Stephanie G. Mathis In today’s industry, it’s important to plan your strategy before releasing music. This is especially true for full albums or EPs.
It’s okay that many artists only release singles these days. Singles are still a great way to grow your career, even if they’re not part of a larger project like an album or EP.
How can you attract more fans on the platforms that you want to interact with (i.e., your social channels, your email list, streaming platforms, live shows, etc.)? It’s about creating a path of momentum from the single to the album release over time. If that sounds difficult, then you can make it easier by using at least one of these tips.
Use streaming to your advantage.
You can choose from a variety of streaming platforms, depending on the type of music that is popular with your target audience. These strategies are applicable to any streaming platform, not just Spotify.
Power of playlists
Release of Singles offers the opportunity to submit your singles for Spotify’s editorial playlists. Spotify curates these playlists, and they are very competitive. If your song is selected, you could get hundreds of thousands more plays, likes, and followers.
It is highly recommended that you submit your releases through the Spotify for Artists portal. Each new song you release offers more opportunities to be featured on an editorial playlist. Don’t just leave the fate of your Spotify playlist to Spotify.
It is also worth looking for independent curators. You can find an array of playlists for every genre curated by people you can relate to. Do your research. Reach out to the curators politely. Tell them how much you appreciate their taste and that you would be happy to promote their playlists if they included you.
Use services such as SubmitHub to locate curators who are looking for new music. Curators can review your music for a small fee. If you have a large following, you can get a lot of streams.
The power of algorithms
Let’s move on to the next step. When you get streams, it’s important to get your fan’s “heart” and follow your song. Many artists never even ask for this simple request. It’s not enough to expect your audience to do this automatically.
Let’s discuss why this is so important. How can you use your growing likes, followers, and stream counts to promote your next major release? There are many ways.
First, you can attract new fans to your circle. Your music will be exposed to new audiences if you get it on playlists. They may listen to music on your Spotify page. Spotify will still follow them even if you don’t follow them.
The algorithm will then match your music with other listeners who have similar profiles. Your songs will appear in the Discover Weekly playlist for new listeners. This will encourage them to listen more to your music and perhaps follow you on another platform.
It would be best if you made sure that Spotify’s algorithm is in overdrive when you release a new piece of music. This can be a single track or an entire project. Your new music will appear in the Release Radar playlist for all your followers and possibly casual listeners. Spotify can even send them an email or a notification about your new release.
This is a compounding effect. Each new release builds upon the last and provides new opportunities to reach new listeners and convert them into fans.
Behind the song
I love music documentaries and shows like Song Exploder are great because they let us into the mind of the artist. And I’m certainly not the only one. Music lovers of all types enjoy getting a peek into the creative process.
Share your process
We are naturally drawn to other people who share similar traits so that we feel more connected. We can gain empathy by gaining insight into the creative process of different artists.
This is a great way to inspire your fans, especially those who have creative ambitions.
Even if they aren’t musicians, your fans will still be fascinated by the process of songwriting. It is amazing to think of how musicians can create an original piece of music from nothing. We may forget how amazing the process is because we’re in the middle of it. Fans will be fascinated if you reveal the inside scoop.
Remember the tease release and discuss the song in relation to the theme of the upcoming album.
Storytelling connects people
People love a good story. Stories will draw your fans into your world and create connections because they share experiences, cultures, and values with them. Your fans will never forget a story that aims to entertain, educate, or inspire them.
Please take advantage of the chance to talk to your fans and tell them about your album and your singles.
Ask them questions. Please encourage them to share personal stories related to the topic. You can engage with your fans on Facebook, YouTube, or your website. If you want to start a discussion, ask your fans to email you their comments.
A good story is memorable and makes an impression. Fans may forget the song titles or lyrics, as well as where they last saw you, but a great story will always stick in their minds. Tell the story to your fans again when you release your entire project. This will help them remember it. You can tell a good story more than once.
Virtual Release Party
When I released albums, there was always a release party in person. It was more exciting than a live concert because it allowed for deeper connections with fans and friends. However, despite the pandemic, I do not recommend that you have a live release party for every single album you release.
Today, people are used to live streaming or broadcasting events and celebrations. Platforms such as Facebook Live, Instagram Live, YouTube Live, Twitch, and Clubhouse all provide the ideal venue for hosting a virtual release party.
You don’t need to make it complicated. Make it fun, casual, and interactive. But keep in mind that casual doesn’t mean unprepared. It would be best if you were prepared. Make sure that you have practiced and tested your setup and a plan to perform a few songs. Most importantly…
Decide on your goals. What would you like your guests to do after the party besides having a great time? What is your call to action?
You might be tempted to ask your fans to do many things at the event: buy a ticket, give a tip, listen to the song, purchase a shirt, etc. Choose one call to action and place all your eggs in that basket. You can provide passive instructions, like asking people to follow you on Facebook, to those who are more interested in taking action. But first, focus all your efforts on one outcome.
I think the best way to make a call-to-action worthwhile is to add them to your email list. You want to inform your fans when the album is released, and email is the best way to keep in touch with them. If you have a large email list, you can run a pre-order campaign for your entire release.
People who like your music will be more than happy to sign up for your email list. Discounts, giveaways, and other incentives can be used to encourage this.
It’s all in the strategy!
I want to encourage you not to release a single unless there is a clear goal and plan.
It would be best if you had a goal in mind so that you can plan your “plan” of attack before release day.
Singles are powerful promotional tools that can turn listeners into loyal fans. Each single release leads them to the full output of your content. Pick at least one of the above strategies and start working.
