Before the demo inbox

How to send a demo
to record labels.

Find the right route. Make the music easy to review. Know what your track needs before you send it.

SIGNR editorial · Updated 16 September 2026

The short answer

Finish the version you want a label to hear, shortlist labels that fit it, and follow each label’s current official submission instructions. Send the requested file or link with a short, relevant message. Test the link, keep a record of the submission, and follow up only where appropriate.

Uploading to SIGNR checks your track. It does not submit it to a label.

01 / The record

A finished export is only the starting point.

Listen to the complete version you intend to send. Does the arrangement communicate the idea? Is something in the production distracting from it? Keep the sound that makes the track yours. Moving closer to a reference is not automatically an improvement.

A technical check can flag production issues. It cannot decide whether an A&R will connect with the song. Your genre, intended use and the label’s recent releases provide context for that decision.

What about your track?

The full SIGNR report connects your measurements to label direction, what to address, what to leave alone and your next move. That advice depends on your track.

Check my trackFree preview. Full report from €9.See a complete example report →

02 / The destination

Label fit and an open inbox are different things.

Start with recent releases rather than reputation alone. Then find the label’s official demo page. A label can suit your music while having no confirmed public route. An open form does not mean every style belongs there.

The format depends on the destination. Toolroom directs demos through its upload page. Defected specifies streamable links and WAV audio. Monstercat lists demo entry points for its imprints. Check those instructions again when you submit.

Checked demo routes

12 routes in SIGNR’s selected directory. Route checks recorded 2026-09-13. This is a smaller set than the label profiles used for analysis.

Explore verified demo routes →

03 / The submission

Make the first play straightforward.

Use a clear artist name, track title and version. Supply the audio format and access settings requested by the label. Open the link in a signed-out browser before sending it. Enable downloads if requested, and avoid adding files or promotional material the recipient has not asked for.

Keep the message brief: identify the track, explain why you chose that label, and include the requested link or upload. An email, a portal description and a personal introduction are different formats; use the one the label invites.

Track

  • The intended version plays from start to finish.
  • You have checked the mix and arrangement.
  • You can explain why you are ready to send it.

Submission

  • The official route is current and open to your submission.
  • Format and link permissions match the instructions.
  • Artist, title and contact details are clear.
  • You have recorded the label, date and version.

After sending

Silence is not a universal verdict on the track. Toolroom, for example, says it cannot reply to every submission. Follow the recipient’s policy, avoid repeated follow-ups, and do not resend the same version as if it were new.

Demo submission questions

How do I send a demo to a label?

Choose a label whose recent releases fit your music. Find its official submission instructions, prepare the file or link it requests, and send a concise message. Check access to the link before submitting. SIGNR can help you assess the track; it does not send the demo for you.

Do people still send demos to record labels?

Yes. Labels including Toolroom and Monstercat publish official demo entry points. Others restrict unsolicited submissions. Check the label’s own current instructions rather than assuming an inbox is open.

Which record labels accept unsolicited demos?

Some labels invite unsolicited demos through a portal or dedicated email. SIGNR’s verified-route directory distinguishes an invitation to submit from merely finding a portal. It is a selected directory, not a list of every label that accepts music.

How can I submit a demo to a specific label?

Start on that label’s official website and follow its demo or contact link. Where available, a SIGNR label page records the checked route and verification date. If no public route is confirmed, do not substitute a guessed email address.

Should my demo be mastered?

Send a version that communicates the finished record clearly and meets the label’s requirements. A paid mastering session is not a universal prerequisite. Listen for distortion, balance and distracting problems; artistic readiness remains your decision.

Should I send WAV, MP3 or a private streaming link?

Follow the label’s instructions. A streaming link and the audio format behind it are separate choices. SIGNR currently accepts a 320 kbps MP3 for analysis; that does not determine the format a label wants.

How many tracks should I send?

Use the number requested by the label. If it gives no number, select your strongest relevant work rather than a large folder that asks the recipient to shortlist it for you.

Can I send the same track to multiple labels?

Check the submission terms and any exclusivity you have agreed. Do not call a submission exclusive if it is not. Keep a record of where each version has been sent.

Should I DM an A&R or follow up after two weeks?

Use the official route unless that person has invited demos by DM. Follow the label’s stated response and follow-up guidance. There is no universal two-week rule, and repeated messages do not make a track a better fit.

How do I know which label fits my track?

Listen to recent releases and consider the musical lane, energy and artist context. SIGNR’s full report adds track-specific label direction and reasoning. A fit percentage is not the likelihood of a signing.

Know before you hit send.

The route tells you where to submit. Your SIGNR report helps you decide what to do with your track first.

Start a free track check

Free preview. Full report from €9.

How SIGNR thinks · Understand your genre lane · Producer Playbook