How to Get Your Music Heard: 7 ways to Get Your Music Out There
If you're a musician who wants your music heard by others, then you've probably had that experience where you play a gig or send out a song and don't get much response. It can be discouraging!
But fear not: there are plenty of ways to get your music out there without spending a ton of money. In fact, some of them are downright low-tech and simple. Let's explore seven ways to get your music heard.
Create a brand
Establishing a brand is the first step to getting your music heard. A brand can be anything from an artist name a logo, or even just an image. A good brand will be unique and memorable and help you stand out from other artists in your genre.
When establishing your brand, use it across all platforms. When you're creating content (such as videos) for social media, make sure that they convey what's unique about your music while still being consistent with the style of the rest of your channel. This will make people associate those elements with each other and create familiarity with them over time.
Be active on in social media
Social media is one of the best ways to get your name out there and attract new fans. If you're at all serious about making a career in music, it's important to understand how social media works and use it consistently.
Right now, labels aren't spending as much on marketing as they used to; therefore, it's up to artists like you to find out how you can promote your music on your own dime. The good news is that there are many resources available online that allow you to do just this!
Make a mailing list
An email list consists of all the people who are interested in what you have to offer and want to be updated when new content is posted. It’s basically a way for you to connect with your fans from one platform, rather than having them spread throughout many different social media channels and websites.
Create incentives for joining the list such as freebies or discounts, which will encourage more people sign up and follow along with your journey as a musician, producer, songwriter or artist.
Produce a demo
A demo is an essential tool in the musician's arsenal, because it allows you to get your music out there and on people's ears. Once you've developed a track that you're really proud of, consider recording it at home with a computer and some basic equipment.
Then send it off to various venues and publications that cover local music scenes (such as newspapers or magazines) asking them if they would like to air the song as part of their programming.
If they say yes, then congratulations! Your song will be played on radio stations across town—you'll become known for producing great music, and other opportunities may open up because of this exposure.
Conduct outreach for promotion
Promotional outreach involves getting your music out there in a way that is not forced. The best way to do this is to connect with people who are already fans of your music. You can do this by giving them a reason to listen to your music.
This could be anything from offering free downloads, discounts for other products and services, or simply creating a new song or video that is good enough to get people talking about it.
For instance, releasing an EP with four songs would be preferable than releasing one song at a time because it gives fans more time to listen to what you have produced and gives them motivation (via social media) to support you at the beginning, before further work has been done.
Perform live shows
Gigs create a network of other musicians in your local scene as well as a base of support. You might get the chance to open for bigger touring bands when they come to your region, which will help you grow your local fan base.
Playing the same city every weekend is not in your best advantage; instead, expand to the nearby places and regions. You can arrange a gig for a band from another region in exchange for them doing the same for you in your community.
Network!
These days, networking might take place in one of two ways, both of which are crucial:
- You can connect with people in person, as was already indicated, and this is always recommended. Make time to attend conferences, concerts, events, and festivals.
- Social networking may help you network with influential figures in the music business, especially individuals you might not otherwise have the chance to meet. Visit their profiles on Twitter and Instagram (but not Facebook—too that's personal), follow them, and start interacting with them.
Conclusion
As we've seen, getting your music out there takes time and dedication. If you're willing to put in the work, though, you can promote yourself in ways that will engage potential listeners and get them excited about your music.
There are numerous ways to market your songs and spread the word about your music, including streaming, touring, licensing, and more. Above all, writing excellent music is the best method to get your tunes heard.
To get your music heard you can also get help from Calypsoroom, which will give you a direct and personal way for interacting with your fans by participating in a video music session with them.
Are you a musician interested in posting some of your music on Calypsoroom? Express your interest through this form.
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Written by CalypsoRoom Editorial Team
The CalypsoRoom Editorial Team is a skilled and diverse group of writers, researchers, and industry specialists who have access to Calypso's data and information in order to give you broad knowledge about the music industry as well as helpful advice to help you manage your music and dancing career.
Updated January 2023
