Is paying for PR or radio promotion a scam? episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 17, 2025 · 15 MIN

Is paying for PR or radio promotion a scam?

from Music Business Newsletter w/ Matthew Rix · host Soho Artistry

In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m answering a question that almost every independent artist runs into at some point:Is paying for PR or radio promotion a scam?He’s an artist out of Austin, Texas, who has been getting hit with emails and DMs from companies promising playlist placements, blog features, radio spins, and even label attention but only if he pays anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000, or signs up for a monthly retainer.On top of that, he’s already been burned once by a so-called “promotion company” that took his money and barely did anything. Now he’s stuck wondering:Is any of this real, or is it all smoke and mirrors?In this video, I dive into:-The truth about PR and radio promotion-How to tell a real company from a shady one-What PR can and can’t actually do for an artist-When it’s worth paying for — and when it’s a waste of money-Why do so many artists get fooled by the same sales pitchesIf you’ve ever wondered whether you should pay for PR, radio promo, playlisting, or “exposure campaigns,” this episode is going to save you a whole lot of money and headaches.Do you have a question about the music industry?Visit https://MatthewRix.com and submit it.The more details you give, the better I can help and your story might help another artist avoid the same mistakes.Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.SpotifyApple MusicAmazon MusicYouTube

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Is paying for PR or radio promotion a scam?

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This episode was published on November 17, 2025.

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