Category: Music Marketing

13 Music Marketing Strategies for Aspiring Musicians

Thanks to social media and free resources like Audacity and GarageBand, achieving success as a musician has never been more attainable.

But if you want it, you’ll have to work for it-and not only in the studio.

Marketing should be as much of a priority as writing new lyrics or practising your instrument. Here are 13 of the best music marketing strategies to help you get started.

Learn More About Your Market

Great music marketing strategies begin with clear answers to several questions. Here’s what you need to ask yourself.

Who are you making music for?

Aside from yourself, that is. Every musician has a key audience. Marketing toward that audience will prove more effective than targeting everyone.

Who is your competition?

Every musician or group has a local rival. They may play the same type of music or take up valuable time at your local venue.

Not every rivalry is heated, by any means, but it is crucial that you learn more about the bands you’re competing against. Audiences only have so much time and money, after all.

Brand Your Band

Your name and logo are so much more than fun monikers and doodles. They tell the story of your group and can be powerful factors in your music marketing.

The Beatles were kings of branding and subsequent rebranding.

The Beatles from “Let It Be” is a different group than “Sgt. Pepper’s” Beatles, despite the band using the same name and lineup. And yet that’s about all those eras had in common.

Chances are your mind conjured colourful images associated with “Sgt. Pepper’s” as soon as you read it. That’s a prime example of branding at its finest.

Branding and rebranding draw interest and shows creativity. Never be afraid to reinvent yourself.

Take Advantage of Social Media

According to Statista, there are over 2.7 billion social media users across the globe. What’s more, it’s estimated that the figure will rise to 3 billion by 2021.

Social media is a wonderful way to find and interact with fans around the globe and should be used to its fullest.

Use your social media accounts to keep track of interest via hashtag, converse with fans, post tour dates, give updates, and more.

At the end of the day, social media is as much a part of networking as shaking hands with industry bigwigs.

…But Don’t Forget About Your Website

While social media is indeed a wonderful tool, it shouldn’t be the only form of online marketing you rely on.

A high-quality website is still every bit as important as it once was, as it has several advantages over social media.

For instance, you can get more in-depth with your biography. You can also sell merchandise and music directly through your site.

Collaborate with Established Musicians

One of the best parts of being a musician is working with people who inspire you.

Some of the coolest-and strangest-projects in recent history have involved collaborations.

Imagine Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” without Kerry King’s signature guitar riff. Or how about Kanye West’s recent collaboration with Paul McCartney on “FourFiveSeconds”?

Together, you and your peers can create some truly revolutionary stuff.

And aside from that, you’ll get introduced to a brand new audience.

Create with Your Fans

Established musicians aren’t the only artists you should collaborate with. There are some great ways you can let your fans get in on the fun, too.

Give your fans the freedom to remix your latest single, then gift the winner some free merch or tickets to your next show.

Or take polls on social media to let fans help you name your next album and choose your next music video.

Keep People Updated

Crowdfunding your musical endeavours through a site like Indiegogo or PledgeMusic is a fantastic way to make the music you want to make without having to worry about funds.

What’s more, they’re proven to work. Indiegogo alone has raised almost $1.5 billion for artists of all types.

But if you choose to go the crowdfunding route, be prepared to hold up your end of the bargain. Fans take a very real-and in this case literal-investment in your project.

Keep them in the know by updating them on the status of your projects on a regular basis.

Understand the Value of Free

You’re trying to make money off of your passion, so why give something away for free?

Though it sounds counter-intuitive, there’s a strong reason why it works so well in music marketing.

Everyone loves getting something for free. And by offering up your latest single or playing a free show, you’ll drum up excitement and paint yourself as a fan-friendly project.

Add Some Mystery

Sometimes, less is more. A good mystery is a fun way to keep fans interested, far beyond the music.

Take the Grammy-winning Swedish rock group Ghost, for instance, who wear masks and robes during performances and interviews.

When the group first gained recognition back in 2011, they gained as much attention for their theatrics as their music, and fans had a blast trying to guess who was behind the project.

When it comes down to it, Ghost’s best marketing wasn’t done by their PR team, but by their fans. It wasn’t long until mainstream publications began running features on the band.

Never underestimate peoples’ love of the unknown, even when it comes to marketing.

Host Your Music on Streaming Sites

From platforms like Spotify to Bandcamp to Soundcloud, there are tons of streaming sites where you can host your music.

If you’re not already taking advantage of these platforms, do so immediately.

It’s clear that streaming is here to stay, so give your fans what they want-access to your music anywhere, at any time.

Consult Music Marketing Experts

A good PR person is an invaluable resource. A quality rep can put you in touch with the right people and get your band the attention it deserves.

Though it’s an investment upfront, to be sure, PR or digital marketing help pays for itself in a matter of time.

Hit The Streets

While digital marketing is great for marketing music, the old method of shaking hands and meeting fans is still effective, too.

Find independent music shops in your area and meet with the owner. Ask about hosting your music or playing a show at the store.

Stay Hungry

Persistence is key in any art form, especially in an age where everyone has a platform.

If you want to succeed, understand that it’s going to take a great deal of time. You may not see the fruits of your labour for weeks or months. But rest assured that when you do, it’ll be worth it.

Use These Music Marketing Strategies And Become The Next Hit

Your music deserves to be heard, and with these music marketing strategies, you’ll be fast on your way to success.

Remember, keep at it. Music marketing takes time, so keep your chin up.

And don’t forget that Promoly can help. Sign up today to gain access to marketing tools that your band needs.

February 25, 2019
How to Get Your Music Heard and Expand Your Fanbase

When you are learning how to promote your music, you want to look to the experts that have blazed the trails before you, while staying on top of twenty-first-century trends. Columbian icon Shakira in August 2018 hit the top of the list for most Facebook fans at 103.51 million.

Queen diva Beyonce, by contrast, had 64 million but was considered one of the most affluent performers worldwide. Facebook fans don’t always put food on the table, and this is only one way to promote your music and expand your fan base.

