12 Ways Promote Your Music Online
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12 Ways Promote Your Music Online

Looking for ways to promote your music online? This guide should help! Here we list 12 ways to promote your music, including where to upload it:)

We compiled a list of the best strategies for online music promotion.

1. Upload Music

You can post your music to a number of well-known streaming services to reach a larger audience. According to Groover, “Streaming platforms are the key to bringing an indie artist into the spotlight and can even give unsigned artists a shot at a record deal.”

Here are some examples:

  1. Spotify: Spotify is one of the biggest streaming services in the world, with millions of active customers. Listeners may find and stream music from a variety of genres thanks to its free and paid subscription choices.
  2. Apple Music: Another significant contender in the streaming market is Apple Music. It is accessible through Apple devices and provides a sizable music library, individualized recommendations, and unique content.
  3. Amazon Music: The streaming service offered by Amazon is called Amazon Music. It offers curated playlists, on-demand streaming, and access via Amazon Echo devices.
  4. Tidal: Lossless audio quality is the main goal of Tidal, a high-fidelity streaming service. Additionally, it offers live event streaming, music videos, and exclusive material.
  5. Deezer: Global streaming service Deezer is accessible in many nations. It offers a vast music library, tailored suggestions, and several subscription plans.
  6. YouTube Music: YouTube Music is a platform that blends user-uploaded material, official songs, and music videos. It offers both free and paid subscriptions that are ad-free.

According to Jimdo, “Uploading your music to Spotify has a ton of advantages, the main one being a huge reach.”

Wanna upload your songs to all of the streaming platforms at once. Use a music distribution service like DistroKid, Tunecore, or CD Baby.

There are numerous other streaming services accessible as well; these are just a few examples. To increase the audience for your music, it’s critical to investigate and take into account the platforms that best suit your objectives and target market.

Where to Upload Music For Free

To reach a larger audience, you can post your music for free to a number of platforms. Here are a few well-liked choices:

  1. SoundCloud: SoundCloud enables musicians to share their music with the SoundCloud community and with their followers by uploading it for free. For independent musicians, it’s a well-liked platform and a terrific method to begin growing a following.
  2. Bandcamp: Bandcamp gives musicians a free way to upload their songs. Additionally, it offers tools for selling items, physical and digital music downloads, and a “name your price” option for people to donate to your cause.
  3. YouTube: In addition to being a platform for sharing videos, YouTube is a well-liked location for finding and streaming music. Your music videos or audio tracks with visuals can be uploaded to a YouTube channel that you can create..
  4. Audiomack: Artists can upload and distribute their songs on the free streaming service Audiomack. Additionally, it provides marketing capabilities and tools to aid in the promotion of artists.
  5. Drooble is a social network for musicians where you may freely submit your music. It offers chances to interact with other artists, get criticism, and work together.

It’s important to keep in mind that while many platforms allow for free posting, they may also have paid plans or premium services that give further advantages. Investigating these free networks can be an excellent place to start if you want to promote your music and meet new listeners.

Create Your Artist Profiles

The dedicated portals “Spotify for Artists” and “Apple Music for Artists”, give musicians access to resources and information for managing and promoting their music. An outline of what each platform may provide artists is provided below:

Spotify for Artists:

  • Profile management: Artists have the option to edit their bio, profile picture, and playlists that are highlighted on their profile. They can have a polished and interesting Spotify presence.
  • Music analytics: Comprehensive analytics and information are provided, including statistics on streaming, listener demographics, location information, and following growth. In order to maximize their methods, artists might develop a thorough awareness of their audience.
  • Artists can submit their music for consideration on playlists directly to the Spotify editorial staff. This can raise the likelihood that their music will be included on popular playlists, which will enhance discoverability and potentially increase stream volume.
  • Tools for Promotion: Spotify for Artists provides tools for promotion such as sharing upcoming music with a small group of followers, promoting show listings, and making Canvas films to go along with tracks on the site.
  • Engagement of the Audience: Through the platform, artists can communicate with their followers. To interact and connect with their audience, they can obtain follower insights, reply to messages and feedback from listeners, and make unique playlists.

Apple Music for Artists:

  • Artist profile management: Artists can edit their bio, profile picture, and featured playlists on Apple Music. They can guarantee a convincing and expert presence.
  • Music metrics: Extensive analytics and insights are accessible, including playlist positions, daily listeners, plays, and song popularity. Artists can monitor their effectiveness and audience participation.
  • Placement on Playlists: Musicians can submit their tracks for playlist inclusion on Apple Music. This can boost visibility and expand the audience.
  • Shazam Data: With access to Shazam data through Apple Music for Artists, musicians can know where their music is being heard and identified.
  • Global Insights: Artists can access statistics and insights from various areas and nations, which helps them better understand their potential fans in various markets and their global reach.

