A thoughtful mix package answers the questions an editor would otherwise have to send back: who made this, where can I hear it, what is its context, and what may I publish? The goal is not to make a small recording look like a major campaign. It is to make the music easy to assess and its contributors easy to credit.
This is general editorial preparation advice. USDNBDJ is not announcing an open mix-submission program or promising coverage. Our connect page helps readers prepare a connection brief; it is not a working submission inbox. Follow the intended recipient’s actual published instructions before sending anything.
Start with a single reliable listening link
Choose the link you want an editor to use, then open it in a signed-out browser and on a phone. Check that it reaches the correct recording, that the title is readable, and that the listener can access it as intended. If access is restricted, explain the process before asking for someone’s time. Never send your own account password.
Avoid requiring a large download for the first listen unless the recipient asks for one. Keep a suitable source file ready for later, but do not attach multiple exports, a folder of artwork, and a biography to an introductory message. A clean page and a short note usually make the first decision easier.
An upload remaining online is not proof that every reuse is permitted. For example, Mixcloud’s official upload guide distinguishes shows from short tracks and applies content restrictions. Check the current rules for your chosen host and ask separately about any proposed download, video, or repost.
Describe what the recording actually is
State the artist name, title, duration, and recording context. Say whether it is a studio mix, radio recording, or live set. Name an event or venue only when that description is accurate and appropriate to publish. If another DJ or an MC contributes, agree on their credit before packaging the work.
Write a short musical introduction with one concrete organizing idea. “An hour moving from spacious percussion into denser rollers” tells an editor more than “the most groundbreaking selection of the year.” Explain the intention without claiming an audience reaction you have not observed.
If the mix connects to a US city or crew, describe the connection precisely. Living in a city, playing one event there, and holding a residency are different facts. Do not let a convenient location tag imply an affiliation.
Keep the tracklist useful and honest
Check artist names, titles, remix credits, and label names against the original release pages. Add timestamps if you can verify them. Where a track cannot be identified publicly, agree on how to describe it with the person who supplied it. Do not expose a private filename or invent a release date.
Distinguish the mix credit from the underlying music credits. The selector created the sequence; the track producers and other contributors created the material. Include both without suggesting that a tracklist grants permission for unrestricted redistribution.
Prepare artwork with a clear credit and a note describing what use is approved. If an editor requests a photograph, provide an image you can authorize for that purpose. A picture found on another event’s social account is not automatically available for your press package.
Assemble a compact package
Use these fields as a fill-in checklist, not as fictional credentials:
- Artist and preferred spelling: the name that should appear publicly.
- Mix and context: title, duration, recording type, and one musical idea.
- Listening destination: the tested original link and any access explanation.
- Credits: tracklist, collaborators, photographer, and artwork creator.
- Publication notes: confirmed release timing, any embargo, and allowed image use.
- Reply route: the real contact the recipient should use for questions.
Keep optional biography separate. An editor should be able to understand the recording without reading your full career history. If this is your first published mix, say so only if relevant; you do not need invented achievements to make a coherent selection interesting.
Send for fit, then respect the decision
Read the recipient’s recent output and current contact instructions. Explain why this particular recording belongs in their editorial context. Ask one clear question, such as whether they are considering mixes of this kind. Do not treat an unanswered message as acceptance, and do not announce coverage before it is confirmed.
If invited to revise the package, update the existing link or clearly label the replacement. If a credit changes, tell the editor directly rather than hoping they notice. Keep a simple record of the version supplied and what was agreed.
For the listening side, use Listen beyond the drop. For an introduction that respects the recipient’s time, continue to the DJ and promoter outreach guide. A good package leaves room for an editorial decision; it does not try to manufacture one.