Promote Your Music On These 3 Platforms
Did you know that every musician or band can benefit from having a music website? While there are many platforms for promoting music, having a space that you own and manage where you can highlight your style will give you a stronger online presence. You can a website easily on Wix, which provides tools to post music and videos, as well as to sell your merch through an online store.
Having a music website also makes it easy to get fans to join a mailing list, which is the most effective way to keep your project top of mind. Without your own online platform, potential fans may not know where to look next when they hear a song of yours they like.
After you’ve worked on your online presence, promoting your music through music platforms becomes more effective, as fans have a space to find out more about you. Let’s take a look at the best platforms for independent music promotion.
The challenges for independent musicians
It has never been easier for independent musicians to publish and promote their music from a technical standpoint. The availability of affordable home recording equipment, as well as the prevalence of streaming platforms, makes it possible for just about anyone to get their music out there. Unfortunately, this also means that the music world is saturated and standing out is difficult.
Furthermore, while you don’t need a label to produce great music or find fans, you do need a third party to get your music on the major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. There are now a wealth of companies offering to do just that, and many of them make most of their profit from musicians who just want their music out there and don’t know what they’re getting into.
If you really want your music on those platforms, do thorough research before paying a company to publish it for you. However, the truth is that most independent musicians gain nothing from being on major streaming platforms. In terms of financial success, you need millions of listens to make a liveable income. Only a tiny percentage (probably far less than 1%) of artists who publish music on a platform like Spotify achieve this.
Yes, streaming platforms give us access to far more artists. But most listeners stick with what’s popular.
Independent musicians looking to build their fanbase are unlikely to do so on these platforms. The good news is that there are a number of platforms which are ideal for indie artists.
Here are the top 3.
1. Bandcamp
As a musician, you should already be using Bandcamp to support other musicians. The much-celebrated platform allows you to set the price for your songs and albums, and has a community of people willing to pay for music they value. Throughout the pandemic, Bandcamp has allocated the first Friday of every month as a promo day on which all profits go to the artists and the platform forgoes its commission.
Bandcamp is incredibly easy to use and does not require a middleman. If you become part of the Bandcamp community, you can speak to other artists, share your appreciation of each others’ music, and steadily grow a strong fanbase. Even if you don’t make much money through the platform, you will get a following that sticks around.
2. SoundCloud
SoundCloud has long been considered a playground for anyone who wants to make music, whether on an amateur or professional level. The simplicity with which you can upload music makes it ideal for people trying things out, be it demos or the polished final product.
You can become very successful on SoundCloud. Lil Nas X originally released “Old Town Road” there. However, their profit sharing model is far from perfect and only a small percentage of users pay for their premium service. In other words, it is unlikely to make you an income, but you can join a community of musicians who support each other with feedback and encouragement, as well as building a reasonable following.
3. YouTube
YouTube is a great platform for promoting your music, not because it’s easy to get views or to find a community (as with other platforms), but because it gives you the ability to release your music as you wish with added artistic value.
Posting your music with even a simple lyric video is a good move because visual platforms are on the rise. On apps like Instagram, sharing music is difficult if it’s only audio. Having a video to promote gives you the opportunity to post screenshots linking to the video, share some of the video on your story, or even to share the whole video on IGTV.
YouTube is also a platform that encourages engagement, and it is easier to get comments on your music than almost anywhere else. In terms of making money, YouTube is unlikely to become a worthwhile income stream, but it can pull people to your Bandcamp page where they can support you if they fall in love with your songs.
Making money as an independent musician is tough, but building a steady presence online is possible, and you can find a rabid fanbase by using the 3 platforms above.
