Walking into an interview without talking points is like walking on stage without a setlist. You might survive, but you will not shine. Talking points are the three to five messages you need the world to hear. Write them down before every interview, rehearse them out loud, and make sure each one gets said no matter where the conversation wanders.
Build talking points around what is happening now. The project you are promoting, the story behind it, the tour dates, the cause you support. Each point should be one or two sentences, concrete and quotable. Vague points produce vague coverage. Specific points produce headlines. Give interviewers the lines you want printed.
Prepare for the questions you dread, not just the ones you want. Write your answer to the tough ones in advance, when you are calm and clear. A prepared answer sounds confident. An improvised one sounds defensive. You do not have to love the question to handle it well. Preparation turns landmines into non-events.
Review after every interview. What landed, what rambled, what you wish you had said. Keep a running document of your best lines and refine them. Great interviewees are not born. They are built through repetition and honest self-review. Treat every interview as practice for the bigger one coming.
Tailor your talking points to each outlet. The morning show gets the fun version, the long-form podcast gets the depth, the print feature gets the quotes. Same core messages, different delivery. Artists who adjust without diluting get invited back everywhere. One rigid script fits nobody perfectly. Study the format before you arrive, know the host’s style, and shape your points to land in that specific room.
About the Author – Ruben Burgos: Ruben Burgos brings over 25 years of music expertise and more than 15 years of model guidance to the table. He is the indie major pinnacle to retaining credits for musicians and helping them navigate this wicked industry without the fuckery.