The Indefinite Guide To Artist Endorsements at Stringjoy

So, how do I get endorsed by Stringjoy?

Thank you for your interest in a Stringjoy endorsement. Our endorsements consist of special artist pricing on purchases, as well as content-sharing and cross-promotional opportunities. You get our strings at a reduced cost and we get YOUR SOUL.

(Just kidding. Our artist relations person has no use for a soul.)

Seriously though, it’s not just about a discount on strings (even though that rules). We want to build supportive artist relationships that are based on trust, offering guidance, and doing what we say we’re going to do. If you email us asking for string suggestions, general advice, or simply have a request in any way related to strings, guitars, or the music industry, your Stringjoy artist relations person will respond in a timely fashion, ready to help.

There isn’t necessarily an ideal candidate for a Stringjoy endorsement. Back in the day, we might have looked at your SoundScan to find out how many “units” (albums or singles) your band was selling. Those numbers have zero influence on how we make decisions now. The industry is changing on a near daily basis, so we have to constantly modify how we gauge the value of an artist relationship. With that said, some things will never change. If your music is awesome, that helps. If you’re a guitar virtuoso with amazing riffs and the ability to actually physically hurt people with your shredding, that helps. If you wear cool hats and have never worn cargo shorts, that helps too. But none of those things will determine the outcome of your endorsement.

What does matter then?

Subjectivity aside (we’d be fools to make decisions based purely on whether or not we personally like your music or your style), here’s a quick list of what goes through our minds when making endorsement decisions:

• Touring – We want artists and bands that are hitting the road constantly. Not only is this a sign that you’re making an effort to spread the word about your music, but it also shows you’re spreading the word about our strings. National touring is great. International touring is better.
• Strong Management, PR, and Record Label Teams – A lot of artists handle these aspects of their careers themselves quite successfully. That’s totally cool. You don’t have to have a manager or a PR team behind you to qualify for an endorsement. However, the biggest artists in the world do have these teams, and the quality of your team can say a lot about your artistry. Additionally, and this part is admittedly a bit selfish, if you have a team behind you that works with multiple artists, then we see that as a bonus because we often get access to those artists via your team.
• Social Media Audience – If you have a lot of followers, and you’re willing to post about Stringjoy, then this adds value to our relationship. Some artists have a social aesthetic that doesn’t lend itself to posting about brands. Oftentimes, that’s admirable. Other times (most of the time), we would much prefer to work with artists that are enthusiastic about sharing their Stringjoy journey with their fans. A strong social audience is the reason so many of your favorite influencers and reviewers are getting endorsed. In fact, influencers with big audiences are one of the top scores for an artist relations person these days. Just remember: Stories on IG are cool. Posts on IG are way cooler.
• Enthusiasm – You definitely don’t need to be in a touring band to catch our attention. The number one thing you can do is show excitement for our brand. Enthusiasm can make all the difference when we’re deciding whether or not to endorse an artist with 1,000 social followers (which, btw, would not normally be a qualifying number). If we can be led to believe that you’re going to tell everyone you know about Stringjoy, share about us on your socials, and continue to play our strings because if you don’t then you’ll cry, you increase your chance of becoming endorsed by 90%.

Finally, while you may want an endorsement, want and need are two very different things. Not every artist is going to benefit from it. We’re not just sending free strings out into the ether and hoping for the best. An endorsement is very much a give and take relationship. When we’re called upon, by our artists, to offer them support, we make every effort to aide them in a timely fashion and to the best of our abilities. If we reach out to an endorsed artist for the same reason, and we’re met with indifference, then we reserve the right to end our relationship with that artist. You truly get what you give.

If you think you’re a match for a Stringjoy endorsement, please send us an email and tell us about yourself. We look forward to growing alongside you!

-The Stringjoy Artist Relations Team