Industry Q&A: Angela Tyler of Muddy Paw PR

From fan to founder, learn more about Angela's journey as a music PR professional.

Meet Angela Tyler

Angela Tyler is the Boston-based founder of Muddy Paw PR. Offering services across publicity, marketing, strategy and more, Angela is dedicated to supporting artists share their music with wider audiences and helping them find their most dedicated fans.

I was lucky to first connect with Angela through an artist pitch she submitted to Jonnica’s Jams back in 2024. Since then, Angela has been a relentless support to me, not only in her continued submission of music but also as a generous industry mentor and friend. As a proponent of knowledge sharing and someone with their own music blog beginnings, Angela’s kindness and generosity prove that we’re better when we work together, even in a field as competitive as music.

I am happy to share more insights from Angela, from her journey on the "fangirl-to-industry pipeline,” to her advice for artists trying to get their music out there - you don’t want to miss what she has to share!

Q&A with Angela

Q: "Are there any memorable experiences or pieces of music that shaped your decision to work in music?"

A: "What a great question! Back in 2009, I showed up early to an Anberlin show, which was totally out of character for me. I never got to shows early back then, especially when you throw in battling an hour and a half of traffic to the venue and city parking. But somehow, I did. I found myself tucked into a back corner of Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI, completely awestruck by the opener, a now-defunct local band called The Coming Weak.

It sounds crazy to say now, but I felt like I just had to talk to them. So many bands are so boring on stage and these guys were just all over the place with their energy. They were acting like this was their show, like they were the headliners, you know? It was incredible to watch the way they interacted with the crowd. Anyway, I had to talk to them, and the only way I could think to do that was to start a whole entire blog and request an interview.

They were my first interview, and I followed them for several years until they disbanded, interviewing them off and on over that time. I’ve always had such a special place in my heart for them because they quite literally started me down this path. This is why I always tell my artists, never let anyone tell you a single show/song/performance doesn’t matter. Because that one changed my whole life."

Q: "What is your favourite part about your job? And your least favourite?"

A: "Hands down my favorite part is getting to deliver exciting news to my clients. A great feature, a cool opportunity, a particularly nice review, all rank high on that list. I got into this because I love music and I love working with creatives so I love being able to tell them how much their work has meant to someone is really fulfilling.

My least favourite part is how cutthroat it can be. I’m very community-oriented and know I wouldn’t be here if not for the mentors that helped me along the way. No one does this on their own. So when people turn their backs on each other or think they’re above helping, it just leaves such a bad taste in my mouth."

Q: "What is something about music PR/marketing that others may not know?"

A: "People tend not to see the value of PR and that kind of bums me out. In the short term, PR should give you instant wins like reviews, playlist features, maybe influencer placements, things like that. And those are valuable for a myriad of reasons from social proof to SEO to building a strong brand. But the real value is in the relationships you build along the way.

Most people don’t realize that the people you meet during a PR campaign, may very well be the people you rely on to help you five years from now. That blogger with the small outlet? They may be A&R at a label in five years. That playlister with only 2k saves? They might be booking a festival in a few years.

Likewise, don’t underestimate your publicist’s connections. It’s our whole job to build connections so while no, it’s not a publicists job to book you shows, when a year from now our friend in booking needs someone to fill a slot, or a brand reaches out about collaborating, if we’ve built a good relationship and you’re the right fit for it, I’ll absoloutly suggest you.

That’s one of the hidden values of PR that people don’t often see. It’s happened over and over where my artists will see a sudden burst of growth or opportunity from a seed that was planted during our PR campaign. It’s a lot more common than people realize."

Q: "Have you ever had to turn away an artist who wanted to work with you? What went into that decision?"

A: "I try to meet artists where they’re at, so if they approach me for PR but I can see they’re not in a place to fully benefit from it, I’ll try to help them in some other way; strategy sessions, social media audit, things like that. But I will absolutely turn down work if it’s not the right fit or I feel like I can’t help. I have to believe in the music that I promote, or it hurts my reputation as a publicist. So yes, it is imperative I’m working with music I love and believe in, because it’s my reputation on the line too."

Q: "Has your work with artists changed/reshaped your taste in music?"

A: "Oh, what an interesting question! I’ve always been a pop-punk kid at heart, and I always joke my favorite bands have been my same favorites for….well, forever. That said, I recently worked a campaign with Downupright, which was huge for the evolution of my musical tastes. I did a campaign for their album We’re Doomed, We’re Dancing, a fully funded Kickstarter campaign that produced sixty songs, in sixty genres, each sixty seconds long, all flowing into one continuous party mix. That album, so impeccably done by the way, opened my eyes to a ton of genres I’d never even heard of. It’s one of my favorite projects I’ve had the pleasure of being part of."

Q: "Do you ever find it difficult to separate being a fan and an industry professional? What is that balance like for you?"

A: "To me, they’re one in the same. I want to be my clients’ biggest fan. Even in my music journalism days, I know they say don’t meet your heroes, but those were some of the best interviews I did because I knew what I was talking about. I think it’s important to remain professional and read the room, but being a fan is why we got into this, and it’s what keeps us grounded in the toughest of times, of which there are many in this industry. So I’m all for it."

Q: "If you could give artists one piece of advice, what would it be?"

A: "I feel like I’m a broken record with this one but, network. Network, network, network. In person, too. Online is great, but the most valuable relationships you’re likely to make are in person. Go to shows, say hi, interact. Try to attend as many conferences as you can, even if they’re smaller ones or regional. Get in front of people and make an impression. Ten years on in PR and fifteen in this industry, and it’s still those in-person relationships that bring me the most rewarding output."

Q: "What are you currently listening to?"

A: "As I say, I’m always listening to the same few bands on repeat, which for me are The Front Bottoms, Arkells, Gaslight Anthem, and Frank Turner.

However, I’ve been getting into Sabrina Carpenter lately, which is funny because I really don’t listen to pop music much, but I heard “Espresso” pop up on my Spotify Discover a few weeks back, and it’s been non-stop since then. I constantly get 'cuz I’m a singerrrrrr' stuck in my head.

Also, Chloe Slater. She’s another one that popped up unexpectedly, and I can’t get enough of. She reminds me of a modern-day Adam Ant, and I’m very into it."

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Learn more about Angela & Muddy Paw PR on Instagram or wearemp.co