You’ve put in a lot of hard work. You’ve written the songs, you’ve booked a few gigs, and you’ve recorded an album. But now what? How do you get people to actually listen to your music? For many musicians, promoting yourself and getting exposure is one of the toughest challenges you’ll face. It’s not enough to just post videos of your music on YouTube or the occasional open mic night. The key is to attack the problem from multiple angles. In this article, we’ll share 8 methods that can help you get discovered as a musician.
Get on Spotify playlists.
One of the smartest ways to get your music heard is to get it on Spotify playlists. There are thousands of Spotify playlists out there, and if you can get your music on just a few of them, you’ll be well on your way to increasing your listenership. The effective way to do this is to reach out to the playlist curators directly and send them your music. Don’t forget to follow them on social media and interact with their posts regularly; building a relationship with them will increase the likelihood that they’ll be receptive to your pitch.
If you are still a small artist who’s just starting out and has no faithful listener base, third-party social media websites are here to help. Find out more about this on Jaynike.
There are hundreds of blogs and online publications that focus on new music, and getting your music featured on one of them is a great way to get exposure for your band. Take some time to research which publications would be most receptive to your type of music, then reach out and submit your tracks for consideration. Be sure to follow up after a week or so if you haven’t heard back; oftentimes, these types of submissions can fall through the cracks if they’re not followed up promptly.
This is hard to achieve as a small artist. It’s why so many people use social media help services that give their account or a particular track they want to go viral the initial boost it needs. For instance, if you need your page views/followers you can check out SpotifyStorm.
Perform at open mics and small shows.
If you want people to discover your music, you need to be playing where they can see you. That means getting out there and performing at open mics and small shows around town. Not only will this help people become familiar with your music, but it will also give you a unique opportunity to build up a fan base of die-hard supporters who will continue to come see you perform again and again. Not to mention, it’s also good practice! You don’t have to be perfect for these types of gigs anyway, so treat it as a good opportunity to get better at what you do.
Create a professional website and mailing list.
In today’s age, having a professional website is essential for any musician who wants to be taken seriously. Your website should include information about who you are, what kind of music you make, when your next show is, and how people can contact you. Be sure to include links to all of your social media accounts so that fans can easily connect with you online. And don’t forget to create a mailing list so that you can stay in touch with your fans and let them know about new music or upcoming shows.
Submit your music to blogs and online publications.
There are hundreds of blogs and online publications that focus on new music, and getting your music featured on one of them is a great way to get exposure for your band. Take some time to research which publications would be most receptive to your type of music, then reach out and submit your tracks for consideration. Be sure to follow up after a week or so if you haven’t heard back; oftentimes, these types of submissions can fall through the cracks if they’re not followed up on promptly.
Collaborate with other musicians.
Another great way to get discovered as a musician is by collaborating with other musicians who are already established in the scene. This could involve anything from recording a song together or performing a show together; the important thing is that it helps introduce you to new fans who might not have otherwise heard of you. And who knows? If things go well, maybe you’ll even end up forming a long-term creative partnership.
Invest in some targeted social media ads.
Organic reach on social media has been declining in recent years, which means that it’s becoming more and more difficult for bands to gain traction on platforms like Facebook and Instagram without investing in paid advertising. If done correctly, targeted social media ads can be an extremely effective way of getting your music in front of new people who might be interested in it—so if you have the budget for it, definitely give it a try.
Get involved with local radio.
Local radio stations are always on the lookout for new talent, so give them a call or send an email expressing interest in being interviewed or having your music played on the airwaves. This is a great way to reach new listeners who might not otherwise come across your band while also building up some credibility as an up-and-coming artist in the eyes of industry professionals.
Use SFX and royalty-free music in your videos.
As a musician, it’s important to put your best foot forward when releasing new music. That means creating high-quality videos that will capture an audience’s attention and imagination. While the music itself is obviously the most important element, it’s also crucial to use sound effects (SFX) and royalty-free music to add an extra layer of interest and excitement. Royalty-free music provides a great way to add background ambiance or energy to a video, while SFX can help to punctuate the action and bring a scene to life. Using both in your youtube videos is a great way to get discovered as a musician. When done right, they can elevate your music and make it more engaging and memorable for viewers. Of course, using your own music is your best bet as long as it fits the type of video that you’re trying to create. If you need some stock music to use in the background, there are a lot of legitimate royalty free music sites that offer all the music you’ll need to get started. Most offer unlimited music downloads, too, so that you can find the perfect song.
The Bottom Line
There’s no denying that making it as a musician takes hard work—but luckily, there are lots of things that you can do to proactively help yourself get discovered by new listeners (and potentially secure some big opportunities down the line). Implement some (or all!) of the tips above into your musical journey, and watch as your fanbase starts growing exponentially in no time.
