5 Things We Look for in a PRS Pulse Artist

The blog below was guest authored by PRS Director of Artist & Community Relations, Bev Fowler. Bev has been a PRS employee for 20+ years - helping to discover rising talent, cultivate our ongoing artist relationships, and create new programs (like the “PRS Pulse Artist” program!) The blog below sheds light on what we look for in a PRS Pulse Artist and should give some sage advice on how to grow in your career as a guitarist.

I think a great place to start this blog post is: what exactly is the PRS Pulse Artist program?

Pulse was launched in the Fall of 2020 with this mission: develop PRS players who are making waves in their local music scenes. Our artist roster is known for a few A-list endorsements like Carlos Santana, Mark Tremonti, and John Mayer, but we also wanted a way to support and showcase rising talent - so the Pulse Artist program was born.

There is a huge community of musicians who gig a few times a month, hit the road on small regional tours, or release new music to a smaller yet passionate fan base. Pulse creates an opportunity for us to formalize a relationship with these musicians and help them grow - hopefully serving as a potential stepping stone to becoming an Official PRS Artist.

If this sounds like you, awesome! We’re currently accepting applications for our Class of 2025 PRS Pulse Artists, but first, let’s dive deeper into exactly what we’re looking for in our new Pulse Artist applicants.

#1: Why do you want to work with PRS?

A quick fun fact: 9 out of 10 PRS Pulse Artists are actively playing PRS and representing our company long before they even apply. The 1 out of 10 really want a PRS and love our company, but haven’t had an opportunity to own one for themselves just yet. So a big question we ask when screening applicants, why do they want to specifically be a PRS artist. It should be more than just discounts on gear, I often refer to an artist endorsement as a “marriage” - a commitment that involves loyalty and dedication. A good marriage is a two-way street. We want to partner with people that want to partner with us, and we want to help people that want to help us.

#2: What’s your guitar skill level?

We love guitarists at all skill levels - especially if you’re new to guitar but sticking with it. However, one of our guidelines for Pulse Artist applicants is that they should have intermediate/advanced guitar skills. How long you’ve been playing doesn’t matter, but in your music you should show your strengths as a guitar player.

#3: What does your current music career look like?

Like we mentioned earlier, the mission of the Pulse program is to “support players who are making waves in their local music scenes.” In the application process, we’re looking for musicians who are actively gigging or releasing new music either individually or with a band. In the modern era, we realize this can take on many forms: maybe you play in a popular cover band on the weekends, or you give guitar lessons online, or you are part of a long-term project with a band. No matter your outlet for creativity, we’re looking for musicians who are being noticed for their talents and who are actively involved in a musical project.

#4: What’s your potential?

“Stars” aren’t born in a day, we realize that. But what direction are you headed in your career? Are you hungry to improve as a musician? Our goal with Pulse is to support musicians who are passionate, dedicated, and interested in learning and being part of a community that helps each other grow. Help us help you by being passionate about guitar and taking your future as a musician seriously.

#5: What is your social / digital presence like?

We don’t have “minimum follower counts” or anything that specific, but here’s a few things we’re looking for:

• Do you have an active social presence? Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, or Twitch, etc…
• Are you getting real engagement from followers and fans? Are they interested in the type of content you’re putting out?
• Are PRS products represented in the work you are doing?

If you check any or all of these boxes, you’re in a good spot. Your goal is to be perceived as influential to your community and the connections you make and how you engage with your fans should look meaningful, beyond just the numbers.

In summary, we see the artists that we work with as an important voice of PRS - whether that’s through the guitar you’re playing, the tone you’re getting from your amp, or how you communicate about the PRS brand. We support our Pulse artists in a variety of ways - whether it’s through our website or social media, and we’re looking for players who are interested in doing the same for PRS. Think about what projects you have on the table and how a potential relationship with our brand can mutually benefit both of us.

Are you ready? Here’s how to apply:

Artists can submit their application to become a 2025 Pulse Artist through any authorized PRS dealer.

Submissions accepted: July 15- August 31, 2024

Application review period: September 1 - September 30, 2024

2025 PRS Pulse Artists announcement: October 1, 2024

Class of 2025 Memberships will be effective: October 15, 2024 - December 31, 2025.