Keep reading to learn the top ways for how to promote your music right here, and make some bank at the same time.

How to Get Your Music Heard: Old School

Social media is an excellent tool when it comes to promoting your music, but you shouldn’t rely on it as your sole marketing source that will generate income. Start with the old school methods of music promotion, and then use social media and digital trends to take those methods to the next level with wider markets.

Of course, the best way to promote your talent is to show off your talent, and that starts with major gigging. Keep plugging away at getting those gigs, and do so any way you can.

Playing live is what music lovers love to see the most in their favorite bands.

They know you aren’t going to sound like a digitally perfect machine, and they know that’s not what it’s about.

It’s about the music.

So sing, baby, sing!

If you have no idea where to start, start off with your favorite bar. Just ask!

Attend open mic nights wherever you can, and start building that fan base.
You can bring pamphlets of your Facebook fan page with your Twitter handle and all of your digital info on it.

But it’s most important that you just start singing live.

Do it for free at first if you have to. Remember it’s about the art first, and the money second.

Eventually, your talent will spread by word of mouth, and by the digital machine, and the money will come in.

When You Get the Gig

When you get the gig, celebrate! And then promote.

No matter how big or small your gig is, or how much or how little you are getting paid, promote. You are now officially “on tour” even if you only have a one-nighter on the calendar.

This is when you can start using the digital world to expand your potential market. Sites such as BandsInTown and SongKick are great tools to begin listing concert dates.

List your concerts online.

Create an event on your Facebook fan page. Market that event using Facebook advertising.

One beautiful thing about Facebook advertising is that you can specify exactly who your Facebook event will be advertised to.

You won’t be advertising to all Facebook users. You don’t have to be afraid that 90-year-old grandmothers are accidentally tripping over your event ad when they are looking at their great-grandchildren.

On Facebook, you choose exactly who sees your ad, and it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. You decide who sees it, and how much you pay.

Ask churches to advertise flyers for you, especially if there are a lot of youth gatherings at specific churches. Advertise in local newspapers, and don’t be afraid to be a squeaky wheel at the radio station either.

Once you get the gig, use a combination of old school methods, such as churches and newspapers, and the digital world to market your first concert. Study how to promote your music online efficiently before you start.

There’s More to Music Life Than YouTube

Every musician loves YouTube and for good reason. Now that it is “married” to Google, it is so handy for search results.

Once a video goes viral a musician can be “made.”

But you can’t rely on just YouTube in this competitive digital day and age. There is more to the Internet for music promotion than YouTube.

If you want to learn how to promote your music, you need to be everywhere online. Yes, use YouTube.

But upload that thing everywhere you can. Facebook Video is a great second step when marketing online. Again, you can use Facebook advertising just to get some clicks on the video. You decide who sees it, remember.

Your biggest challenge in marketing your work is making sure that the right listeners see it. You don’t want to just throw your work out there and hope for the best. You want targeted promotion.

Facebook Video is great for that, and so is YouTube.

But other channels such as Vimeo and Daily Motion can also help you there too.

You also want to try to promote yourself to music blogs.

Every music blogger is looking for something else to review and rave about.

Learn how to start pitching music and getting featured on the big music blogs to get more fans, followers, and concert purchasers!

Do your research before you choose a music blog

Every music blog is going to be as picky and creative as you are.

Become a reader of the blog you want to be featured on and get a feel for the flow of their style. Send a personal email with a piece of digital work that has done well, and take it from there.

Don’t be afraid to be personal and relaxed when you are promoting your work online. Being approachable and having a personal story or two pulls the heartstrings while you are pulling the guitar strings.

And isn’t that what good music is all about anyway?

Learn From Industry Pioneers

There are a number of ways of how to promote your music and make money in doing so. Yes, you want to promote your artistic talents and creativity, but you are doing that so you can make money.

Dave Kusek is an American pioneer in music marketing. He’s authored The Future of Music, is a former music executive, and now teaches artists on how to be lucrative and creative at the same time. It was him that said you can have a lot of followers, but, “you can’t eat a tweet.”

Kusek serves as just one of many iconic examples that a combination of old school methods and social media marketing is the best formula when you are learning how to promote your music.

Use these tips, and learn how to avoid the 5 music PR mistakes musicians make and start creating and earning with your talents today.

February 23, 2019
Emailing Music Campaigns: Your New Guide

Emailing music is undoubtedly one of the most powerful marketing tools today.

That is because most people check their email inbox each day, probably multiple times, and so you’re more likely to reach out and connect with your fans through this medium.

Whether you’re promoting your new album or your upcoming gigs, you can easily do so via emails. That being said, the tricky part is getting your fans to open your emails and take action in the first place.

This article will give you a few tips to ensure that you will get the best results when emailing music.

1. Find the “Best Time” For You

The “best time” or the most effective time to send out emails varies across industries and markets.

When it comes to business emails, people are more likely to check their emails during weekday mornings, particularly while commuting to work.

The bottom line is that the best time differs for everyone. You may find that some of your fans respond well before bedtime while others are more engaged in the morning right after they wake up.

What you should do is conduct A/B testing to explore different send times. Once you find the best time to connect with your fans, then that is the schedule that you should consistently stick with.

2. Expand Your Email List

It’s very important that you build your email list (Hubspot have a great guide here) so that you can reach out to a wider audience. One simple way to do this is to get the attendee list from your ticketing partner. Then, you can go ahead and upload it into your email marketing platform.

3. Divide Up Your Audience

Sending out a typical email newsletter to everyone on your email list may not be enough to boost your email open rate. Instead, you should target smaller groups and send them personalized emails.

For example, send show announcements to the fans that are interested in the relevant genre. You can also reach out to those who have been to past shows and who might potentially be interested in similar shows.

This way, you get to target your fans’ unique interests. This, in turn, increases your open rate.

