So, you’ve chosen a DAW, honed your skills, and have even been posting to social media regularly. What are you missing?
Getting your music heard by real people of course!
The music industry has shifted dramatically. Hit records are not exclusive only to bands that have labels that provide access to half-a-million-dollar recording studios. Now, a kid with a laptop and headphones can create a track, gain a social following – and next week – be touring the world. Just ask Martin Garrix.
The release process has changed as well: methodically distributing commercial music to major retailers via mail has transformed into self-released music available to download in seconds from anywhere in the world.
And marketing follows suit: relying on corporate agencies to distribute your music as they see fit no longer applies to the self-driven home producers of today’s independent music scene.
How will you get your music heard?
Now it’s up to you to get your music heard. You’re triumphant in your craft, but surrounded by millions of other artists fighting for attention.
Here are three expert tips on how to get your music heard on social media.
1. Facebook Ads Targeted At Your Niche Genre
Impractical: Post to Facebook about your new music to thousands of followers who may not be interested.
Practical: Use the power of finely-tuned and laser-targeted Facebook ads to send your message to people who have an interest in the exact genre of music you create.
With the most powerful database of human data ever built, Facebook has the upper hand when it comes to social media marketing. And allocating even the smallest of budgets to Facebook ads can take your music a very long way.
Here’s a quick step-by-step to get you started with Facebook ads:
A. After setting up your Business Manager and Ads Manager, click Create Ad in the top right of your ads main page.
Ads Manager
B. Choose the Brand Awareness ad type
C. Create an Ad Set: select your audience, when they see your ad, and how much money you’ll spend.
Perhaps you live in the USA and create house music. An example ad set might include:
- People who recently visited Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Las Vegas, Denver, Philadelphia (cities known for their affinity for dance music)
- Men and women, age 18-30
- Detailed interests include house music, rave music, electronic dance music, and EDM
Tip: Go a step further here and include specific bands, festivals, and music venues!
D. Continue by including a photo or video describing what you’re about and highlighting the music you make. You could talk about an upcoming gig or a release you have on deck.
Place your order and that’s it! With the above example, you’ll reach up to 2,500 people who are likely to have an interest in your music with a budget of only $2.00 per day.
2. Take advantage of Twitter Advanced Search
Impractical: Tweet at random about your album and hope your followers find the time to click on the link to your music.
Practical: Use the superhuman potential of Twitter’s Advanced Search feature.
Twitter Advanced Search is a little-known yet incredibly high-powered tool for finding the right people on Twitter.
In the regular Twitter search bar, you can easily search words, phrases, and hashtags.
In Advanced Search, you have the ability to perform detailed queries involving the following:
A. Specific word combinations, inclusions, and exclusions
B. Tweets sent from, to, or mentioning specific accounts
C. Tweets sent from a specific location (city, state, country, or continent)
D. Tweets sent within a specific date range
For example, searching the exact phrase “need some new music,” within 15 miles of Chicago, from August 1 – August 23, 2017 yields people who live in one of our target example areas and recently tweeted about needing some music recommendations.
Twitter Advanced Search
3. Harness the raw power of Reddit
Impractical: Go on a posting spree in every forum you can think of to try and share your music with new people.
Practical: Become a member of Reddit and join a conversion inside a vast community of informed music enthusiasts.
Reddit is used less for networking and more for discussion on a certain topics.
The Reddit website is divided into smaller forums (known as subreddits) dedicated to specific topics. Because of this, Reddit’s a valuable source for great new music recommendations.
For example, you can explore subreddits to find communities sharing their love for dubstep, trance, house music, IDM, psybient, trap music, drum & bass, and more.
Here’s an example of the r/audiophile front page. Gearheads from around the world are sharing their favourite gear, sharing their thoughts on others’, and asking questions.
Audiophile Front Page
Also note the Rules section in the bottom right of the image above. In the next section of this article, we’ll talk a bit about how important this is and why you should follow it.
Reddiquette and the low-BS filter
The communities are people who are truly passionate about the music they like best.
What comes along with this is a very low threshold on the BS-filter. They don’t want to be marketed to and can tell a marketer or salesman from a mile away.
Instead, everyone’s sharing music they enjoy, but following the rules (Reddit etiquette, or Reddiquette) at the same time. Some communities have certain posting requirements like “no self-promotion,” and other communities have specifications for tagging or formatting posts.
Follow the rules and you’ll be welcomed to join right in with the communities where you fit best!
An extra word of caution
Remember: use these tips thoughtfully and carefully.
As mentioned above, the social media users on the receiving end of your marketing will be turned off and won’t bother with your music if you are a salesman upon your introduction.
These are human beings with real emotions, hopes, and complex interests. They’re not robots and they have no obligation to consume your music.
Take consideration to present your music to them in an open and attentive manner and they’ll likely do you the favor of checking it out.
In closing
Sharing your music on social media is simple. But getting it to the right people is undoubtedly more challenging. With the above list, you’re now equipped to get your music heard, and by the people who will enjoy it the most.
About The Author: Brian Isaac studied Music Business in university and has 10 years of music production experience. Now, he specializes in social media marketing to help brands grow.
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