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How do I promote my music on a budget?
I just started taking my music journey seriously and would like to know how to promote the songs that I'm about to release. I don't have a music mentor or manager. I am going to college to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Audio Recording. I think my music is worth risking a couple coins on but I'm also trying to save for college and don't want to spend too much. #music #music-production #music-industry #singer #musician
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5 answers
Updated
Adrienne’s Answer
Hi,
First, if you aren't already, make sure you're getting royalties for the distribution/plays of your music! Make sure you're signed up for a PRO (like BMI or ASCAP) to collect publishing royalties.
And then CDBaby or Distrokid are great options for distribution (and royalty collection) onto streaming platforms. They will set you up to be available on Tidal/Pandora/Spotify/Apple Music, etc. so you are search-able and also get paid for those plays.
The world of royalty-collection is complicated, but I wouldn't suggest getting your music out there until you've set this up:
https://aristake.com/what-is-soundexchange-ascap-bmi-pros-hfa-mechanicals-and-how-to-get-all-your-royalties
From there, here are some inexpensive ways to share your music:
- Send links to your friends/family/music network
- Find college/local radio stations in your area to play
- Go to local open mics and play live and/or network and share your music
- Start social profiles specific to your music and share updates, lyrics, videos, etc.; Always link back to your song catalog so people can hear more! Interact with fans and try to get them to share with their network
- TikTok!! That has blown up as a music discovery platform
- Music videos to get YouTube plays
- Submit your song to Spotify Playlists (https://dittomusic.com/en/blog/how-to-submit-music-to-spotify-playlists-directly/). It's a long shot but could have a BIG upside
Hope this helps!
First, if you aren't already, make sure you're getting royalties for the distribution/plays of your music! Make sure you're signed up for a PRO (like BMI or ASCAP) to collect publishing royalties.
And then CDBaby or Distrokid are great options for distribution (and royalty collection) onto streaming platforms. They will set you up to be available on Tidal/Pandora/Spotify/Apple Music, etc. so you are search-able and also get paid for those plays.
The world of royalty-collection is complicated, but I wouldn't suggest getting your music out there until you've set this up:
https://aristake.com/what-is-soundexchange-ascap-bmi-pros-hfa-mechanicals-and-how-to-get-all-your-royalties
From there, here are some inexpensive ways to share your music:
- Send links to your friends/family/music network
- Find college/local radio stations in your area to play
- Go to local open mics and play live and/or network and share your music
- Start social profiles specific to your music and share updates, lyrics, videos, etc.; Always link back to your song catalog so people can hear more! Interact with fans and try to get them to share with their network
- TikTok!! That has blown up as a music discovery platform
- Music videos to get YouTube plays
- Submit your song to Spotify Playlists (https://dittomusic.com/en/blog/how-to-submit-music-to-spotify-playlists-directly/). It's a long shot but could have a BIG upside
Hope this helps!
Wow! Thank you so much for this informative suggestion. I never really thought of royalties and was hoping I didn't have to worry about them until I got a big bigger but I think I'll start looking into them and educate myself. I'll definitely use all of your tips and try my best to stay consistent. Thank you!
Naomi
Updated
Mark’s Answer
Facebook allows you to target very small segment and also allows you to spend a small fixed amount advertising impressions. You can also sign up for ReverbNation. Hope this helps.
Mark
Mark
Judeanne Armenti
Over 20 years of creative and outgoing music industry and event management expertise.
28
Answers
Updated
Judeanne’s Answer
Congratulations! This is a great decision.
Without knowing the genre of your music or what your goals in promoting are, I'm going to be a little generic.
As Mr. Stevens suggested, Reverb Nation is an option. I am partial to drooble.com. SoundCloud and Bandcamp are also options. Those websites will allow you to share your music.
Create accounts there and get a feel for the music and the community already established there. See how comfortable you are with how it works before sharing your music. I'd wait to see which feels most comfortable to you before posting your music.
To revisit my question about your goals... since you're studying engineering, you can use those sites to meet other musicians who may need to use your engineering skills. The music business is all - ALL - about who you know. Build a network of musicians and professionals as you go through this process. Your network will expand and contract, as time moves forward, for various reasons. Always keep your eyes, ears, and arms open to new connections and opportunities. Be cautious when you decide on a mentor and especially if you look for a manager. (We can discuss that anytime you'd like.)
Concentrate on your music and meeting and working with other musicians. The learning and growth you get with your peers are irreplaceable. Enjoy it.
I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have on your journey.
All the best!
Judeanne
Without knowing the genre of your music or what your goals in promoting are, I'm going to be a little generic.
As Mr. Stevens suggested, Reverb Nation is an option. I am partial to drooble.com. SoundCloud and Bandcamp are also options. Those websites will allow you to share your music.
Create accounts there and get a feel for the music and the community already established there. See how comfortable you are with how it works before sharing your music. I'd wait to see which feels most comfortable to you before posting your music.
To revisit my question about your goals... since you're studying engineering, you can use those sites to meet other musicians who may need to use your engineering skills. The music business is all - ALL - about who you know. Build a network of musicians and professionals as you go through this process. Your network will expand and contract, as time moves forward, for various reasons. Always keep your eyes, ears, and arms open to new connections and opportunities. Be cautious when you decide on a mentor and especially if you look for a manager. (We can discuss that anytime you'd like.)
Concentrate on your music and meeting and working with other musicians. The learning and growth you get with your peers are irreplaceable. Enjoy it.
I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have on your journey.
All the best!
