Life as an independent artist comes with its peculiar challenges. It can be hard to thrive in the creative industry if you lack the connections and resources. You may have the talent but it’s hard to get discovered if you don’t have the money. That’s why you need to learn how to create a brand and manage it.
As an independent musician, you may have to do things on your own. Since you’re not signed with a major music label, you won’t have people to help you produce, market, and advertise your music.
But what does the future look like for independent musicians? Do you stand a chance against all the major labels? Join us as we look at various strategies for promoting yourself as an independent musician.
Music Promotion is the Way to Secure Your Future
The competition for autonomous artists is fierce as thousands of songs are uploaded to music streaming services daily. Spotify alone receives at least forty thousand songs each day.
What this means is that you need to promote your music to be able to survive the competition. Independent artists have to take up the responsibility of promoting their own music.
Here are some of the steps to take to ensure that you have a chance against major labels.
Get Playlisted on Streaming Platforms
Reach audiences of up to billions of music lovers across the world by using platforms like Spotify, Pandora, YouTube music tidal, etc. They are some of the best places to promote music and reach a sizeable audience.
Getting playlisted on a well-visited playlist will get you a lot of streams. That translates to popularity, fans accruing, and a lot of money from royalties. So finding placements on algorithm-created playlists should be a top priority. It will help grow your fanbase whenever you drop your new music.
Create a Website and Get a Mail List
Getting a beautiful website can do wonders for you as an independent artist. It makes you accessible to potential fans and investors. Your website should contain links to your songs and pictures.
But most importantly, it should have a sign-up form. This way, you can get the emails of people interested in your art. Then, you can inbox your music promotions to your target audiences. Doing this makes you seem even closer to your potential fans.
Maximize Social Media Influence
The most used strategy by independent musicians is social media promotions. Establishing a presence on social media platforms is very important. In fact, it’s your best bet to take part in the multi-million dollar industry today. Keep in mind that being consistent with social media posts is vital to growing your profile.
It makes it simpler for music lovers to find you. Aside from that, you can quickly update your fans about your activities like an upcoming concert or a new song.
Making your song viral on platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat can greatly benefit your art. This can make you a star faster than you think.
There are several resources available on social media for an artist. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are potent platforms for promotions. They help you create and keep a loyal fan base.
Get Connections and Coverage With Blogs and the Press
Get yourself featured in popular music publications, blogs, and magazines. This will increase your traffic. It will also give you platforms to take your art higher. Ensure that you find help in reaching out to bloggers. You can also reach out to media people.
Make Videos to Go With Your Tracks
Sometimes it’ll take an attractive original video for your song to become a mega-hit. Make sure to use creative ideas. Such videos can go viral and spark interactions which will, in turn, become a great long-term investment for you.
You can try something thrilling or opt for comedy as you see fit. All that matters is that your video should be unique.
Giving your time, dedication, thought, and resources could reap bountiful rewards. Make sure you promote your videos on Tiktok and YouTube. Again, use other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Go Live
Try to book a spot on popular shows as you plan tours and concerts. Going live will put you in the spotlight and that’s an old but golden step to building local fan bases. Sometimes, what you need is a little bit of local success to be able to push your music to mainstream media. So make sure your performances are memorable.
After local success, you can start expanding your reach. Soon, you’ll have fans around the world. Then, you can start international music tours when you have enough fans worldwide. It isn’t easy, but it will always be worth it if all plays out well.
Carve a Niche and Focus on a Target Audience
The world’s myriad diverse cultures are breathtaking. Yet, if you make music based on the culture of the people you want to reach, they’re more likely to respond positively. You don’t need to make music to cater to all tastes.
As an R&B artist, for instance, you should structure your music for R&B communities. If possible, perform in their community. That will help to win their hearts. The same thing should apply whether you are a hip-hop artist, an aspiring rock star, or a pop singer.
Most importantly, make sure you’re not overstretching to carve a niche. It should be a thriving music subculture that you know your style can fit in.
Get a Team Behind You
A lot of independent artists might like the idea of working alone. However, having people to help you can do good to your music. Include friends who are willing to help at no cost. Surround yourself with influential and connected individuals. They can take your music to the next level.
The most un-negotiable part is that you must hire professionals in PR for your marketing team. They have the experience and network to give you an advantage in the industry. It’s not something you want to leave to guesswork.
Conclusion
Being an independent musician can be a big challenge. On top of producing, recording, and writing your own music, you’ll have to market and advertise it. You also have to come up with your own branding and make sure that you interact with your fans every once in a while.
With the resources and tips listed in this article, you now have all you need to promote your music effectively. However, remember that you don’t have all the time in the world to secure your future. So, take the proper steps to the future you want for yourself!