My goal at PR Trail is to build lasting connections between artists, labels and the music press. My services include writing tailored press kits, obtaining premieres, label pitching, content writing, social media etiquette, general guidance and full PR campaigns.

MY BACKGROUND
My name is Chris “Frenchie” French and I began PR Trail in 2018, based in Manchester, UK. Before starting PR Trail I’d spent half my life writing as a freelance music journalist, as well as working in record stores. I’ve written for a number of print and online publications including Terrorizer, Zero Tolerance, Astral Noize and more. I also cross the journalist-musician threshold as I have performed in numerous heavy bands over the years – including Agvirre, Archelon, Catafalque, Hundred Year Old Man and VOW – so I know exactly how much time, effort, passion and money goes into making records, maintaining bands and promoting record releases.

Through my experiences as a music writer and musician I have built up many great connections with fellow journalists, publicists, musicians, labels, promoters and media personalities all over the world. Having liaised closely with some wonderful and inspirational publicists myself, I decided I wanted to help artists and labels get their music covered by print magazines and online publications.

My expertise and connections are rooted in heavy and leftfield music genres including metal and experimental rock, though I am open to working with musicians and labels of all genres. My speciality is that I tend to work with newer and upcoming artists, as well as small-run boutique labels.

Most of the artists I collaborate with have had little or no coverage from the music media beforehand. I am proud to say that many artists I’ve worked with have made significant connections in the music press, sold out physical release runs, been picked up by bigger labels and have gone on to connect with even wider audiences. Pitching smaller artists and labels to large and celebrated publications can be very tricky – but I revel in the challenge.

WHY CHOOSE TO WORK WITH A PUBLICIST?
I strongly believe that working with a publicist is a great way for an artist or label to future-proof their music and build lasting connections with the music press in an oversaturated music climate.

On a surface level, my job is to reduce the workload and pressure of an artist and label by doing the busy work for them. But on a deeper level, working with a publicist shows that an artist or label is here for the long run. If one record gets reviewed and discussed in the music press, it will only make subsequent releases even easier to promote and share with journalists, as well as building a healthy portfolio for an artist or label to grow and attract wider connections.

One of the most important things for me to bring to a campaign is to build a strong bond with the artist and their label, and be incredibly thorough, leaving no stones unturned. Sure, quantity is important as it is great to see a record covered far and wide – but the quality of the coverage is even more vital to me. There’s no point getting a glowing review in your favourite publication if they’ve spelt the band members’ names wrong, used a photo of a previous line-up, and completely misunderstood the themes and sounds of the record.

Working with me will ensure that writers will be able to explore your music deeply and be able to craft engrossing reviews, interviews and articles about you, with all the facts, social links and imagery in place. I like to give journalists plenty to write about, relevant questions to ask and compelling stories to tell.

CONTACT
Please email me at frenchie.pr.trail@gmail.com if you would like to chat or ask for a quote.

For full PR campaigns I please recommend contacting me at least 3 months before a proposed release date.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Chris “Frenchie” French
PR Trail

Photo Credits
Portrait Photo: Christian Manthey – @christianmanthey_stories
Live Photo: Rich Smith – @digitalbathrich