Releasing new music into the world can be an exciting yet daunting task for musicians and artists. You’ve spent countless hours perfecting your songs and crafting an album or EP you’re proud of. But now comes the hard part – getting your music heard by fans.
In today’s oversaturated music landscape, simply uploading your songs to streaming platforms is no longer enough. You need a strategic plan to cut through the noise and stand out. This article will walk you through 5 game-changing tactics to effectively promote your music.
Implementing even just a few of these music promotion tactics can help you gain more listeners, build your fanbase, and propel your music career to new heights this year. Let’s get started!
1. Leverage TikTok to Reach New Fans
If you want access to millions of potential new listeners, you need to be on TikTok music promotion tactics. The insanely popular short-form video app has become a launchpad for breaking new artists and turning songs into viral hits.
Here are 3 tips to maximize your success on TikTok:
- Create An Account. This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many artists still don’t have a presence on TikTok. Set up a profile using the same username as your other socials.
- Upload Your Music. TikTok recently enabled users to directly upload their songs. This makes it easy for fans to use your music in their own videos, expanding your reach.
- Make Your Own Content. Short, entertaining TikTok videos featuring your music can help gain new followers. And if just one goes viral, it can expose your music to a massive audience.
The key is consistency. Aim to post TikTok content multiple times per week to build momentum over time. Leveraging trending sounds and hashtags can also give your videos a boost.
2. Repurpose Content for Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels offers similar opportunities for musicians as TikTok. This TikTok competitor also rewards captivating short-form video content.
You can take videos originally created for TikTok and repurpose them for Instagram Reels. Just download your TikTok videos without the watermark first before reposting.
Creating Reels specifically for Instagram is great too. Use the same strategies from TikTok – participate in trends, use captions, employ sounds and effects.
Posting Instagram Reels consistently will help more users discover your music. And any videos that go viral will bring a flood of new fans your way.
3. Capitalize on YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts is a newer platform but it’s quickly gaining steam. The YouTube algorithm is already prioritizing Shorts by putting them in search results and recommendations.
YouTube confirmed that Shorts receive greater reach than regular videos right now. So it’s the ideal time to start using Shorts as another music promotion avenue.
Repost TikTok and Instagram Reels videos as YouTube Shorts. And create Shorts optimized specifically for YouTube. Take advantage of this opportunity while Shorts engagement is high.
Spreading your content across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts will ensure maximum exposure. Use each platform to reach new fans.
4. Harvest Audiences Via Live Streams
Live streaming represents an underutilized music promotion tactic with huge potential. Broadcasting live on social platforms lets you engage directly with listeners in real time.
You can incentivize viewers to take a specific action, like signing up for your email list. Here are some tips for effective audience harvesting via live streams:
- Pick A Platform. Choose the social platform where you have the largest following. This is where your live stream will get the most eyes.
- Create A Clear Call To Action. For example, have viewers sign up for your email newsletter via the link in your bio.
- Reward Viewers Who Act. When someone follows your call to action, thank them personally and offer an incentive like a song download.
- Track Actions On Another Device. So you can monitor who signs up and reward them instantly during the live stream.
Live stream audience harvesting takes some effort but pays off tremendously. You build an email subscriber list to market to directly later.
5. Schedule Content Far In Advance
One of the biggest music promotion mistakes is not planning enough content in advance. You need to schedule social media posts weeks or months ahead of your release date.
Here are some benefits of content scheduling:
- Creates More Content. Schedule blocks of time for batch content creation. Carve out chunks of time to make multiple posts at once.
- Reuse Top Content. Repurpose your best performing content across platforms. Give your top content as many chances as possible to reach users.
- Stay Consistent After Release. Schedule posts over the course of months to keep your music circulating on social media after its release.
Having a bank of scheduled content takes the pressure off so you can focus on other release tasks. It also ensures you stay active on social media to keep your music in front of fans.
Conclusion
Promoting music today requires diligence, creativity, and a willingness to leverage new platforms. Use this article as your guide to music promotion tactics that deliver real results.
Which of these 5 tactics resonates most with you? Try implementing several of them in the coming months as you release your newest music. Consistently put these music promotion tips into practice to grow your fanbase and take your music career to the next level.