  • • Email verification services to check addresses before sending
  • • Simple spreadsheet templates to organise everything

❌ Tools That Waste Money:

  • • "Massive contact databases" - Usually 70%+ outdated
  • • Auto-submission tools - Generic submissions get generic results
  • • Contact scraping software - Often grabs wrong or inactive emails
  • • Expensive "industry insider" lists - Same outdated contacts recycled

Contact Categories That Actually Matter

Not all contacts are created equal. Here's how I prioritise my research time:

Tier 1: Active Curators & DJs

  • Posted new music in the last week
  • Respond to artists on social media
  • Have clear submission guidelines
  • Show engagement on their content

Tier 2: Established But Quiet

  • Good track record but less active lately
  • Decent following but inconsistent posting
  • Worth a shot but don't expect high response rates

Tier 3: Skip These

  • Haven't posted in 3+ months
  • Generic bios with no personality
  • No clear submission process
  • Obvious bot or inactive accounts

The Time Investment Reality

Let me be honest about time investment. Quality contact research isn't quick, but it's worth it:

  • 50 quality contacts: About 8-10 hours of research
  • But higher response rates: 10-15% vs 2-3% with generic lists
  • Better relationships: Personalised outreach builds connections
  • Reusable intelligence: Good research pays off for years

Common Research Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on follower count: Engagement matters more than numbers
  • Ignoring submission guidelines: If they say "no demos," don't send demos
  • Not updating your lists: People change jobs, email addresses expire
  • Copying other people's lists: Build your own relationships
  • Not verifying contact details: Bounced emails kill your reputation

The Bottom Line

Look, contact research is tedious. But it's the foundation of every successful music promotion campaign. You can have the best music in the world, but if it's not reaching the right people, it doesn't matter.

The artists who succeed long-term are the ones who build genuine relationships with quality contacts, not those who blast generic emails to massive lists.

Want to skip the manual research?I built Audio Intelbecause I was tired of spending hours on contact research for every campaign. It enriches your basic contact lists with submission preferences, social media handles, and personal details that make outreach actually work. Free beta, no credit card required.

Chris Schofield - Contact Research Expert

Chris Schofield

Music PromoterAudio Intel FounderContact Research Expert

After wasting literally thousands of hours on manual contact research over 5+ years, I built Audio Intel to solve this problem properly. These methods are what I use for client campaigns.

Quality contact research is the difference between artists who succeed and those who give up. If this guide saves you even a few hours of frustrating research, it's done its job.

Try Audio Intel Free Beta