FAQ for music creators

What is the Music Opportunity Directory?

It is a public discovery directory for direct music receivers such as radio stations, radio programs, music publications, playlist curators, and other editorial curators. Profiles summarize what an opportunity says it accepts and how creators can reach its current submission process.

How do I know whether an opportunity fits my music?

Compare the opportunity type, genre and community focus, country or coverage area, platform, submission status, timing, eligibility, required materials, restrictions, and important caveats with your release. Read the official source immediately before submitting because the receiver may change its process after a listing was confirmed.

At the top of the directory, select every opportunity type and genre that fits. A listing must match at least one selected type and at least one selected genre when both groups are used. Search stays available for narrowing by name, submission status, location, format, or disclosed cost. Your choices are saved only in your browser for six months, and you can clear them at any time.

What is a direct music receiver?

A direct receiver makes or controls the editorial decision for the named radio program, publication, playlist, or other opportunity. A pitching service, paid submission marketplace, promoter, or intermediary that only forwards music is not the direct receiver and is not eligible for a version 1 directory profile.

Does a listing mean Indie Music Bus endorses the receiver?

No. A listing means the profile passed the directory review required for publication. It is not an endorsement, certification, platform affiliation, safety guarantee, or recommendation that every creator should submit.

Does submitting guarantee a reply, review, airplay, coverage, or playlist placement?

No. A profile may truthfully state that the receiver responds to everyone, responds only to selected submissions, publishes a response timeframe, or promises no response. A response or feedback commitment never guarantees editorial consideration, coverage, airplay, playlist placement, streams, audience, or another result.

Are listed opportunities free to submit to?

Every listed opportunity must provide a clearly available free route to its real editorial consideration process. A receiver may disclose an optional paid service only when using it is not required for consideration and does not buy priority, coverage, airplay, placement, feedback, or another outcome. Paid pitching and commercial coverage are different from free editorial consideration.

What do open, closed, scheduled, invitation-only, stale, and destination-withheld mean?

Open means the stated route currently accepts submissions. Closed and paused mean do not submit now. Scheduled means use the listed opening window. Invitation-only means submit only after a direct invitation. Unknown means availability has not been confirmed. Stale means the details need reconfirmation. Destination-withheld means Indie Music Bus has temporarily hidden the submission destination until the listing is reconfirmed.

What does contact confirmed or evidence reviewed mean?

Contact confirmed means the applicant proved access to the private contact route used for the application. Evidence reviewed means Indie Music Bus checked supporting information for the public profile. Neither label endorses the receiver, guarantees that every future detail remains unchanged, or promises a submission outcome.

What should I check immediately before submitting?

Confirm that submissions are open, then read the official source and the complete listing. Check the submission method, direct destination, geographic priority, release timing, eligibility, required materials, restrictions, caveats, free route, optional commercial disclosures, and response expectation. Stop if the current destination conflicts with the profile or requests payment for required consideration.

What should I do if a submission link is broken, inaccurate, or unsafe?

Do not continue or send music, money, credentials, identity documents, or sensitive personal information. Return to the public profile and use its private problem-reporting link. Indie Music Bus can review the listing, but it cannot guarantee recovery of information or money sent to another service.

Can Indie Music Bus send my music to a listed opportunity for me?

No. Use the receiver-controlled route shown on a current profile and follow its instructions. Indie Music Bus does not forward directory submissions, sell pitching access, collect a fee for consideration, or promise that a receiver will reply.