See also:
Hip Hop Press: Updated Posting Policies Moving Forward, Emerging Quality Controls
Promotional Opportunities at ProHipHop & Hip Hop Press
Since the guidelines for submitting materials for ProHipHop and Hip Hop Press have shifted over time and since what we do is somewhat different from what other hip hop blogs and websites do, no matter how similar we may at first appear, we want to clarify the promotional opportunities and how best to take advantage of them.
Core Concept:
All promo materials, press releases, newsletter subscriptions, etc. should go to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com
Use of any other email related to associated sites, from ProHipHop to netweed, is not a good look at this point in time. If an email address ends in prohiphop.com or in netweed.com that isn't hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com please discontinue use and remove from your mailing lists ASAP unless we're engaged in a personal dialogue at those addresses.
What We Don't Do:
We do not do album reviews, artist interviews or artist features.
We do not post MP3's or mixtape links.
We do not post videos of live concerts, behind the scenes action, interviews, people shouting drunkenly at the camera, trailers for the trailer of the trailer, videos that start out with a big ass shaking in your face or a gun being fondled as if it was your best friend, videos that insult the viewer.
What We Do Post:
Press releases that are timely and primarily filled with news or information that we have not posted before at Hip Hop Press. Such releases should include a designated press contact with email or phone number. They can be cut and pasted into the email or attached as a Word .doc or .pdf file and sent to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com
Album cover art, ideally with a source from which it can be preordered. We rarely cover albums after the fact and generally prefer albums being released in hard copy via Amazon.
Videos: music videos of completed singles, hip hop ads and viral promotional videos that either involve using hip hop to promote something else or promoting hip hop products and events in a creative manner.
At ProHipHop: hip hop business related stuff including album releases and singles in the form of music videos.
At Hip Hop Press: press releases related to hip hop, R&B, urban arts & fashion and the music industry. The Urban Arts & Fashion categories covers a rather wide range including fashion, African-American comedians and actors, visual arts, urban models and other topics that, broadly defined, fit under the arts and fashion umbrella.
We do not post releases about jazz, Carribean music including reggae, rock, folk and other genres of music that are neither hip hop nor R&B and do not cover athletes without an additional tie-in to the core categories at Hip Hop Press.
Exceptions and Anomalies:
There are examples of exceptions to all these rules but they typically involve a topic that's hot, a brand that's well known or something that catches Clyde's eye for ProHipHop.
General Rules of Thumb:
Arguing with us about what we cover generally works against you. Explaining why you believe something fits is a smart thing, especially if you're sending press releases that aren't going up and you want clarification.
We often don't get to great material that we'd like to post. We're sorry about that but we're doing the best we can. However, if a press release doesn't go up at Hip Hop Press that you felt fit, write us, don't bombard us with additional copies as if we missed it.
Questions?
Use the comments below or send to: hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com
