Whenever anyone is complaining about how their music promotion strategies aren’t yielding any result, an old age riddle comes to mind. It goes thus; when a tree falls in the forest, and there’s no one around, does it make a sound? That’s the situation of most indie artists, and they don’t even realize this.
Let’s make the old riddle clearer; if you are making the best of music and there’s no one listening, of what purpose?
As an indie artist, you should continuously think of getting your music known to more people and increasing your audience’s size. While you may have been trying different things to promote your music, many of these things may be doing more harm than good to your brand.
Remember the old school approach of playing live shows or targeting air plays? They’ve all become outdated. It won’t amount to an exaggeration to state that the music industry has changed drastically in the last two decades. This is more reason why you need to revamp your music promotion strategies to get results. Here’s what we think you have to start doing;
1. Adopt a Busines/Artist Approach to Your Music
It’s always difficult for most artists to shift their mindset from an artist to an entrepreneur. To get results from your music promotion, you will need to start thinking from a business perspective.
It would help if you were a connect your music to the business angle of it. There should not be a disconnect between your art and the business of it.
2. Be Hungry and Passionate About Learning
Do a quick check of indie artists who are consistently doing well in the industry. You’ll notice the following traits: drive, passion, and hungry for success. They approach music marketing from the long term view, and they are always ready to learn.
To turn around your music marketing fortunes, you need to activate an urge, drive, and hunger to succeed. That’s when you’ll start seeing results.
3. Don’t Try To Do Everything Yourself
As an artist, learn to know when to ask for help. There are certain aspects of your music promotion efforts that should be outsourced. Imagine what your social media timeline will look like after spending hours in the studio perfecting your music or trying to work on a new beat.
While you should be involved in your music promotion, know when to step back a bit. For as low as $10, you’ll find social media managers on Fiverr, Upwork, and other freelance marketplaces. Please make use of their expertise without committing enormous resources.
4. Focus on Building Super Fans
Rather than having your eyes on building yourself into a superstar, let your attention be on building superfans. Yes, your music promotion’s big picture is to become a household, but this can be easier if you focus on your superfans rather than yourself.
If you have only 1000 die-hard loyal fans for a start, the number is bound to multiple into hundreds of thousands within a short while. We are saying it is simple: channel your music promotion effort on establishing a relationship with your superfans.
5. Market Your Music To Other Artists and Producers
In winning over your audience, consider artists also as they will be part of your first listeners. Ensure your marketing strategies also appeals to artists and producers. Since you make music and make music, it makes sense for them to see the art you are creating.
We are talking about artists and producers outside your circle of friends and influence. You will be turning these people into your fans while opening up doors of collaboration and partnership.
6. Don’t Leave Everything To Your Manager
This happens to a lot of artists, and it’s often the beginning of an end. Yes, we are the one that suggested you get help at a point. But that should not translate into leaving your manager totally in charge of your music promotion.
Don’t leave music marketing to focus on making beautiful music because you have a manager or a marketing team in place. That’s even the best time to get involved in music promotion.
Final Thoughts
That’s it for you, six ideas to completely revamp your music promotion efforts. You need to have a change of approach to your music marketing. Then you’ll start to see different results.
What we tried to achieve with this article is to open your eyes and minds to the countless possibilities available to you.