Both platforms provide musicians with useful tools to maintain their profile, access analytics, interact with their audience, and successfully promote their music. Both Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists strive to assist artists in navigating and excelling in the streaming world, even though the precise features and functionality may differ.

3. Find Your Audience

It takes purposeful participation and the use of many channels designed for music discovery and promotion to find an audience for your music online. Here are some practical strategies for promoting your music online:

  1. Social Media: Develop a significant following on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. To reach a larger audience, post updates about your music, interact with your followers, and include relevant hashtags.
  2. Streaming Platforms: Put your songs on well-known streaming services like SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple songs. To make your music more visible, publicize your releases and playlists, interact with listeners, and submit it for playlist consideration.
  3. YouTube: Publish music videos, lyric videos, live performances, and behind-the-scenes material on your own YouTube channel. To increase your audience, team up with YouTubers or other influential musicians in your genre.
  4. Music Discovery Platforms: Utilize platforms like Bandcamp, Audiomack, and Reverbnation, which have communities of music enthusiasts and offer free and paid features to promote and discover new artists.
  5. Online Communities and Forums: Participate in online forums and groups devoted to your genre of music. Engage in conversations, share your music, and establish connections with people who share your interests in the hopes that they may become fans or promoters.
  6. Collaborations and Features: Work along with other artists, both from the same genre as you and from other ones. This can extend your audience and possibly bring in new listeners by introducing your music to their audience and vice versa.
  7. Music Blogs and Playlists: Contact music blogs, online publications, and playlist curators. To get exposure and potential playlist consideration, submit your music for assessment.
  8. Live Streaming and Virtual Concerts: Use live performances, Q&A sessions, or behind-the-scenes content on websites like Twitch, Instagram Live, or YouTube Live to engage your audience.

Remember, consistency, engaging with your audience, and actively promoting your music are key to building an online audience. Networking with other artists, seeking collaborations, and actively participating in music communities can also contribute to expanding your reach and finding an enthusiastic audience for your music.

Promote Music On Social Media

Using social media to promote your music can help you connect with fans and reach a larger audience. Here are some tactics to efficiently market your music on social media:

  1. Create a Compelling Profile: Use high-quality visuals to enhance your social media profiles, such as expert pictures, cover images, and a well-written bio that showcases your music and what makes you unique as an artist.
  2. Share Engaging Content: Share interesting music-related information on a regular basis, such as live performances, lyric videos, behind-the-scenes photos, sneak previews at new albums, and updates. Keep your audience interested by being honest and varied.
  3. Utilize Visual Content: On social media, visual content draws users’ attention. Share visually stunning clips of your music, music videos, or eye-catching graphics. Promoting visual material is very effective on websites like Instagram and TikTok.
  4. Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, pose inquiries, and strike up dialogues with your followers. Create a sense of community around your music by demonstrating a sincere interest in your fans’ thoughts.
  5. Utilize Hashtags: Make your material discoverable by individuals interested in your genre or similar topics by using pertinent and well-liked hashtags. To enhance visibility, find popular hashtags and include them in your postings.
  6. Collaborate with Influencers: To cross-promote each other’s songs, collaborate with social media influencers or other musicians in your niche. This will help you reach a larger audience and expose your songs to their loyal following.
  7. Run Contests and Giveaways: Create competitions or giveaways where fans can win items, access to premium material, or seats to your performances. This stimulates interaction and motivates listeners to spread your music throughout their networks.
  8. Utilize Live Streaming: Real-time interaction with your audience is possible on websites like Instagram Live, Facebook Live, and Twitch. To interact with fans directly, think about holding live performances, Q&A sessions, or private acoustic sessions.
  9. Paid Advertising: Think about setting aside some of your cash for specialized social media promotion. Ad campaigns are available on websites like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube that can assist you in connecting with a particular target audience or demographic that like your music.
  10. Cross-Promote Across Platforms: Share your social networking handles on a variety of websites and streaming services, such as your YouTube channel and website. To maintain a consistent online presence, encourage your followers on one platform to interact with you on others.