4. Showcase Personality

The messages you send when emailing music need to have personality. This means that you don’t want to bore your readers with a long, dull essay about why they should come to your show.

Instead, showcase your personality through these emails so that your fans will get an idea of who you are. Also, you should use a casual tone with your fans to create a friendly connection.

5. Send Out Recaps

Remember to send out recaps of your shows within a day or a few days after each show. This will create excitement, and your audience will want to experience the shows for themselves if there’s another one coming!

In your recaps, you should thank your fans for coming and include photos that link to either Facebook images or your Instagram account to create a greater social media buzz.

6. Attract Attention With the Subject Line

You can make it or break it just by the use of your subject lines. Instead of using all caps with excessive exclamation marks that can send your email to the spam folder, keep your subject lines gripping, precise, and fun to make sure that your fans will click through.

7. Make Use of the Preheader

Aside from the subject line, the next thing that your readers will see when viewing in an inbox is the preheader. This is where your fan really decides on whether or not to open your email.

You can use your preheader to announce about the tickets being sold really fast. This is so that people will be urged to click through to see what they’re about to miss out on.

I hope these tips on emailing music campaigns have helped. If so, let us know in the comments.

Promo.ly is a music promotion platform for musicians. If you’re looking for a music PR service to deliver music to your mailing list, get in touch to see how we can help today!

February 21, 2019
A Step By Step Guide To Succeeding on Spotify

Getting your music recognized and having it become popular is the goal of any music artist. However, with so many people all wanting to be the next big thing in music, you need to work harder to ensure your songs succeed on streaming services like Spotify. Here is a quick guide on how to achieve success on this particular platform:

Step 1: Upload Your Music To Spotify

Simple and obvious enough, your music needs to be on the platform first before it can begin to succeed. But first, you will need some help getting your tracks on Spotify.

Subscription services are more picky with who they allow on their platform, and when it comes to a company like Spotify, you will need links with a digital distributor to get your foot in the door. It’s tough for small independent artists to make it in, so if you want your songs on Spotify, consider the services of third-party labels.

When you are about to upload your music onto the streaming platform, ensure the music is uploaded as a high-quality audio file, with album art and metadata included. Now that your music is online, the real hard work can begin.

Step 2: Promote Your Music EVERYWHERE

The next step in the process is to make sure your music gets the exposure it deserves. Just because you want to be popular on Spotify doesn’t mean you have to promote your track solely on the platform.

The goal should be to advertise your music anywhere and everywhere, especially on other platforms and on social media. Free streaming services like Youtube and Soundcloud are a great way to gain new listeners. Get your music as a soundtrack on TV and games or even on an ad.

The more exposure your songs get, the more likely you will become a popular artist. You are not limited to just online platforms either. Playing live is equally important as it is another source of exposure. You might even convert passersby into regular listeners online!

Step 3: Reach Out To Music Bloggers and Journalists

One of the most effective ways of getting your music to the ears of new listeners is by getting it mentioned in articles and blogs created by influential people. These influencers have a significant following, and their viewers are open to recommendations made by them.

Unlike publications such as Rolling Stone, these smaller music publications are more open to giving independent artists exposure, and if your music has a specific genre, niche publications may take more of an interest in your work.

Use websites like Hype Machine to find influential music bloggers and journalists; you should try to get on their radar. Look for local, weekly newspapers and magazines that have a page dedicated to reviewing local musicians and artists. Perform live and invite the authors to come to listen and review you. The more exposure you get, the better!

If you have some capital to invest, hire a PR manager to get your music some press recognition and manage your music exposure. For those who prefer to do this themselves, reading a guide on media relations is useful. With some creativity and organization, you can easily get your music exposed with the help of journalists and the media.

Step 4: Get Featured in Playlists on Spotify

Spotify often creates weekly playlists hosting up-and-coming talent. These playlists are heavily followed by Spotify listeners, so getting your music on this list is a very good way of gaining new followers.

Since these playlists being created by in-house editors, you cannot pay your way into the spot. Although your label and manager can sometimes persuade Spotify to feature your work, the best and honest approach to get your name in these playlists is to make good music. Make regular uploads and create new content. These are great ways to get your music recognized.

If even after all your hard work, Spotify doesn’t recognize your talent, consider creating a playlist of your own. Include popular songs and artists in your list and add one or two of your songs in there too. If you create a good enough playlist, it will gain a large following and allow your music to be exposed to the listeners.

Promoly is a music promotion platform for musicians. If you’re looking for a music PR service to deliver music to your mailing list, get in touch to see how we can help today!

February 7, 2019
How to Use Music Networking Events to Advance Your Career

If you want to thrive in any industry nowadays, you need to learn how to build a network. There’s no business where this is truer than in the music industry, as you need to learn where to position yourself to meet the right people who can help your career take off. With that said, here are our eight tips on how to connect at music networking events:

1. Attend networking events

Networking events are golden opportunities for you to meet new and interesting people, and some of them may be able to help you to get where you want to be. If you’re not used to the idea of hanging out with a bunch of strangers, don’t worry – just start off small. Go to local music events first and start building your connections there. Someone you meet there may know someone that you can work with sometime in the future, but before you get there, you have to get to know the right people. It all starts with one event. Getting to know people will be small steps upwards in the ladder that you have to climb, and we promise that it will get easier with each event that you attend.

2. Do some research

When you’re looking to attend music networking events, you have to prepare yourself for it. Don’t go in there with guns blazing, without having prepared what you will do or say, as that’s a quick and easy way to ruin your reputation. Do your homework. Find out who will be at the event, learn more about what they do, and use this as an opportunity to get in touch with them. You want to make sure you know as much about the industry as possible before you attend these events. That way, you can keep the conversation going and not have it end in awkward silence.

