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 How
to Write a Cover Letter:
Prototype
and Instructions
by Christopher Knab, Updated January 2008.
Back to The Academy
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Your
Name
Your Address
Current
Date
Name of Contact (Mr.
or Ms.)
Name of Company
Address
Dear Mr./Ms.,
It was a pleasure
meeting you at ____. In the brief time we had to talk, I mentioned the group _______, an
__________ ___ band from Seattle that I have been working with for the past year. You were
kind enough to suggest that I send you a copy of their CD.
Enclosed you will find
their demo, and the _______ you requested.
____________ will be
playing several gigs around Seattle in the next couple of months. If you enjoy the CD,
and would like to see the bands live show, let me know and I will put you on the guest
list for one of their upcoming shows.
The band recently got
a great review in _________. ______ _____ reviewed a recent show by saying; Not since
_______ have I heard such ________ and _______ ________ . When you get a chance to hear
their CD, I think you will agree with that comment.
If you have any
questions about the band, please feel free to call me anytime. I can be reached at ___
___-____.
I will be contacting
you next week to follow up on this letter.
Thank you for your
time.
Sincerely,
Your Name (be sure to
sign the letter) |
Instructions for writing a music business letter.
- Justify left the
whole letter.
- At least 2 inches down,
put your name and address.
- Put the date next,
after your name and address.
- The Salutation:
Address the letter to the person using their last name, (unless you are certain that you
are on a first name basis with the person.) i.e.
Dear Mr. Mann, or
Dear Ms. Gunderson, (Use a comma after their name.)
- The Body: This
is where the purpose of the letter is stated. The first sentence should
introduce yourself, and the reason for the letter. It is always a good idea to include
in this introduction, the circumstances of having previously met or talked with the
person to whom you are writing your letter. Keep the paragraphs short. One paragraph, one
thought.
Be sure to have a short descriptive sentence that addresses the genre of music that
the artist makes. Mention any attachments you have included along with the letter.
Mention, with quotes if possible, something positive that has been said about the
artist’s music by other music business professionals. Mention any live shows that are
up-coming, and invite the person to attend a show or visit your website or My Space page.
- The Closing: End
the letter with a thank you for their time. Mention that you will be looking forward to
hearing from them. Mention that you will be contacting them as well.
- Be sure to close the
letter with the term "Sincerely", then drop down several spaces, type your name,
and sign it above your typed name.
A Few
Other Tips
- Tell the reader what
you want from them.
- Make the letter easy to
read.
- Keep your writing style
natural, personal, and positive.
- Be polite and
considerate in your tone.
-----
Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington. He
is available for private consultations on promoting and marketing independent music, and can be reached by email at: chris@chrisknab.net
Chris Knab's book, 'Music Is Your Business'
is available from the Music Biz Academy bookstore.
Visit the FourFront Media and
Music website for more information on the business of music from
Christopher Knab.
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