How to Promote Your Music

Independent music artists do not always have the same access to financial resources as chart-topping artists working with major music labels.

However, in today’s fast-paced modern world, getting their music out there and heard by fans is much easier than before. So we’ve put together a short guide (with external links offering more in-depth information) to help you promote your music to the broadest possible audience.

How To Promote Your Music on Your Own

Getting your music out there will take some time and effort, but the key to success is to be consistent and keep going. We know this sounds cliché, but unfortunately, nothing comes without hard work.

Those chart-topping artists you admire work hard, and they have teams who help them achieve their goals behind the scenes. As an independent artist, you will be your team which gives you control over your artistic processes and how and where you want your music to be heard.

So let’s look at the ways you can promote your music.

Create Good Music 

Obviously, without music, you won’t have anything to promote. To promote yourself, you have to start with something—your music.

Music that doesn’t offer listeners something won’t get you anywhere. You’ll be nothing without compelling songs with something to say or give listeners something to relate to.

Mix and master your tracks to the best possible standard to show fans you are committed to your craft as a musician. Your fans will show their commitment to you through listening, legally sharing, and introducing new people to your music.

Give your fans honest, relatable music, and you’ll be rewarded with a solid following and fanbase.

Create an Online Presence 

The future is digital and happening all around us. With your music polished and ready to promote, there are a few ways you can create awareness about your music and promote it to fans—current and future.

Streaming Platforms

Almost everyone uses some streaming platform or service to access their music. Platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal are all available to you.

In addition, YouTube is excellent for releasing your music videos. Each own has its unique factors you need to tweak to find success, but they also have a few things in common:

• You must claim your artist profile and fill out the details and descriptions. If you are stuck with the biography, hire a freelance copywriter through a site such as Upwork. First impressions are lasting impressions.
• To have your music hosted on a streaming platform, you’ll need to invest in a distribution service provider—LANDR Distribution is an excellent option with various plans.

Social Media

Developing and maintaining your social media presence is vital in drawing in fans. Consistency is key.

Your presence on social media providers such as Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram should provide fans with exciting posts and engaging content. Try your best to keep your profile names and handles consistent so potential fans can always find you.

Written Coverage

If you don’t have the funds to hire a professional PR executive to handle your media coverage, you can always opt for a DIY approach. If you battle with writing, hire someone to help you.

Placements on blogs and webzines are a great way to build hype about your music and promote yourself. You also must go about it the right way and reach out courteously. Some of the ways you can do this include:

• Create an electronic press kit (EPK) filled with your promotional material. You’ll include your artist bio, contact information, upcoming gigs, social media presences, press releases, or write-ups about your music. The EPK provides the media, producers, record labels, venues, and agents with everything they need to know about you.
• Music blogs are a necessary tool for any musician—they are often the tastemakers. Die-hard music fans curate these blogs, and die-hard fans love them because they provide the freshest and best information directly from the source.

Reaching out can be intimidating, but here’s a guide to help you do it right the first time.

Play Gigs

It might seem like a no-brainer, but if you’re not out there performing your music, how will people know about you?

In the post-Covid-19 era booking a gig might be a bit more complicated, but gigs offer you a way to get your music out there and in the ears of fans. Start with local gigs at nearby venues and build your following from there.

Then, depending on the type of music you’re into and making, offer your services for parties and wedding receptions, play gigs at local pubs, and participate in promotional open mic nights.

A superb live show is worth all the effort and rehearsals that precede it. Never stop believing in your dreams!

Copyright Your Music

We’ve all heard and seen the odd copyright suit making the headlines, and it can be devastating for you as a musician when a judge rules against you. When you write or compose a song, it is yours, and you own the copyright.

However, if someone broke into your studio and stole your music and copyrighted it with a copyright office, you’ll be out in the cold (and out of business).

We cannot stress enough that you must register your music with the copyright offices!

Music-specific copyright laws have changed in 2020 since the introduction of the Music Modernization Act of 2020 in the USA—make sure you read about it, understand its implications, and how it influences your royalties.

Conclusion 

We’ve tried to cover various topics here to help you promote your music. The key to promoting your music is consistency—if fans don’t hear your music, they’ll move on to another artist.

One of the biggest tips we can give you is to be honest with yourself and your expectations, set goals for yourself, and never give up. There are always listeners waiting to listen to exciting new music like yours.