3. Learn how to sell

You know who you are and what you can do, but what you need to do is make people believe that you can do it. That’s where the sales pitch comes in. You have to admit that the sole reason why you attend these events in the first place is to advance your career through networking. That will help you to have a clear objective and approach to what you’re supposed to do. Having an idea of what you should do will help you to prepare the perfect pitch for what you’re trying to achieve. Raising awareness of an album debut and looking for a music label to sign with requires two very different approaches, and you will have to pitch your presentation differently. After you’ve figured out what you want to pitch for each situation, practice that pitch, refine it, and make sure to plan for each scenario so that you don’t get caught off-guard by any surprise answers.

4. Prepare yourself

First impressions are everything when you’re building new contacts, and the best way to make a good first impression is to be a professional. You don’t want to walk through those doors looking lackluster when somebody is trying to talk to you, as they will probably remember you as someone who is unimpressive for years to come. Think about it – if you see someone who can’t conduct themselves in a simple social situation, how can you trust them to play confidently on stage? The same is true for when you’re trying to present yourself at these events as well. You have to trust yourself and stand tall. Be confident in who you are and your ability to demand attention and respect from those around you. This will give people a reason to listen to you, which is the key to success in this business.

Don’t forget to keep your business cards, notes, and a pen with you so that you can give out your contact information to people and keep track of what’s been said. Keep track of all the business cards that you collect and take note of what deals each person offers so that you don’t forget. Also, be sure to follow up on your contacts within a day or two after the event.

5. Be Yourself

Being yourself means not letting others dissuade you from showing your skills, character, and charm. It also means that you shouldn’t try to be someone that you’re not, as that will build a false expectation that you may not be able to uphold. Although it may not be an outright lie, it’s still not a good way to start a relationship. The basis of every good relationship is honesty and trust. If you come off as someone who’s pretending to be someone you’re not, people will feel it, and they will be turned off from trusting you with their business. If you’re starting to feel nervous, take a step back and gather yourself. Inhale for five seconds and exhale slowly, thinking about who you are, why you’re there, and what you have to offer these people.

6. Walk around the room

You shouldn’t hang out in just one corner of the room, as that will limit your potential to meet new people. Instead, make a point of walking around from one part of the room to the other, striking up conversations with people of interest as you walk by. Who knows? Maybe your best contacts are the people who you’ve never heard of before.

7. Maintain the relationship

It’s never a bad idea to be nice to someone, especially to those who you may work with in the future. Trying to keep track of the important days of your contacts’ lives can help you to come off as a caring person who pays attention to detail. You never know how far a birthday card can take you, which is why it’s a great idea to send them out to your contacts during special occasions. It’s a way of nurturing a relationship and making sure that it doesn’t die out.

Promoly is a music promotion platform for musicians. If you’re looking for a music PR service to deliver music to your mailing list, get in touch to see how we can help today!

January 25, 2019
Do It for the Gram: Music Marketing Tips to Get Noticed Using Instagram

Instagram had one billion active monthly users in 2018.

That’s a billion people you could reach with your music. Just by using Instagram.

But with so many users on the app, it’s very hard to get noticed in such a crowded space. There are some tips and tricks you can use to help you stand out from the crowd, however.

So read on as we take a look at how to get your Instagram music noticed.

Think About Your Fan Base

The first thing to consider is the people that you are trying to promote your music to.

If your fanbase is made up of grey-haired old ladies (Michael Buble, anyone?) then using Instagram to promote your music isn’t the most effective thing you could do. By the same token, if your fans love you for your death metal, posting images of kittens to promote your band isn’t going to cut it either.

Think about the demographics of your fan base when you’re planning your posts. And remember that your actual fans may not quite match up to who you think your fans should be.

Trust the data rather than your own judgment.

Use Compelling Images

Even though you’re using it to promote music, Instagram is still a visual medium.

No matter how great your music might be, no one is going to click on your posts if your images are really boring. You want something that’s going to stop users in their tracks when they’re scrolling through their feeds.

And make sure that your images are high-quality too – some dark, blurry snap of your last gig isn’t likely to get many views.

A great idea is to look at what is working for other bands with similar music to your own. Copying them directly isn’t the best plan, but you can certainly use their ideas for inspiration.

#choosetherighthashtags

They may have found fame on Twitter, but hashtags are a big deal on Instagram too.

Making use of the right hashtags can help potential new fans to find you and your music. Users will often browse through hashtags that they like to try and find new content and new people to follow.

There’s no harm in adding multiple hashtags to a post, but try not to go overboard as too many will get overwhelming.

Don’t go too broad either. A hashtag like #band is unlikely to help you get discovered by many people.

But a more specific one like #melodicindie is far more likely to help you get noticed by people who like what you play.

Find the Right Time to Post

It’s no good dropping your posts at 3 am on a weekday. By the time most people are up, your content will have been pushed down the feed by more recent posts.

There are plenty of studies about when users are most active on Instagram. Around breakfast time on weekdays seems to be the most common. If you convert your Instagram account to a business account, you get access Instagram Insights. This offers a whole range of analytical tools that can help you to target your posts more effectively.

And remember, you don’t have to limit your promotion to the UK. Trying dropping a few posts timed to hit the most popular times in other markets such as the US. You may be able to build yourself an international following.

Make Use of Instagram Stories

Instagram stories offer a number of benefits for promoting your music.

Like normal posts, you can add hashtags and locations to make them easily discoverable. And Instagram will recommend stories to users at the top of their main page.

But the real beauty is that you can add links to your Instagram stories. It makes it as simple as swiping up for users to access whatever you choose to link to, whether it’s your band’s website or the YouTube video for your latest release.

Instagram stories are also great for getting feedback. You can add a poll or an emoji slider to your story and find out what people really think about your post and your music.

Share Your SoundCloud via Instagram Stories

Getting people to your SoundCloud page is key to helping them explore your music.

And this has never been easier, now that SoundCloud has integrated linking to Instagram directly in their app. On your SoundCloud track, just tap the share icon and choose the Instagram option.

It will create an Instagram story for you, with the album artwork as the background and a movable sticker with the name of the song. This sticker links directly back to the song on your SoundCloud.

