What questions should I ask before paying for music promotions? I want to avoid services that only promise huge numbers and instead find something focused on genuine exposure, useful reporting, and relevant listeners.

Before paying, I’d ask exactly where the promotion will run, what type of audience is being targeted, how the campaign is structured, and what kind of report you’ll receive afterward. I’d also ask whether they can explain the difference between impressions, streams, saves, followers, and genuine listener engagement. Be cautious with services that guarantee huge numbers without explaining the source of that traffic. It’s better to have clear deliverables and realistic expectations. For comparison, you can also check music promotions and review what channels and campaign options they provide.

Do you usually ask for examples from previous campaigns before choosing a promo service? I’d like to see what kind of results they actually delivered.

Yes, examples help a lot. I’d also check whether those campaigns match my genre and audience, since results can vary quite a bit between niches.