How to Get Your Music Heard By Promoting Independently

Are you trying to figure out how to get your music heard? Read this article to learn effective methods of independent promotion.

The woes of the struggling artist are real!

You’ve spent months working on the tracks. You’ve poured your heart, soul, and time into them, and now… nothing! It’s a killer of an anti-climax.

You believe in your music, and the few people who have heard it believe in your music, but how do you take the next step?

Let’s take a look at how to get your music heard when you don’t have the luxury of being signed to a label.

Distribution

First up, you need to get your music into as many places as you can. Fortunately, there are companies that will do this for you.

Some charge a one-time fee, some charge annually and some will take a percentage of your royalties.

Most of these distribution companies, such as RouteNote, Distrokid, and CD Baby will cover all of the major platforms including iTunes, Spotify, and GooglePlay.

Social Presence

Building an image for yourself can take some time, but it is worth it.

You can increase your social presence by taking advantage of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and other platforms.

Website & Mailing List

A quality website is a must. Your website is the portal to all of your other social profiles. It’s also the place where people can find and buy your music.

Create a mailing list and make sure your fans can sign up to it easily. Once a fan gives you their email address, you know that they’re interested in what you’re doing.

A direct message to their inbox is more likely to reach them than social media posts.

The Old Fashioned Way

Yes, we live in the era of internet and social media, but good old fashioned ‘getting out there and flyer dropping’ is still successful.

Put some promotional brochure ideas together, get them printed, and then hit the streets. It gives you the unique opportunity to really sell your music on a one-to-one basis.

Playlists

One of the best ways to get your music heard is to get it featured on a playlist.

Spotify has over 4,000 curated playlists and between them, they generate over one billion streams each week.

Getting a track on a popular playlist can literally translate to thousands of new listeners.

Music Blogs

Getting yourself mentioned in a popular music blog can help boost interest.

It’s best to contact blogs prior to the releasing of new material, otherwise its a bit like printing old news for them.

Gigs

Playing live is a great way to build a fan base. It gives you the opportunity to really showcase what you and your music are about.

Put a press kit together and start to contact venues yourself or find a promoter.

When you get the gigs make sure you have a way that people can find you easily online.

Now You Know How To Get Your Music Heard

Go out and get it heard!

It will take time. Very few musical success stories happened over-night. Keep sending your music out, keep working on new material, and stay focussed.

Knowing how to get your music heard is just the beginning, the rest is diligence

For more tips on how to progress as an artist, check out the rest of our site.