It literally takes a couple of taps to get your music in front of all your Instagram followers.

Use Other Social Media to Promote Your Instagram

Everybody has their own favourite choice of social media.

Some love Facebook, others swear by Twitter, for many it’s all about Instagram. So when you’ve spent all that time creating the perfect Instagram post, it’s a bit of waste if you don’t let people on other platforms find it.

Post a link to your Instagram post on your Facebook page and Twitter feed and whatever other social media you may be using to maximise its reach. The more people that see your post, the more likely you are to gain new followers and new fans.

Looking for More Than Just Instagram Music Promotion?

If you’re looking for more than just Instagram music promotion then we’re here to help.

We offer a simplified promotional campaign creation and management tool to help you take your music promotion to the next level. All your campaigns, stats and feedback are a click away in an easy to use dashboard.

You can create a beautiful looking campaign in a matter of minutes, with artwork, waveforms, and feedback features all built in. And you can make use of all the data you acquire to target your promotional efforts.

Start your 7-day free trial today.

January 24, 2019
Facebook, iTunes, Tidal, & More: How Digital Marketing Is Changing the Music Industry

With the Internet so ingrained in our culture, it’s easy to forget that it’s only a fairly new creation. We use it to pay our bills and do most of our communicating. We even do most of our shopping online nowadays.

We also use the Internet to listen to the majority of our music. But this method of listening and discovering music has only been in practice for the last 20 years.

Digital music marketing is constantly evolving and redefining the music industry. But how has it changed the ways we listen to music and how musicians create it?

Blast from the Past

Let’s take a little journey back in the past. Because back in the “olden days”, musicians marketed themselves quite differently than today.

People used to learn about concerts on a word-of-mouth basis. Bands passed out fliers and people told their friends about upcoming gigs.

Musicians hustled and pushed to get airtime on the radio. And if they were lucky, they signed with record labels, making it to the big time. But even if musicians didn’t make it big, they could still make their own records, tapes, and CDs.

Musicians continue to record CDs and records. But how they market their music today is a far cry from yesteryear… and we have the Internet to thank for that.

The Role of the Internet

Even in the early days of dial-up Internet, bands had websites. People could talk about music more openly on chat rooms. But once online music streaming became a thing, digital music marketing changed forever.

Rewind back to the late 1990s. You may be able to recall a little online music service known as Napster.

The service pioneered the concept of digital audio file sharing. But the magnitude of Napster was far from little. On Napster, practically any song ever recorded was available to your listening ears – and at no cost.

Napster inspired a long line of online streaming and sharing services. There was Kazaa, Limewire, BitTorrent, and Rhapsody (to name some.)

With these types of services, musicians could create digital audio files. They could upload entire albums or record individual songs. They could then share these files for listening ears to discover.

The Role of Social Media

As the Internet grew more sophisticated, so did websites. Musicians could publish their tour dates online and market themselves that way. Eventually, buying concert tickets online became a thing, too.

Then, social media came on the scene, changing the digital music marketing game once again. But this time, it had a direct effect on the nature of music fandom.

Fan bases had always existed (Hello, Beatlemania.) But early social networks harboured and nurtured music communities.

Networks like Myspace not only made it possible for bands to upload their music. They could also interact with their fans from all corners of the globe.

There were bands and musicians who made it big on Myspace. Arctic Monkeys, Lily Allen, and Panic! At The Disco spun huge fan bases from Myspace alone.

Facebook & YouTube

The phenomenon of Facebook changed a lot of things. But one of the things it did was pave the way for mass music sharing.

Before YouTube, MTV birthed the concept of music videos. But people needed to pay for cable in order to watch MTV, VH1, and BET.

Unlike these cable networks, YouTube is free to use. Musicians can also upload their own music videos without the backing of a record label.

There has been a long line of musicians who’ve made it big on YouTube. Justin Bieber, Lana del Rey, Gotye, and Katy Perry are just a few examples. But even small-time musicians can go viral on YouTube and rack up new fans.

Instagram

Modern marketing in the music industry has certainly made it easy to discover new music. But it also allows a space for musicians to connect with their fans.

Take Instagram, for example. The photo-sharing platform may not be directly correlated to social media music marketing. But it has a seismic effect when it comes to branding yourself as a musician.

No one is a better example than Beyonce, who has not only used the platform to hint at and build up album releases. She has also marketed her line of clothing all while giving fans an inside look into her personal life.

Or, take someone like Cardi B, who was an Instagram star before she became a famous rapper. Platforms like Instagram allow a rawer, more candid look into the minds behind the music.

And that’s what music fans really want… a personal connection to the people who make the music they love. Whether it’s by a photo of someone’s food or a live video of a concert – social media makes this connection possible.

Discover More on Digital Music Marketing

Marketing in the music industry is as ever-evolving as it has ever been. Not only are we able to plug in and listen to the majority of our music online. Musicians have so much more opportunity to record and share their music than ever before.

Decades from now, digital music marketing could look very different once again. But one thing will remain certain through all the changing times:

The soul of music will always be there, as strong as ever.

If you’re looking to spread your music to all corners of the globe, it all begins with networking. With digital marketing the way it is today, networking is easier than ever. Discover how to network your music and make it big in the music industry!

January 10, 2019
Want to Hear Your Music in a Commercial? 8 Great Tips for Selling Your Songs

Undiscovered artists make up more than 90% of the industry. Getting a taste of commercial success can be a life-changing experience for an artist. Even if the resulting income isn’t huge, the journey to a proper music career starts with getting your foot in the door.

Easier said than done, though, of course. Selling your songs to the right people and the right companies rely on creativity, persistence, and a little luck. Because the playing field is so crowded, you need every opportunity you can get.

This guide is going to show you eight ways you can get noticed for commercials.

1. Proper Music

Obviously, if you don’t have quality music, then you haven’t got a shot. What isn’t obvious to some is that although you might love your music, is it quality? That means, is your recording and mixing up to par?

