The majority of musicians naturally want to spend the majority of their time making music, but unhappily, the job calls for much more, including music promotion.
A working musician’s career includes more than just writing, performing, and recording music. Many artists who have succeeded in making a career from their work or who aim to do so have discovered that promoting singles and albums takes almost as much effort and time as creating them.
Music promotion is a broad issue that encompasses many diverse actions, and it can mean very different things to various acts. While one Singer would spend the entire day doing interviews and posing for images, another might get stuck looking for editors’ and playlist creators’ email addresses. Even though it’s not always glamorous, how can you expect to make money from your music if no one is aware of it?
Continue reading to find out more about the finest websites and platforms to advertise your work on, as well as some advice that may help you spread the word.
Promotion of Music: An Overview
What does the term “music promotion” mean?
Nowadays, the term “music promotion” is ambiguous and open to interpretation. Everything from a well-planned social media campaign to handing out flyers on the corner counts, but for the purposes of this essay, we’re going to concentrate primarily on the former.
When music industry experts use the term “music promotion,” they typically mean campaigns that involve social media, YouTube, streaming platforms, and paid advertising. Music promotion simply refers to spreading the word about your creativity. Usually, the artist collaborates on these projects with a team of people, either made up of hired help or members of their own team.
What can I do to market my music?
Make a mailing list. Some bands have determined that email newsletters are obsolete in the social media age. They are still one of the best instruments for connecting with the fans that matter most, thus it is unfortunate that they are missing out. Superfans are the only individuals who will subscribe to your email, therefore you don’t want to lose out on informing them of any updates!
social media use If you want to market your music internationally, you should already be active on social media. If not, you should set up accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. After that, start posting and interacting with people around the world by learning best practises and how these sites function.
Get on the playlists for streaming. These days, millions of people use well-known playlists on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music to find new songs and artists that they eventually fall in love with. Although there is tremendous competition for spots on some of the most popular options, you can still get there! Do your homework and try it yourself after working with a company that specialises in this form of promotion, but don’t count on succeeding the first time.
Can I pay to promote my music?
Simply said, you certainly can! You can spend money to get some exposure for your work, but you can’t always buy all the many forms of promotion you want, like a feature in Rolling Stone or plays on the local radio station.
Internet marketing. You may spread the word with a little amount of money in addition to marketing your art on social media by posting about it and connecting with people. Why not spend a few dollars to promote your newest song to the masses? Advertising on websites like Facebook is typically affordable and simple to understand.
Media relations. It may be appropriate to launch a comprehensive PR (public relations) campaign if you have something fresh to promote, such as a single, video, or album. You can engage a firm to do it for you after completing extensive research, or you can really undertake the effort of contacting Journalists, Podcast Hosts, magazines, newspapers, and TV and radio stations yourself.
Influencers. Finding influencers who are well-known on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok and paying them to promote your new single in some way is another situation in which you can do your own study or collaborate with someone who is well-versed in this field. They might give it a review, incorporate the song into an article about YouTube video SEO, or simply share the album cover and a brief excerpt.
In order to get their music heard, guaranteed response, and prospective possibilities, musicians can post their music to Groover and pay to reach out to certain outlets, playlists, influencers, and other people. You can read more about Groover in the section below.
What Qualities Should a Music Promotion Service Have?
Before making the decision to hire, there are several things to consider when choosing a music promotion agency. You want a person who takes the time to hear your music and makes suggestions based on how you, your appearance, and your work strike a chord with them.
Additionally, you want someone who would suggest ideas or software that you wouldn’t have thought of on your own. It’s probably not what you need if all they say is that they have a few tips for your social media.
If a business steps forward and outlines a strategy that includes pitching Spotify playlists, producing a tonne of social media material you’ve never thought of, and investing money in Instagram and Facebook advertising, pay attention to them!
In essence, you’re looking for a team that will put in the time necessary to complete your song properly, as well as skill that goes beyond your own.
What Should You Watch Out For?
Be careful because there are lots of people out there who want to work in “music promotion” but are really just want your cash! I could create a whole article on what to stay away from while looking for assistance in this area, but I’ll limit myself to the biggest red flags you’re likely to run against.
definite promises
Be sceptical if a provider unequivocally guarantees you a certain amount of brand-new social media followers or a spot on an influential blog. Since things are constantly changing, not even the most well-connected publicists can guarantee a profile in a magazine or a place on a TV programme. Also, those promises based on numbers aren’t as stunning as you might believe when it comes to social media because anyone can purchase followers or likes.
Instead, all you need is for them to work hard and intelligently for you. All you can ask for is that!
Are you unique?
Even though the top music video promotion agencies are always looking for new clients, they are nonetheless picky. It’s a positive hint if their website encourages you to contact them via phone or email to discuss working together. You’ll be treated the same as everyone else if all they want is a connection to your music and your credit card information, and this isn’t a business where cookie-cutter strategies work.
They can’t demonstrate any prior work to you.
It’s up to you if you want to take a chance on someone who is just getting started with music promotion, but if a business claims to have a long history of success, do some research on them! Whom or what musical groups have they collaborated with? What did they receive in terms of streams, PR, or social media? Ask for specific examples, and if possible, make contact with former customers.
They approach you
Once more, a number of companies that promote music are eager for new customers, but few of them actually go out and beg for business. Don’t bother if the brand finds you and sends you a boilerplate message in your direct message that you can tell was sent to many other people. They require you far more than you require them.
