Obscure sound

Obscure Sound is an indie music blog founded in February 2006 by Mike Mineo, dedicated to surfacing quality emerging and under-the-radar artists across genres like indie rock, dream pop, folk, electronic, and hip-hop. The site features daily track write-ups, album reviews, interviews, and curated Spotify playlists, with a mission where editorial taste matters more than hype cycles. It also offers music PR services to help artists build press momentum through personalized outreach and playlisting campaigns.

The platform is designed for music enthusiasts looking to discover hidden musical treasures and for independent artists seeking editorial coverage or PR support. Reviewers consistently praise the site for its brilliant curation, user-friendly interface, and ability to introduce listeners to talented artists they would not have found otherwise. The content is described as a treasure trove of undiscovered talent that resonates with listeners' souls.

Artists can submit their music for editorial consideration via SubmitHub, MusoSoup, or by emailing a direct address. For those needing promotional support, Obscure Sound offers three PR packages: Single-Centric for $530, Album-Only for $630, and Full PR for $850, each guaranteeing a minimum number of features or offering a 50% refund.

The Single-Centric package costs $530 and guarantees at least 5 features with outreach and playlisting. The Album-Only package is $630 and includes deeper album coverage with playlisting for one track. The Full PR package costs $850 and covers two releases with a guarantee of 10+ features, saving clients money compared to booking separate campaigns.

The website is clean, easy to navigate, and described as a goldmine of hidden musical treasures. Users appreciate the diverse range of genres covered and the insightful, well-written articles that provide interesting insights into artists and their work. The sleek and modern design makes it a pleasure to browse for new music.

The Trustburn rating is 3.8 out of 5 based on 10 reviews, with a mix of 3, 4, and 5-star ratings. The reviews are recent, ranging from January 2023 to November 2023, showing consistent engagement over time.

Obscure Sound has been featured in major publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC Radio 1, Wired, and The Toronto Star. In 2012, CD Baby named it one of the Top 100 Must-Follow Music Resources on Twitter, and Refinery29 included it among the best music blogs that aren't Pitchfork.

The site covers a wide variety of genres including indie rock, dream pop, shoegaze, folk, electronic, alt-R&B, singer-songwriter, and hip-hop. It also features ambient music and everything in between, ensuring there is something for every listener's taste.

Mike Mineo, the founder, previously wrote for PopMatters and Stylus Magazine, which shaped the site's focus on editorial taste. The team includes a live Google Drive tracker for PR campaigns and personalizes outreach to press contacts, ensuring real-time updates for clients.

The blog was established in February 2006, making it over two decades old. It has grown from a personal passion project into a recognized resource, with its end-of-year lists aggregated by Metacritic and its PR services helping clients land coverage in NME, Pitchfork, and Stereogum.

Users on Reddit have mentioned Bleached Lab as a band similar to the sound Obscure Sound might feature, describing it as dreamy pop that sounds organic and familiar without being tired. This aligns with the site's preference for satisfying, organic-sounding indie music.

The site integrates with SubmitHub and MusoSoup for submissions, and uses Spotify for streaming links and playlisting. It also leverages a live Google Drive tracker for PR campaigns to keep clients updated in real time.

The PR services include a 50% refund guarantee if minimum results aren't achieved, and campaigns are subject to availability. Clients can upgrade from Single-Centric or Album-Only packages to Full PR at any time to get comprehensive coverage.

The site is located in the US and serves a global audience of music enthusiasts and artists. It is run by a small team led by Mike Mineo, focusing on personal outreach and building relationships over two decades.