Commercial businesses are going to scrutinize everything about your music. Go the extra mile and invest in professional mixing and mastering to increase your chances of being noticed.

2. Right Sound

Do your songs fit appropriately for the brands you’re hoping to collaborate with? You should have songs that fit specific moods or have lyrics that match stories. Sometimes entire commercial themes are built off of a song’s message.

This is important to keep in mind when pitching your songs for commercial ideas. If your songs can do the work of the advertiser for them, you’re in a good position.

3. Networking

Start out slowly, making connections in the music and marketing industries. As eager as you might be to get your first payday, don’t rush it. As you talk and meet more industry employees, managers, and shot-callers, you get more opportunities.

Soon, you’ll reach the point where you’re pitching your music directly to decision-makers who have the power to make it happen. Going through assistants and agents can be a frustrating process.

4. Build on Streaming Platforms

It’s important to have a strong digital presence to sell your songs. Even if the songs you are pitching to commercials aren’t included. Marketers, scouts, and industry leaders are constantly scanning SoundCloud, Spotify, and Bandcamp for new music.

Build your audience on these platforms to demonstrate your value.

5. Making Press Kits

Selling your songs is difficult to do just by linking to your SoundCloud page alone. You’ll need to know how to package up your music and sell it to a marketer. To do that you, need to create a press kit that has info about you, your music history, any published media, as well as your songs.

Press kits make selling yourself much easier, with less time spent repeating information manually.

6. Master Social Media

Treat your social media accounts as a business. Interact with your fans, be honest, but also deliver regular content. Do interviews, talk about industry news, collaborate with authority voices.

As far as which platforms you should target, the big three (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) are a priority. Targeting influencers on Instagram and Snapchat is also worth investing in. Those so-called internet celebs may give you access to literal celebs or industry figures.

These things matter when it comes to commercial success. Increase your chances of being discovered by reaching outside your network. Don’t just try to go viral off a random video post, increase your reach and expand your influence.

7. Build a Great Website

Social media accounts are second only to a great website. Your site should contain your biographical info, a blog, concert info, and business info. Use this website as an opportunity to refine your brand.

Build a blog, do guest posts, and improve your authority within your community. A great website will funnel connections and establish more trust.

An artist that looks like they have their act together is going to have a consistent image across the internet. Things like a professional logo, professional headshots, and easy access to music are key. Having a store that allows individual song purchases/licensing may help you along.

8. Be a Part of Music Licensing

This last method of getting your songs in front of the right people requires some capital. Instead of navigating the industry and obtaining contacts on your own, you could join a music licensing company. This is done through a subscription that can vary based on the company’s reach.

For example, you have Music Dealers, which is a company that works with Coke. Their list of contacts isn’t as extensive as some companies, which makes them a more affordable option.

Music Bed is another established licensing company, working with Nike, Google, and Netflix. It has been gaining a lot more traction with YouTube for channels looking for quality royalty-free music.

Directional Music is our recommended experienced licensing platform. They’ve worked with big names like Adidas, GMC, and Microsoft. They’re not the cheapest option, but they do get the job done.

Selling Your Songs Fast

If you’re nervous at the thought of spending all this time and money going after commercial leads, don’t be. Part of selling your songs is about branding, the other part is just following trends. You’re going to spend a lot of time doing normal boring stuff, working in email templates, and increasing your footprint.

If you need help getting started, then you’re in the right place. Promo.ly offers a package for creating a coherent campaign for promoting your songs. This will allow you to automate a lot of mundane stuff, as well as refine your approach to commercials based on statistics.

Never get left behind commercial music trends or miss out on opportunities with your preferred brands.

Start your free seven day trial with Promo.ly and take control of your destiny. May the Pick of Destiny put you on the path to rockin success and commercial fame.

January 8, 2019
Getting on Spotify playlists: your secret guide to hooking features
Spotify playlists are the burning topic in 2020. Streaming is taking over, and every artist wants a slice of the action. But how do you get your music featured? How can you use Spotify for Artists to your advantage? Continue reading to find out how.

What are Spotify playlists?

A playlist is a bunch of tracks which can be saved and listened to at a later date. People create personal playlists for long journeys, the gym, Friday night beer pong parties and everything in between.

Spotify has been playlisting for some time now. They have their official Spotify playlists and also offer personalised playlists, such as ‘Release Radar’ which are curated by their sophisticated algorithms. Brands, artists and record labels can also create their own playlists, using them as an ultimate marketing tool.

Streaming is taking over, and Spotify playlists are one of the newer ways to gain track exposure for artists and record labels. Used intelligently and the play count and following will soon start racking up.

The 2 types of Spotify Playlists

Keep in mind, there are two types of Spotify playlists we will cover, and you will take different approaches to each one. These are Personal Spotify Playlists and Official Spotify Playlists.

Personal Spotify Playlists

Personal Spotify Playlists are playlists that are created by the users of Spotify. Either record labels, or music bloggers, or just plain music fans and heavy users of Spotify will make these playlists and share them with other Spotify users. Some of these playlists become very popular and shared among lots of people. In some cases, Spotify will even feature these playlists in their app which helps encourage Spotify users to continue producing quality content and playlists within the Spotify app.

Official Spotify Playlists

Official Spotify Playlists are curated by the Spotify curation team and are composed of music that fits a specific element, mood, or style that is featured in a given playlist. These playlists are the ones you see in the prominent areas of the Spotify app. You may also see some personal Spotify playlists in this area as well. Ultimately it is up to the Spotify curation team to decide what playlists get featured in the app.

Do you want an awesome way of getting on playlists?

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Getting on Spotify Playlists:

Personal lists

To start, we look at the ins and outs of Personal Spotify Playlists. Later in the article, we will discuss Official Spotify Playlists. Personal Spotify Playlists are curated by other Spotify users who are not a part of the Spotify staff. The secret here is build up your online presence and then find the contact info of the people who run these playlists. Be very specific about who you send your music to, ensuring their taste matches up with your own.

