Industry Guide

Best Music Marketing Agencies (2026)

We evaluated the top music marketing agencies to help artists, labels, and music brands find the right promotional partner.

Agencies Reviewed

$1,000-$25,000

Campaign Range

Streaming & PR

Top Specialties

2026

Updated

Music marketing has transformed in the streaming era, requiring agencies that understand playlist pitching, social media virality, sync licensing, and digital distribution alongside traditional PR and radio promotion.

We assessed music marketing agencies on their promotional reach, streaming results, artist roster success, pricing transparency, and adaptability to help you find the best fit for your music career in 2026.

Whether you're an independent artist releasing your first single or an established label launching a major campaign, these agencies represent the best music marketing options available today.

What to Look For

Promotional Reach

Ability to get music heard through playlists, press, radio, and social channels.

Weight: High

Streaming Results

Track record of driving meaningful Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube growth.

Weight: High

Industry Connections

Relationships with playlist curators, music journalists, A&R, and sync supervisors.

Weight: High

Pricing Transparency

Clear pricing without hidden fees or misleading guarantees.

Weight: Medium

Artist Development

Support for long-term career building, not just single-release campaigns.

Weight: Medium

Top Providers Ranked

Planetary Group

Veteran music PR and radio promotion

$2,000 - $10,000 per campaign

typical range

Planetary Group is one of the most established independent music marketing firms, offering radio promotion, music PR, and digital marketing to artists across all genres. Their decades of industry experience and deep media relationships make them a go-to for both emerging and established artists.

Strengths

Decades of music industry experience
Strong radio promotion network
Music PR and media relationships
All-genre capabilities

Considerations

Traditional PR focus may not suit all strategies
Premium pricing for established firm

Best for: Artists seeking comprehensive radio promotion and music PR

AMW

Strengths

Integrated music PR and digital marketing
Deep entertainment industry relationships
Playlist promotion and streaming strategy
Social media and content creation

Considerations

Entertainment focus is core DNA
Premium service for serious artists

Best for: Artists and labels seeking comprehensive music marketing with PR and digital promotion

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Cyber PR

Digital-first music PR and social strategy

$1,500 - $5,000 per month

typical range

Cyber PR specializes in digital music PR, social media strategy, and online visibility for independent artists. Founded by Ariel Hyatt, they bring a data-driven approach to music marketing that focuses on building sustainable fan bases through digital channels.

Strengths

Digital-first music marketing approach
Artist education and coaching
Social media strategy expertise
Independent artist focus

Considerations

Digital focus vs. traditional media
Independent artist scale

Best for: Independent artists seeking digital PR and social media growth

Songtools (Playlist Push)

Playlist pitching and streaming growth

$1,000 - $3,000 per campaign

typical range

Playlist Push connects artists with independent Spotify playlist curators through their platform. They've built one of the largest networks of independent playlist curators, providing a structured approach to getting music added to playlists that reach real listeners.

Strengths

Largest independent curator network
Transparent playlist pitching process
Campaign analytics and feedback
Accessible pricing for indie artists

Considerations

Playlist-focused only
Results vary by genre and quality

Best for: Artists focused on growing Spotify streams through playlist placements

Muddy Paw PR

Music and entertainment publicity

$2,000 - $8,000 per campaign

typical range

Muddy Paw PR is a music-focused publicity firm handling media outreach, press campaigns, and brand partnerships for artists across genres. They specialize in securing coverage in major music publications, blogs, and podcasts.

Strengths

Music media relationships
Press campaign expertise
Podcast and blog coverage
Brand partnership connections

Considerations

PR-focused without digital marketing
Selective about roster

Best for: Artists wanting music press coverage and publicity campaigns

Venture Music

Comprehensive indie music marketing

$1,000 - $5,000 per campaign

typical range

Venture Music offers comprehensive marketing services for independent artists including playlist promotion, social media management, music video promotion, and digital advertising. Their packages are designed for independent budgets with scalable options.

Strengths

Comprehensive service packages
Independent artist pricing
Social media and ad management
Music video promotion

Considerations

Mid-tier industry connections
Volume-based model

Best for: Independent artists seeking affordable full-service music marketing

Reybee

Radio and streaming promotion for independents

$1,500 - $6,000 per campaign

typical range

Reybee provides radio promotion and streaming services for independent artists and labels. Their team has relationships with commercial, college, and non-commercial radio stations, plus connections with streaming playlist curators and music supervisors.

