Let’s Talk Rejection – Getting Ghosted by Venues, Labels, and ‘Interested’ Collaborators

Article by Manuela Bittencourt – 07/29/2025

You send the email.

You wait.

You follow up.

Still nothing.

If you’re a musician, you’ve been here: ghosted by a venue booker after they said they were “interested,” ignored by a label intern who asked for your EPK, or left on read by that producer you were so excited to collab with. It stings. It’s awkward. And worse – it can start to feel personal. But here’s the truth:

Rejection and silence are part of the gig. You are not alone.

The Unspoken Normal: Being Ignored

No one really prepares you for how much rejection is baked into the music industry. You grow up dreaming of crowds, recording studios, sold out arenas, music videos – just to find out that half the job is sending emails that never get answered.

Even successful artists deal with this. 

Yes, even artists with thousands of followers, festival slots, or indie label backing still chase down responses or get blindsided by a quiet “no.”

Why It Hurts So Much

Music is personal. So when someone ghosts you after hearing your work – or worse, after showing initial interest – it’s easy to spiral:

• “Was my music not good enough?”
• “Did I say something wrong?”
• “Am I being annoying?”

Here’s what you need to hear, and the truth: most of the time, it is not about you.

People in the industry are overwhelmed, underpaid, and flooded with thousands of pitches every single day. A lack of reply does not mean your art has no value. It might just mean their inbox is just a mess.

Normalize the No

Rejection does not mean you’re on the wrong path.

It just means this wasn’t the right stop.

A “no” – or a nothing – isn’t always the end. Sometimes, people come back a year later. Sometimes you circle back and finally get a yes. Staying visible, respectful, and persistent matters.

What Can You Do Instead of Spiraling:

• Follow up once or twice. Then let it go.
• Keep receipts. If someone said “reach out in the fall,” do it.
• Build your own thing. Keep creating, keep releasing, keep leveling up so that they come to you eventually.
• Talk about it. Seriously, open up with other musicians. This happens to everyone – you’ll feel better knowing you’re not alone.

Final Thoughts

Rejection sucks. Silence might make it even worse. But do not let either define your worth or derail your momentum. You’re building something. And just because someone didn’t answer today does not mean your email won’t be on their inbox the next time they’re looking for someone just like you.

Keep showing up. Keep doing what you love. It will pay off in the end.