Congratulations! You got your music released. Whether it’s your very first time or you’re you have a long list of releases, there are some things you should do following your release to promote it.
Marketing Your Newly Released Music
Even big-name bands market their new music because otherwise, their listeners don’t know it’s out there. Marketing is equally, if not more, important when you are just starting out and are trying to get your name and music out there. With a little help, your music will do great things, just as you’ve dreamed it would.
These promo tips will help your new music gain exposure:
- Get it together! Literally speaking, get your music together so you can distribute it across the platforms of your choice. Spotify, Facebook, and tons of other streaming programs are ideal for the cause. Each have specific instructions and rules so adhere to the policies, so you don’t get banned from the site before you even get started. There are certain algorithms to pay attention to. The more you research into how they work across the platform or platforms you are using, the better results you will have.
- Creativity counts. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Spotify offer great opportunities to get your creative juices flowing. Banners are welcome on many social sites. Visuals can be included on YouTube and other platforms. Facebook shorts (Facebook Reels) and YouTube are excellent ways to show off your music with video as well. Be sure to link viewers to your website and/or any other pages where your music is available for purchase. If you are not a great graphic artist, hire someone who is and the same holds true for video creation. These days, music isn’t just about music. It is multi-dimensional. Your views expect those extra details and by including them, your music will reach more listeners and will be better accepted by them.
- Set up playlist. After your music has been distributed, you can submit it to playlists on various platforms such as Spotify. Beforehand, you may want to create your dashboard and have it in working order A week or two prior to release, you can begin to post pre-release teasers letting your fans and followers know your music is about to be out and after it is out, you can follow up with reminders that it is available. You will need to research the requirement details of all platforms you submit to so you do it properly.
- Update your “About” and any bios you have to reflect the new music. You may want to notify the press about your new release. You can also self-publish press releases about your new music on multiple sites you’ll find online. Be sure to follow the instructions down to the letter. If you are not a writer, you can hire a freelancer for a reasonable price.
- Your pick. Although your new release will automatically be placed on the top of your profile on Spotify for Artists, you can also select your new music as your “artist pick” which will give it even more exposure. On YouTube, you can set your music up as a channel preview/trailer. You will find detailed instructions that will tell you how to do it or if you have a marketing manager for your music, he or she will make sure it’s done for you.
- Get the word out. Use all your resources to get the word out that you have new music! Shout it from the rooftop. The press, your publicist, your friends, fans, and followers should all be doing their part to spread the word too so encourage them to do so. You may feel like it’s being haughty or conceited. But it’s not. Having a new release out is a huge accomplishment and you deserve to have a little bragging right.
- Be excited. Excitement is contagious. If you are excited about your accomplishment and let it show, you’ll be beaming at the grocery store and the cashier will ask what your so happy about. Tell her! When you take a cab and the driver asks why you’re in such a good mood – tell him! Your excitement is an amazing form of advertising, and you’ll ignite enthusiasm in all those around you too.
Marketing Matters
If you don’t market your new release, no one will know it exists. It’s that simple. The seven steps above are the most essential steps to take when your music comes out but they are by far not the only things you can do to get it out there in front of your listeners. Get creative. Anything and everything you can think of that gets your music noticed is beneficial to the outcome of your new release so…go for it.
Marketing your music after it comes out isn’t for everyone. You may sing like an angel or play guitar like the devil, but your writing skills may be less than heavenly. That’s why many musicians hire outsourced professionals to tend to all the ins and outs of marketing.
A music marketing manager’s job is to promote your music. They go through the process of helping raise awareness about your music – especially when a new release comes out. The nice thing about having a professional music marketer is that you don’t have to worry about getting on each platform and reading the requirements then properly placing your music on perfectly to ensure you don’t get ousted from the site. Nor do you have to write up news flashes, create artistic banners, or notify viewers about your most recent release. e Your music marketer will do those things for you.
Regardless of whether you do the work yourself or hire a music marketing manager to do it for you, be sure to take the seven suggestions above to heart when you have a new release so that your chances of getting heard are greatly increased.