Creative Ways to Market Yourself As A Musician
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In an industry that continually sees growth and expansion, musicians wanting to make a name for themselves have their work cut out for them. According to a Variety article, the US recorded-music industry experienced its seventh consecutive year of growth in 2022, reaching a record-breaking high of $15.9 billion. With that growth can come saturation, however, and the modern music mix is packed with artists of different genres and styles.
To stand out and make it in this cutthroat industry, relying on talent alone isn't enough. Navigating the business and maximizing opportunities that may come your way calls for creative marketing strategies. Below, we'll explore three ways for musicians to establish themselves amidst the music industry's ceaseless growth.
3 Creative marketing strategies for musicians
Cultivate a social media presence
It goes without saying that social media is a powerful tool capable of launching successful music careers. Lizzo, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, and Megan Thee Stallion are just a few examples of musicians who got their big break thanks to TikTok. With so many up-and-coming artists achieving virality on the platform, TikTok released the Artist Impact Program, enabling artists to monetize their music on the platform by allowing businesses to use it in their content. Moreover, social media apps like Instagram and TikTok empower artists to establish meaningful connections with their fans, an important aspect of building a loyal following.
Showcase your versatility with covers
Although Nirvana is now considered to be one of the most iconic grunge-rock bands of all time, in the early days, Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic were once a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band called The Sellouts. However, by experimenting with music from more established bands, they were able to get a better feel of their own sound and appeal to a broader audience. Bacon James's The Florida Room Sessions where he covers songs by Ray LaMontagne, Bruce Springsteen, and Chris Stapleton is a great example of how crossing genres and playing covers can help spark interest in budding artists. It can be difficult for new musicians to carve out their niche, but playing covers can help you define your own musical identity on your own terms.
Collaborate with similar artists
Collaborations are a surefire way to grab fan attention. In fact, an article from the Spotify Newsroom that examined 40 of the biggest crossover collabs from the last 12 years found that six months after the release of a collab, 75% of artists involved saw an increase of at least 10% in overall Spotify streams across their catalogs compared to the period before the collab. Some are even better received. For example, six months after Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus came out with the track Old Town Road - Remix, shared listeners between the two artists increased by almost 390,000%.
As the music industry continues to evolve, embracing unconventional marketing approaches becomes integral for budding artists. From collaborative efforts to building a robust social media following, these methods redefine the playbook for artists seeking to captivate audiences and elevate their presence.
Article contributed by Rosetta Jameson