What can you do on your own to promote your music?
A lot! It’s possible that you’ll soon need to scale back on your music promotion efforts because you’ll be able to spend all of your time advertising your most recent single rather than creating and recording new music.
Sharing your most recent releases on social media is the first thing you can (and should) do on your own to promote your music. This is not imply that you should stop tweeting once your single is available. You need a comprehensive strategy, and you want engaging content for all platforms.
A release should be teased, shared frequently when it goes live, and then promoted in engaging ways in the days and weeks that follow (without being obnoxious).
You might also pay for advertisements on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, but if you do this, make sure you do your research beforehand. It would be advisable to let a team you eventually hire handle these procedures as they can be a little tricky.
What Day Is the Best for Music Releases?
When asked what day is best to release music, there are two options: Friday or any other day.
Due to the start of the tracking week on Friday, every major artist releases their brand-new singles and albums on that day. Companies like MRC Data (previously Nielsen) gather data on sales, streams, and radio play from Friday at midnight through the end of the following Thursday. The weekly charts are then created by Billboard using all the data. Stick to Friday if you want to have any chance of charting anywhere.
If you’re not quite there yet, you might want to choose a different day to release music because Fridays are less popular and more competitive. You will have a higher chance of catching people’s attention if you stay away from that day of the week because you won’t be competing with Justin Bieber’s single or Taylor Swift’s most recent album.
How Frequently Should Songs Be Released?
When it comes to how frequently you should release music, there is no hard and fast rule, although these days the market is evolving more quickly than ever. The public will just move on and you will lose momentum if you wait years to share songs, unless you’re one of a small group of singers or bands. When between albums, you can spread things out a little, but not much.
A excellent timetable is every six weeks or every two months, especially if you vary the genres of the songs you perform. It’s not necessary to release a sizable single every two months; instead, consider include album tracks, B-sides, acoustic cuts, remixes, and demos.
How do musicians select singles?
Artists select singles in a variety of ways, but ultimately, what matters most is how they make you feel. Which song is your favourite? Do you ever have that in your head? What are your bandmates thinking? Have you performed it for your loved ones and friends? What do they believe?
Basically, whatever that means for you at this point in your career, your single should be the song that has the best chance of drawing an audience and becoming a “hit.” Think like renowned musicians by choosing the songs that you think will be the most popular and have the best chance of conquering the airwaves!
Which Websites Are Best for Promoting Your Music?
There are numerous strategies for promoting your music, and there are nearly as many websites and platforms available for doing so. So where does a musician begin? You should at least take into account the following outlets when you start this procedure because they have in the past benefited many other artists.
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Ads
Even if for no other reason than the fact that millions (no, billions) of people spend hours each day on social media, advertising on it is one of the most successful ways to connect with people who are unfamiliar with you and your job. Why wouldn’t you want to approach them and introduce yourself?
One of the best things about using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for advertising is that you can start out small and spend a few dollars per day or allocate hundreds or even thousands of dollars to one project. You may experiment, discover what works, and become extremely particular. Give it a go!
YouTube Ads
On Spotify, there are adverts, and you can participate in that. If you create a successful advertisement for the largest streaming service in the world, the person who is listening on the other end will appreciate it and possibly click through to learn more about you and your new song. Since this is a site for streaming music, pay much more attention to the music than to conversing.
Video Boosters Club
Video Boosters Club was developed to assist, YouTubers, musicians in getting past the first-listening barrier. The service links musicians and other YouTubers who wish to promote their music or video with the top curators, radio stations, and record labels looking for up-and-coming artists using a cutting-edge digital platform. You are guaranteed that the music curators and professionals you choose from the more than 1,600 currently active members will listen to your track, give you feedback, and consider featuring your music if they have a crush on it for opportunities like articles, radio broadcasts, playlist inclusion, or more. You gain credits back to contact more people if they don’t respond after 7 days.
Promozle
You should look into Promozle if you’re doing your own advertising (rather than hiring a team). The business may assist in getting your advertisement on more established YouTube and YouTube partners website.
When it comes to Promozle, advertisements are just the beginning. If you have the necessary time, creativity, and funds, you can do much more promoting your most recent single or album on the platform. In fact, when it comes to promoting whatever you have coming up next, it can quickly become your go-to place.
Melobeam
you might also want radio airplay, though! Although you might not be aware with it, the firm concentrates on a music platform called Jango, which is an additional internet radio service. Despite this, it nevertheless reaches millions of people!
When promoting your music, Melobeam may not be your first port of call, but it should still be considered.
Soundplate
The goal of Soundplate is to make unheard music accessible to those who create significant playlists on streaming services like Spotify and Deezer. The site is free and simple to use, which is fantastic news in this case. Is that terrible news? That implies that everyone else will give it a try, including their mother.
You should definitely submit your songs for inclusion on a number of well-trafficked playlists since it doesn’t take long, but since there are hundreds, possibly even thousands of other people doing the same thing concurrently…
Don’t let your expectations rise too much.
SubmitHub
SubmitHub aims to assist musicians in tackling all forms of music marketing at once, unlike some businesses that concentrate on just one. A musician can use SubmitHub to try and get their most recent song played on the radio, blogs, Spotify, you name it. The site does require some additional knowledge on your part in order to use it effectively, and you should submit your artwork months in advance, but if you can get everything in line, this can be your greatest option for all-in-one music promotion!
