In today’s music industry, social media is a key component for a music promotion. The way we promote music in general has changed a lot due to this massive reorientation of the industry. One major change is that labels no longer sign artists. They’re signing fanbases.
This means that you need to prove that you are in demand in the marketplace and strong enough to build a fanbase before any promoter will consider working with you (assuming your goal is to find a major label). While this change in power may create more work for artists initially, it also gives musicians more leverage over the types of deals they sign, which can have incredible lifetime value.
Label or not, learning how to promote your music online is another important skill for serious musicians. Here are some key platforms that host some of the best ways to promote your tunes:
TIK TOK
TikTok has completely changed the music industry . Old and new songs turned into worldwide hits overnight, simply because of the power of this app. With that in mind, it’s extremely helpful to post your music and build a fanbase on TikTok. As with most other social networks, the algorithm usually rewards you for consistent posting.
Creating short videos on a regular basis may seem like an impossible task, but like any other skill, it can be learned and successfully incorporated into your routine. This app has tremendous power to impact the music industry, so even if you only gain one new fan a day, it’s definitely worth your time. Use the power of your music, trends and collaborative features like “duet” and “stitching” to build your fanbase.
Spotify, Apple Music and other DSPs
The vast majority of listeners will listen to your music on digital streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music through playlists and songs they like. So it’s important that you take the time to upload to these sites through a distribution service like Distrokid, or through your team.
Note that Spotify gives artists the opportunity to submit their tracks for editorial consideration before the release date. Apple Music doesn’t provide that option, but independent artists can still get into editorial playlists if you make the effort to promote your music and ensure its visibility. To ensure that your music has the best chance of making it onto playlists, make sure your music is submitted to these platforms at least a month before the release date.
Instagram is an amazing platform to promote your music and connect with your fans. Although the site is becoming more focused on short videos, you can still use photos to connect with your fans in a whole new way. Instagram stories also have features that allow you to post links to new music right in your posts to help keep your fans up to date. You can also connect your Instagram account to your gigmit artist page.
YouTube
Believe it or not, YouTube is the most popular music streaming service. Therefore, it is very important to have your music uploaded to this platform to find new fans. Music videos can help your fans imagine the universe your music lives in and connect with it on a deeper level. That said, they don’t have to be incredibly complicated. Even a handmade video can work wonders!
At the very least, you can create a visualizer or lyric video for your most popular releases. For artists who don’t have enough time or graphic experience to create a video for that channel, there are many services that can turn your music into a lyric video for a fee. Promote your music with videos as often as possible. This is one of the most effective ways to get the attention of new fans. Read about the importance of music videos here.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a great way to release tracks and test songs without putting them on your official streaming artist page. Use genre tags and interact with other musicians in your field to help build your network. This can also be a great place to find new bands or artists who are on the cutting edge of a new big event in music. Also, some listeners prefer to listen to music only through SoundCloud, so feel free to promote your new releases here as well.
Having the right platforms is important, but that’s not all. At the end of the day, the platform you choose to host on is only important if you devote enough time to using it. You are the deciding factor when it comes to promoting your music online. Remember, no one will promote your art like you will.
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