The music industry is a tough nut to crack. It’s not only about how good you produce music or how lucky you are with the right people noticing your talent. Being an
indie music artist is much easier today. This is thanks to the internet and social media platforms.
But with this abundance of opportunities comes a host of challenges. You have to build your brand identity and create engaging content. You also must promote your songs to build and nurture relationships with fans.
So, how can an indie music artist like you, who’s trying to make it in this competitive industry, succeed? The answer lies in taking advantage of all the opportunities available to you.
This article discusses the top ways to promote your music online as an indie music artist.
Sign up for artists' services
Artists' services are a great way to promote your music online. They offer various features and tools to help musicians. As an indie music artist, you can increase your engagement with your fans. You can also improve the quality of your content and attract new listeners.
Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud let you post your songs on social media platforms. This makes it easier for fans to listen to your music and share it with others.
Build a website and mailing list
Another way to promote your music online is by building a website and mailing list. A website allows you to create an online presence and establish credibility as an artist. It’s also good for fans who want to learn more about you or purchase your music.
Besides, a
mailing list will give you another avenue for promoting your music. It gives you access to people’s emails so they can sign up for updates from you. You can use your website and mailing list to promote new releases and other news related to your music.
Develop an engaging social presence
As an indie music artist, you can’t afford to miss out on being on social media. It’s a great way to connect with your fans and build your audience.
It would help if you had a presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and SoundCloud. Be sure to share relevant content with your followers (e.g., music videos and photos from live shows).
This would also help you build up your audience. You should also set up a YouTube channel where fans can watch your music videos.
Get playlisted on streaming services.
As an indie music artist, try to get your music playlisted on popular streaming services. This allows more people to hear your songs and increases the likelihood of becoming fans.
You can submit to Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Google Play Music. You can do this via their respective websites or by emailing them.
This method allows you to
receive more money from streaming services. Remember that they pay artists per stream.
You can also get your music playlisted on radio stations and podcasts. This will help it reach new audiences who may not have been aware of your music otherwise.
Sell your merchandise
We understand that you might think an indie music artist doesn't need to sell merchandise. After all, you're trying to make music and put out an album, not clothing. But in today's world, selling merchandise helps you make money. You can also connect with your fans even better.
Selling merchandise allows people who love your music to wear it often. It also allows them to show their support for you as a musician. They'll sport one of the items you've put together for sale.
Get press and blog coverage.
One of the best ways to get press coverage is by asking people who are already writing about your genre. If you're an indie music artist, send a press release or email to music blogs and magazines. Target those platforms that focus on indie music artists. This will help you get more publicity for your music and create awareness around your band.
You can also reach out to
bloggers who write about indie music and ask them to write about you. Bloggers will often post about new music releases. This can be a great way to get attention from people who might not otherwise hear about your band.
Make music videos
Yes, music videos might cost money. But they can be incredibly effective in getting more attention to your music. Music videos give people something visual to connect with besides the sound of your song.
They also make it easier for people who haven't heard of you yet to learn more about your band. It helps them know where they can listen to or buy your songs.
There are various ways to get funding as an indie music artist for your videos. You can crowdfund your video on sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo. You could also ask for donations from family and friends. Furthermore, you can even ask local businesses if they'd be willing to sponsor you.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, make a low-budget music video. They need little equipment. Make sure it's high quality so people feel they're getting their money's worth!
Surround Yourself With a Strong Team
Your team can be your biggest support or your worst nightmare.
Hire the best people you can afford and ensure they support you before you work together.
Yes, you're an indie music artist. But the earlier you take your career seriously, the better off you'll be. If you want to make it in this industry, don't be afraid to spend money on yourself and invest in your music career.
You can always make up for lost revenue later. But it's better to have a solid foundation than risk everything by trying to cut corners now.
Make friends with other musicians and collaborate often.
The journey is hard enough without having to do everything yourself. Get out there and make some friends. There's no better networking opportunity than
collaborating with other musicians. This is especially true if you're an indie music artist just starting.
Collaborating with other artists helps build relationships in your local music community. It allows you to network with new people who could become fans or even future collaborators.
Collaborations also let you ride on the coattails of other artists' popularity. This will get your music into the ears of people who wouldn't have heard it otherwise.
Know your audience and focus on your niche
Too many musicians make the mistake of trying to appeal to everyone. Yes, it's essential to have some variety in your music. But you should also focus on one niche (or two) and create music that appeals to that audience.
Suppose you're an indie folk singer-songwriter who wants to play for coffee shops. Then don't waste your time making electronic dance music; it won't be marketable if you want to stay in your niche.
Don't waste your time making acoustic guitar songs if you want to play stadiums and arenas. They won't appeal to that audience.
Play live often and make an impact.
Your surest bet as an indie music artist is to play live, and you should play as often as possible. Try to get your name out there by playing small gigs in dive bars. It will be easier for people to know you when they sell out large venues or headlining festivals.
It's also essential not to play any old gig. Make sure that whoever is handling your PR knows what they're doing. This helps promote the show and get people interested in coming out.
Get radio airplay
A radio station is one of the most effective ways to get your music played regularly and reach a wider audience. Let's say you have the money to pay for radio ads. Then ensure they're high quality and professional-looking so fans will love them.
If you don't have money to spend on radio ads, focus on getting your songs played as often as possible. Contact local stations directly and pitch them why they should play your music.
Network in-person at music conventions and startup weekend events
An indie music artist who is just starting may not have much money to spend on marketing their music. But they can still get their songs heard by networking.
Music conventions and startup weekend events are great places to meet other people. These people might be interested in your music or could help you get it played on the radio.
You can also network with professional musicians and producers at these events. It will help you improve your sound quality and overall production value.
Final Thoughts
Growing your audience as an indie music artist is a slow process. You must remember that building a loyal following takes time and effort. So don’t get discouraged if your music doesn’t immediately take off.
The tips in this article will help you grow your audience as an indie musician. You'll eventually
make money from your music.