Judeanne
Thank you so much Judeanne. I'll definitely look into these sites and hopefully meet artists that I can connect with. If I have another question I'll be sure to ask!
Naomi
Updated
Mariana’s Answer
Hey, Naomi!
I am also a musician and in my experience, instagram has shown to be the best tool to reach people - worldwide!
Since you are still developing your project and that you think it is worth-spendig, I advise you to invest on Instagram Reels, so your music can be delivered to as many people as possible, also invest on your profile, make it interesting and personal as well, you can promote your posts with a few dollars and it can bring a lot of listeners to it!
Another alternative is to link with other musicians, who already have their public, so he/she can recommend you to others!
Those were the things that worked for me, I hope it helps you too!
I am also a musician and in my experience, instagram has shown to be the best tool to reach people - worldwide!
Since you are still developing your project and that you think it is worth-spendig, I advise you to invest on Instagram Reels, so your music can be delivered to as many people as possible, also invest on your profile, make it interesting and personal as well, you can promote your posts with a few dollars and it can bring a lot of listeners to it!
Another alternative is to link with other musicians, who already have their public, so he/she can recommend you to others!
Those were the things that worked for me, I hope it helps you too!
Thank you Mariana! I have been uploading Instagram reels but I do need to post more! I'll also try to socialize with more musicians on campus so we could hopefully work together.
Naomi
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6182
Answers
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hi there, Naomi!
You know, you can absolutely make a splash with your music, even on a budget! There's a whole bunch of clever tactics you can use to get your tunes heard without spending a fortune. Here are some wallet-friendly ways to get your music out there:
Social Media Magic: Why not use social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to spread the word about your music? Post fun content, share sneak peeks of your songs, behind-the-scenes clips, and chat with your followers. This kind of interaction can help you build a strong fan base and get your music noticed.
Team Up with Other Artists: Joining forces with other musicians or producers can be a fantastic way to reach more people and share your fan bases. Look for artists who vibe with your style or have a similar audience, and consider teaming up on tracks or songwriting.
Free Streaming Sites: Make the most of free streaming platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, and Bandcamp to share and promote your music. These sites let you upload your music for free and reach listeners all over the world. Regularly releasing new music here can help you attract more fans.
Get Your Music on Blogs and Playlists: Look for online blogs, music websites, and playlists that feature indie artists and submit your music. Being featured on popular music blogs or playlists can really boost your profile in the music world.
Live Gigs: While you might need to invest a bit in equipment, performing live at local spots, open mic nights, or small gigs can be a powerful way to show off your talent and connect with potential fans.
Email Marketing: Start building an email list of fans and followers so you can keep them in the loop about new releases, upcoming gigs, and other news. There are free or cheap email marketing tools out there that can help you manage your email campaigns.
DIY PR and Networking: Spend some time reaching out to local media, radio stations, and music bloggers to pitch your music. Networking in your local music scene can also lead to opportunities for collaborations, gigs, and more exposure.
Create Eye-Catching Visual Content: In the digital world, visual content is key to grabbing people's attention. Make visually exciting content like lyric videos, live gig videos, or even homemade music videos to go with your songs.
Remember, the secret to promoting your music is to stay consistent. Keep engaging with your audience, keep creating top-notch content, and keep looking for opportunities for exposure.
Here are the top 3 authoritative reference publications:
- Billboard - www.billboard.com
- Rolling Stone - www.rollingstone.com
- Hypebot - www.hypebot.com
May your efforts be showered with blessings!
Cheers,
James.
You know, you can absolutely make a splash with your music, even on a budget! There's a whole bunch of clever tactics you can use to get your tunes heard without spending a fortune. Here are some wallet-friendly ways to get your music out there:
Social Media Magic: Why not use social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to spread the word about your music? Post fun content, share sneak peeks of your songs, behind-the-scenes clips, and chat with your followers. This kind of interaction can help you build a strong fan base and get your music noticed.
Team Up with Other Artists: Joining forces with other musicians or producers can be a fantastic way to reach more people and share your fan bases. Look for artists who vibe with your style or have a similar audience, and consider teaming up on tracks or songwriting.
Free Streaming Sites: Make the most of free streaming platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, and Bandcamp to share and promote your music. These sites let you upload your music for free and reach listeners all over the world. Regularly releasing new music here can help you attract more fans.
Get Your Music on Blogs and Playlists: Look for online blogs, music websites, and playlists that feature indie artists and submit your music. Being featured on popular music blogs or playlists can really boost your profile in the music world.
Live Gigs: While you might need to invest a bit in equipment, performing live at local spots, open mic nights, or small gigs can be a powerful way to show off your talent and connect with potential fans.
Email Marketing: Start building an email list of fans and followers so you can keep them in the loop about new releases, upcoming gigs, and other news. There are free or cheap email marketing tools out there that can help you manage your email campaigns.
DIY PR and Networking: Spend some time reaching out to local media, radio stations, and music bloggers to pitch your music. Networking in your local music scene can also lead to opportunities for collaborations, gigs, and more exposure.
Create Eye-Catching Visual Content: In the digital world, visual content is key to grabbing people's attention. Make visually exciting content like lyric videos, live gig videos, or even homemade music videos to go with your songs.
Remember, the secret to promoting your music is to stay consistent. Keep engaging with your audience, keep creating top-notch content, and keep looking for opportunities for exposure.
Here are the top 3 authoritative reference publications:
- Billboard - www.billboard.com
- Rolling Stone - www.rollingstone.com
- Hypebot - www.hypebot.com
May your efforts be showered with blessings!
Cheers,
James.