Strengths

Radio promotion across formats
Streaming promotion services
Sync licensing connections
Label-friendly services

Considerations

Radio focus in declining format
Results vary by genre

Best for: Independent artists and labels seeking radio airplay and streaming growth

Burstimo

Data-driven music marketing and ads

$1,000 - $5,000 per campaign

typical range

Burstimo uses data analytics and digital advertising to grow artist audiences across streaming platforms and social media. Their approach combines paid promotion with organic growth strategies, using detailed analytics to optimize campaign performance.

Strengths

Data-driven advertising approach
Cross-platform campaign management
Detailed analytics and reporting
Scalable budget options

Considerations

Paid promotion focus
Less traditional PR capability

Best for: Artists seeking data-driven digital advertising to grow streams and followers

How to Choose the Right Provider

Music marketing agencies vary widely in approach: some focus on playlist pitching, others on press coverage, and others on paid advertising. Start by identifying which promotional channels matter most for your genre and career stage.

Be cautious of agencies promising specific streaming numbers or playlist placements. Legitimate music marketing involves pitching to curators and media, but results depend on music quality and market fit. Guaranteed numbers often signal bot farms or pay-for-play schemes.

Consider your budget and timeline. Single-release campaigns typically run $1,000-$5,000 over 4-8 weeks. Sustained marketing campaigns with PR, social, and streaming promotion run $3,000-$10,000+ per month. Match your investment to your release schedule.

Look for agencies with experience in your genre. An agency that excels at promoting indie rock may not have the right connections for hip-hop or country music. Genre-specific media relationships and curator connections make a significant difference.

Evaluate whether you need campaign-based or ongoing marketing support. Campaign-based is better for single releases, while ongoing retainers suit artists releasing music regularly and building sustained audience growth.

Red Flags to Avoid

Guaranteeing specific stream counts or playlist adds
No verifiable artist success stories or testimonials
Requiring long-term contracts with no performance metrics
Using bot farms or fake playlist placements
No transparency about promotional methods

Questions to Ask

Can you share results from artists in my genre?
What specific playlists or media outlets will you target?
How do you measure and report campaign results?
What is your approach to avoiding bot streams?
Do you offer ongoing support or campaign-only services?
What should I have ready before starting a campaign?

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does music marketing cost?

Music marketing costs range from $1,000 for basic playlist pitching campaigns to $25,000+ for comprehensive campaigns including PR, radio, social, and advertising. Most independent artists spend $1,500-$5,000 per single release on marketing.

What is the best way to promote music in 2026?

Effective music promotion in 2026 combines playlist pitching, social media content, music PR for press coverage, and targeted advertising. The best approach depends on your genre, audience, and goals. Multi-channel campaigns consistently outperform single-channel efforts.

Do music marketing agencies guarantee results?

Legitimate agencies do not guarantee specific stream counts or playlist placements. They guarantee their promotional effort and outreach. Be wary of agencies promising specific numbers — this often indicates artificial streaming or bot activity.

How long does a music marketing campaign take?

Typical single-release campaigns run 4-8 weeks, starting 2-3 weeks before release. Album campaigns run 8-16 weeks. PR campaigns need 6-8 weeks lead time for media. Sustained marketing for ongoing releases works on monthly retainer cycles.

Should independent artists hire a music marketing agency?

For artists with quality music and a clear target audience, professional marketing can significantly accelerate growth. If you have budget for at least $1,000-$2,000 per release, a music marketing agency can provide access to playlists and media you cannot reach alone.

What is playlist pitching and does it work?

Playlist pitching involves submitting music to Spotify editorial and independent playlist curators for consideration. When done legitimately through curator relationships, it can drive real streams and discovery. Results depend on music quality, genre fit, and curator interest.

How do I know if a music marketing agency is legitimate?

Check for verifiable artist testimonials, transparent pricing, realistic expectations in proposals, and established industry presence. Avoid agencies that guarantee streams, require unusually large upfront payments, or cannot explain their promotional methods.

What should I prepare before hiring a music marketing agency?

Have your music fully mixed and mastered, artwork ready, distribution set up, social media profiles active, and a clear timeline for release. Agencies work best when the foundation is in place and they can focus on promotion rather than production logistics.

Can music marketing agencies help with sync licensing?

Some agencies include sync licensing pitching as part of their services, connecting your music with TV, film, and advertising music supervisors. This is a specialized service that can generate significant revenue and exposure for the right music.

What is the difference between a music publicist and a music marketing agency?

A music publicist focuses specifically on press coverage — pitching to music journalists, blogs, and podcasts. A music marketing agency offers broader services including PR, playlist promotion, social media, advertising, and sometimes radio. Many agencies include publicist services.

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Disclosure: This guide is published by AMW. Rankings are based on our editorial assessment. AMW is featured in this guide as we believe we offer competitive services. We encourage readers to research multiple providers before making decisions.