Start investigating the details about Spotify Playlisting

To understand how to get featured on official Spotify playlists and personal lists, you must do some investigating.

Before writing this article, I also did my research. I spoke with a few artists and record labels. I wanted to share their insight with you. This article will give you first-hand information from those who are seeking features on a regular basis.

Where do I begin with finding personal lists?

Start searching Spotify for playlists. There are hundreds of thousands to choose from. Some of them have a superabundance of followers, and some have an insignificant few.

Get to know how they work and a feel for the music they showcase. Follow the lists, listen to the selected music and start thinking about whether your music would suit their tastes. For example, a techno playlist will not feature your new drum and bass track. But a playlist showcasing electronic music as a whole genre may feature your new release. That’s if they like the record, of course.

Find and establish the playlist account details. How many followers do they have? Does it seem privately owned or professionally branded? See if the playlist owner has left any music submission details in the description. Do they have Twitter? These account details are a vital part of the preparation. Once established, start logging the information on a spreadsheet.

I urge you to create a spreadsheet with the headings:
1. Followers
2. Contact name
3. Contact email
4. Twitter
5. Facebook
6. Website
The ambition here is track exposure; I suggest you target the playlistings with the massive followings. More followers = more potential plays.

This list should be your manual. Keep it, refresh it often and refer to it when you’re planning your next release. Reach out to your new connections from time to time, don’t contact them only when you need something. Build a relationship and develop it.

Finding Spotify playlist promoter contact details

This is going to be the tricky and time-consuming part. But you only need to do it once, hopefully! Once your spreadsheet is filled with potential curators, you are going to need their submission details or email address.

If you’ve already found this information when searching Spotify that’s great; you don’t need to relook these details up.

So how do you find someone’s email address?

When I used to run press campaigns, I had a couple of methods for getting someone’s email address. I’ll explain, there are a few simple ways and a grey-hat method.

Twitter:

A lot of curators have Twitter as it’s a powerful way of promoting their playlisting. Follow them. I suggest you Tweet them and ask for their email address if it’s not publically listed. Or if they follow you back, you can direct message them. Start a conversation and get to know them a little before spamming them with music.

Facebook:

Load up Facebook and see if the playlist has a Facebook page. For instance, the Spotify playlist ‘I Love Drum & Bass’ has one. Located at the top is a ‘Send Email’ button. If there isn’t an email address listed, you can always send them a message. “Hi, I would like to send you some music for playlist consideration, could I have your email address please” would be a good opening message.

What happens if they don’t have a Twitter or Facebook?

Does the playlist have a website? It might be worth spending some time on Google snooping around. Once you find the site take a look for their contact details, typically positioned in the footer. If the contact details are not listed there is tools like Hunter. Hunter (in their own words) lets you find email addresses in seconds. This method can speed the process up and help find the exact email address needed.

Once you have their email address, send them a simple email, like the Facebook message but this time ask for permission to send them music.

Just because you have their email address it doesn’t mean they want to hear from you, so don’t spam them with releases without seeking that permission first. You don’t want to be flagged for spam. Remember, it’s all about building relationships. Once you get their approval; send them the music as promised.

Are all your social media accounts set up?

Having a good online presence will help you achieve you being playlisted by a curator. Sadly, the days where the music would do the talking have long gone, unless you are very well known. Having a great looking social network will increase your possibilities with music getting picked up by influencers, bloggers and playlists. I understand this paragraph has just irritated you a little. I know it shouldn’t matter, but regrettably, it does.

How to get on Spotify playlists

Below you’ll find what’s required and how to get on Spotify playlists.

Will a verified Spotify account help me get on official playlists?

Yes. Is the short answer.

This is a must if you want your music featured by Spotify’s playlisting editorial team.

To get your Spotify profile verified, head to Spotify for Artists and fill in the details. Once this achieved, you can also submit it to their editorial teams. Spotify says, “With Spotify for Artists, you can submit one song from any scheduled release for our team to discover and consider for editorial playlists. We’ll also include it on your followers’ Release Radar playlists.”

Let’s take a peek at Spotify for Artists track submission page:

The image above shows where you will find your repertoire. From there you can hit ‘submit a song’ on your pending track. The next image shows you how to get your music to the right editors. Select the genre, mood, styles, lyrics and complete the remaining steps.

Submitting a song

When you select the genre, you’ll be presented with sub-genres. Choose the relevant options and press next.

Getting music to the correct editors

Phew. One more step to go. This next section is to tell Spotify more about the music.

Spotify for Artists: Track submission

As you can see, submitting on Spotify for Artists is comprehensive and must be done carefully. This is something you do not want to get wrong. Mainly as you can only choose one track per release, submitting music should be strategic, and I highly recommend you read the Spotify for Artists FAQ before starting.

Joining as a Record Label or Distributor

This is very similar to signing up as an artist, but instead, you must create an analytics account by following this link. The setup process is simple and shouldn’t take more than a few moments.

As you can see below Spotify asks you to search for your Record Label or Team. Input your details and select or create your team.

Get more playlist features for your record label’s artists. Promoly helps record labels deliver better promos to their mailing lists. Track recipient engagement, drive more features and get your artists noticed. Start your 7-day free trial.

You must choose if you are representing a label or distributor. Then follow the remaining steps. When pressing next, you presented with a screen asking for three tracks owned by the label or distributor. The remaining steps are self-explanatory and easy enough to follow.

Timing is important

To be considered for an official Spotify playlist they recommend you submit your music seven days before the release date.

When dealing with curators, I advise you give them as much time as possible. Curators will get hundreds of releases sent to them, so they require as much time as possible.

How do I send my new email recipients’ music?

There are various ways this can be accomplished:

Email:

Email is great. It’s the easiest way to get hold of someone. It’s excellent for making introductions. But it’s not really designed for sending music. Yes, you can post a link in the body of the text, but do you really want your pre-released music attached to a shareable link which is being sent into orbit?

