Can indie music artists succeed without a record label? Yes, it’s possible, but it’s challenging. We’ve seen acts becoming the biggest independent artist, huge enough to give record labels a run for their money.
Truly, independent artists have a lot more to worry about than just their music. They must take care of the business side of music. They will figure out how to market their music without spending too much money or relying on others.
Yes, a record label can do wonders for your career. But if you’re not willing to sign a deal with one, then there are ways for you to be successful without one. You must know how to implement them into your music career.
This article provides the information you need to succeed in the music industry without a record label. Read on.
Tips on How Indie Music Artists Succeed Without a Record Label?
Making it in the music industry on your own boils down to your strategy. You need to know what you’re doing and why. If you don’t, you won’t be able to market your music or create a successful career.
The following are some ways that indie music artists can succeed without a record label:
Have a specific goal
You can’t navigate the murky waters of the music industry without a clear vision. You need to know what you want out of your music career. Do you want to become famous? Make money from touring and merchandise? Write songs for other artists?
Or do you want to record an album for fun? Your goal will affect your music career. This includes where you spend your time, how much money you make, and even who your audience is.
Tap Into Your Social Network
Whether you’re an independent musician or a big-name celebrity doesn’t matter. It helps to have friends in high places. Networking is crucial if you want to get your music heard by industry professionals.
Your social network might include:
- people who know someone at a record label,
- other indie music artists who are also looking for a deal (you can swap songs), and
- even fans who would buy your album before it’s released.
Advertise Your Music
Most established indie music artists spend thousands of dollars on traditional marketing campaigns. But these methods only suit some artists and don’t come cheap.
When starting, use social media platforms like Twitter to promote your music. You can also advertise on sites like Craigslist or local community boards. This attracts new fans interested in similar genres.
Create A Website And Engage In Social Media Marketing
Social media has created fair competition for artists of all kinds. It’s a great way to connect with fans and share your music. Create a website where people can learn more about you and purchase your music online.
Then use social media platforms to spread the word about what you’re doing. You can also create accounts on websites like ReverbNation or Bandcamp. They let you sell your music from their websites and promote upcoming shows and albums.
Perform In Live Shows And Go On Tours
There’s no better way to get your music out there than to perform live. The reason is simple. People feel like they’re part of the experience when you perform live. They get to see and hear you in action and get an idea of what it would be like to see you again.
Performances also allow your fans to connect. This creates a sense of community around your music. The more shows you play, the more fans you’ll gain. And the more often your music is heard, the better the chance of going viral.
Make Use Of Proper Branding.
We live in a world where everything is judged by its appearance. There are countless examples of this. But one thing that always comes to mind is that people judge books by their covers. The same goes for music. If your brand looks good, then people will want to support it.
Indie music artists wishing to succeed without a record label should create a cohesive brand. This means paying attention to every detail, from your logo design to how your music sounds.
One important thing is ensuring that your art looks good when printed on merchandise. You don’t want people to buy low-quality items with your name on them.
Do Not Copy Others’ Content.
The music industry rewards originality more than anything else. So, it’s essential to refrain from copying other artists’ songs or content. This includes melodies and lyrics but also how your music sounds. Do you want to succeed as an indie artist in 2022 and beyond? Create something unique and authentic instead of trying to sound like someone else.
You can still sing about similar topics as other artists if you do it differently. Sing about something that hasn’t been covered before. Or explore a side of your music that isn’t usually seen in mainstream music. Try to avoid clichés and tropes that are popular in other genres. Sing unique and interesting lyrics instead of copying what’s already out there.
Collaborate With Other Artists
The top indie music artists understand the importance of collaboration. In the past, you’d have to wait until you were famous before you could work with other artists. That’s because they wouldn’t want their music associated with an unknown artist.
However, this isn’t the case anymore. Plenty of indie artists are working together and creating amazing music! You can collaborate to learn from others, expand your horizons, or have fun making music.
Collaborations also help you build your network of connections. This helps you get more gigs or get your music played on the radio.
Connect With Tastemakers And Bloggers
Tastemakers influence what’s popular or cool in a specific niche. They can include bloggers, DJs, promoters, and music industry professionals. You can reach out to them by joining your local music community and attending their events.
For an indie artist, connecting with bloggers is crucial. They can help spread the word about your new album or songs. Bloggers want to write about artists they believe in. If they like your music and think their readers will, they’ll write about you in their blog posts.
Use Geo-Targeting To Reach Local Fans.
The top indie music artists understand that local fans are the key to building a career. They know it’s essential to connect with fans in their local music scene. So they use geo-targeting on social media and email marketing campaigns. This allows them to reach people who live nearby but may not have heard of them.
You can do this, too. Create a list of local keywords and hashtags. Your fans would use these if they were searching for new music in their city or state. Then use these keywords to target the people in your area searching for new music. You can add them to a geo-targeted ad campaign or email blast with local keywords relevant to your fans.
Final Thoughts
Yes, indie musicians can succeed without a record label. You have to be smart about it. You need to know your audience, what they want, and how you can deliver it to them. It will take time for your fans to find out about you, but once they do, they’ll stick around for years.