Recall that consistency is essential. To keep your audience interested and develop a strong following, post frequently and interact with them. Maintain your authenticity in your promotion, show off your artistic individuality, and offer your audience content that goes beyond merely advertising your music.

I’ve personally used FaceBook Live for 1100+ days in a row and I can verify that it is definitely a helpful tool to share your music and help give your audience a deeper connection with you.

Create an Email List

As a musician, building an email list is essential for direct and focused engagement with your fans. An email list, as opposed to social media, gives you control over your communications and guarantees that they reach your audience’s inbox. Through individualized email campaigns, it enables you to build a devoted fan following, advertise new releases, tours, and products, and monetize your music. An email list offers a dependable and direct method to interact with your audience, create a solid relationship, and foster fan loyalty, ultimately leading to long-term success in your music career. Email lists have greater engagement rates than social media.

Here are five popular email list services:

  1. Mailchimp
  2. Constant Contact
  3. AWeber
  4. GetResponse
  5. ConvertKit

Get Songs Playlisted

To get your music on playlists, you must take a proactive stance and make calculated attempts. Start by looking up playlists that are appropriate for your chosen musical genre and target market. Send a personalized, succinct pitch about your music to playlist curators, emphasizing its distinctive qualities. Your chances of being taken into consideration for upcoming placements can be increased by interacting with curators and participating in their playlists. Additionally, concentrate on increasing your own following and streaming figures because playlist curators frequently seek out musicians with active fan bases. Build a buzz around your music through social media, email marketing, and other promotional strategies to attract playlist curators’ attention and improve the chances of playlist placements.

To get your music playlisted, you can go to:

  1. Official Playlist Submission Forms on streaming platforms.
  2. Independent Curators specializing in your genre.
  3. Music Blogs and Online Magazines.
  4. Networking and Collaborations.
  5. DIY Playlist Promotion through creating and promoting your own playlists.

Create An EPK

Collect necessary components to promote your music and brand in an electronic press kit (EPK). Include a professional biography that highlights your background, accomplishments, and differentiators. Include high-resolution press images that reflect your identity and sense of style. Include links to your music on websites like Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and streaming services. Include a demo reel or a selection of your best tracks. Include any noteworthy articles, reviews, or interviews from the media. To make it easier for journalists and business people to contact you, including your website and social media connections. Put all of these components together in a professional digital bundle that can be sent via email or stored online for convenient access.

You can use tools like Sonicbids, ReverbNation, Adobe Spark, or Canva to make an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) for an artist.

Create a Buzz w/ Press

Start by looking up and locating relevant music blogs, online magazines, and regional press outlets that cover your genre if you want to gain press and blog attention for your music. Create a press release that is appealing and introduces you and your music, emphasising important elements like recent releases, your distinctive sound, or future events. Pitch each medium specifically, highlighting why their audience might be interested in your music. Send your press release, along with a professionally written bio, stunning press photographs, and a sample of your music, in accordance with their submission rules. To improve your chances of gaining publicity, interact with journalists and bloggers on social media, go to regional events, and develop relationships.

Make Short Form Content

From personal experience, Ive seen that short form content like Reels and Shorts can help listeners find your music easier than any other marketing strategy.

For example, I know a music group that spent $5,000 on a music video that got 100k views vs a short form piece of content we shot, for free, that got 500,000+ views.

My best advice would be to make as many pieces of short form content that you can. It only takes your time and not your money.

Shooting the video while in a car performing the song has been one of the most popular strategies I’ve noticed on TikTok, IG, YouTube Shorts, and FB.

Build a Team

As an artist, you should first determine your unique requirements and the areas in which you need help, such as management, booking, marketing, or production. Make connections with those in the music business who are experts in these fields and ask for referrals from reliable people. Conduct interviews to evaluate their knowledge, enthusiasm, and suitability for your objectives. Start with hiring people for crucial positions like manager, booking agent, or PR. With each team member, establish specific agreements to encourage open dialogue and cooperation. Reevaluate your requirements as your profession develops, and modify your team as necessary to support your development.

Find Live Performance Opportunities

Start your search for local live music venues that offer events if you want to market your music and locate live performance possibilities in your area. If you want to find out about performing chances, check out their websites, social media accounts, or get in touch with them. To find out about future events and recommendations, check out local performances and make connections with other musicians, promoters, and venue owners. To keep up with events and open mic nights, join social media organizations and online music communities devoted to your local music scene. Express your interest in performing at music festivals, charitable events, or public meetings to the event planners. To increase your performance opportunities, think about organizing your own events or working together with other nearby artists.