This is where Promoly can help. And here’s what I propose you do.

Make your introduction over email.

Something like “Hi Bob, I’d like to send you my new track for consideration of your ‘Ultimate Cheese Party’ playlist. Do you mind if I send you a promo?”

Wait for Bob’s reply.

Bob replies, saying “Sure, send it over!”

Use Promo.ly and securely send your new beat to Bob. Promo.ly will keep track of Bob’s activity and show his written feedback and when he’s downloaded it.

Give it a few days and reply back to Bob’s email. “Hey Bob, thanks for downloading! Can we discuss a placement on the playlist?”

An alternative way:

A few curators have their own website with a dropbox submission method. It’s a simple method, but individually, I would like to have a connection with someone over email instead of blind posting. However, this is up to you, and if it gets results, I fully support it.

Get more playlist features for your record label’s artists. Promoly helps record labels deliver better promos to their mailing lists. Track recipient engagement, drive more features and get your artists noticed. Start your 7-day free trial.

Summing-up

Getting features on playlists is difficult, but not impossible. It will take some work and relationship-building to start with. Once you have these connections confirmed getting features in the future will be smoother. Make sure your social media is in check and get them verified where possible. As mentioned earlier, having your Spotify profile verified is a must if you want the prominent list features.

The most important rule of all? Write and release good music.

Do you want to know if uploading music to Spotify is good idea? Check out the pros and cons here.
December 17, 2018
A Musical Web of Success: Tips for How to Network In the Music Industry

Working on building your music career?

Trying to improve your networking skills?

Whether you’re trying to build a career as a songwriter or you’re attempting to market a small record label, being a great networker is often the key to succeeding in the music industry.

Meeting others in the industry, making strong connections, and getting your music in front of the right people can all help you build a long-lasting and sustainable career. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Successful music industry networking requires the perfect combination of perseverance and tact to get right.

Luckily, we’re to help. Below we’ll give you our top tips learning how to network in the music industry.

1. Show Up

It may seem really simple, but half of the networking battle of networking is won by simply showing up.

You can sit in your bedroom making great music or dreaming about joining the ranks of successful music industry professionals, but nothing is going to happen if you don’t get out of the house every once in a while. Make sure that you’re regularly going out to events where you have the chance of meeting people in the industry.

The type of events you attend and the places you go will vary depending on what your personal goals are. Music industry mixers, conferences, open mic nights, concerts, festivals, or songwriting group meetings can all be great places to rub elbows with other people in the industry.

2. Have a Pitch Ready

If you’re serious about networking in the music business you need to write an elevator pitch and have it rehearsed and ready at all times. When you happen to meet a potentially important music contact or industry leader, you won’t always get a chance to sit down for a coffee and tell them your whole life story.

Sometimes you’ll only get a few seconds to shake someone’s hand and tell them exactly what you’re all about. Make sure you craft a pitch that quickly tells someone what you do, what you’re working on, and why they should care.

3. Assemble Your Promotional Materials

In addition to a spoken pitch, you also need to have the promotional materials to back your words up.

Make sure to get a business card that has your contact information on it and that you can easily hand off to someone who you want to keep in touch with. If you’re a musician, you’ll also want to have a demo and a press kit as well.

Even in the modern age, business cards and other promo materials are still essential. These things can help show others that you’re a professional and that you’re serious about what you do.

Remember to bring a business card or other promotional materials with you whenever you go out whether you’re heading to a networking event or you’re just going to the laundromat. You never know when an opportunity will come up.

4. Do Your Homework

When you’re planning on attending an event or networking function where you think you may meet some industry professionals, it’s a good idea to do your homework before you arrive.

If there are any speakers, performers, managers, record label executives, or other professionals that you know will be there, then take the time beforehand to look them up. Do your research online and find out a little bit about them. See if you can find out who they have worked with, what their biggest accomplishments are, and what their plans are for the future.

Doing this will give you a bit of conversational ammo and if you do get the chance to speak with them, they may be flattered when you ask them about something they’re working on.

5. Have the Right Attitude

When networking in the music industry, it can be hard to find a good balance between being persistent and being annoying.

Music industry professionals do a lot of networking and meet people constantly. They are often bombarded with people who want to “be discovered” or who want to work with them.

While persistence can be a good thing, you need to have the right balance and you need to know when what behaviour is appropriate. If you spot a famous record executive on a date at a quiet restaurant, for example, that’s probably not the best time to pass out your demo.

Remember that there is a time and a place for everything. Be persistent and motivated, but make sure you know where to draw the line.

6. Become a Giver

Too many people who are aspiring to be successful in the music industry make the mistake of focusing on their own needs first. However, if you want to survive in the music industry you need to learn how to be a giver.

Giving to other people you meet without an agenda or without it seeming like you just want them to give you something in return is incredibly refreshing. It’s also the opposite of what a lot of people in the industry are doing.

Always look for ways you can authentically help others, whether that means making an introduction or offering someone help on a project. By being the kind of person who gives before receiving, you’ll win the trust of others and will be more likely to succeed in the long run.

7. Master the Follow-Up

The final thing you need to remember when networking in the music industry is that a big part of your success will depend on how great your follow-up is.

Remember to get contact information when you meet other industry professionals. Then, reach out to them within a couple days to let them know you enjoyed meeting them. Have a plan for staying in touch with them, and don’t forget to contact them later on down the road.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to the people you meet later on. Looking for ways to be giving towards them and offer value can serve as a great excuse to reach out and follow up later on.

Understanding How to Network in the Music Industry

If you’re trying to figure out how to network in the music business, the tips above should give you a great place to start. While there’s a lot more to know about surviving the music industry, you’ll have a much better chance of succeeding by learning the art of networking.

Looking for a powerful music promotion tool? Ready to cut through the noise? Check out some of our powerful features of Promo.ly and to learn more about what we can do for you.

December 12, 2018