We at recordJet, have accompanied numerous releases together with Groover, and we want to share all our expertise and years of experience with you. Sharing these experiences can help you avoid common pitfalls when releasing your music. Release planning, release strategies, and collaborations with many excellent partners in all areas, from promo to merch, are our specialties. This powerful combination ensures you get the best results and avoid falling into one of the five biggest mistakes when releasing your music. In this article, we will reveal the five most common mistakes and show you how to avoid them.

1. Planning

When releasing new music, you want it to grow beyond making it available on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, you want potential fans to care about and be interested in it. Each release should be a building block in your career, helping you reach more listeners.

One of the biggest mistakes is releasing music without a clear plan. A good plan includes a detailed release schedule. This means your timeline should start taking effect 4 to 6 weeks before the release. By this point, your song’s mastering and mixing should be complete. The cover artwork (make sure to check resolution and format) should be finalized, and ideally, you should have registered with a collecting society. It is also important to clarify all legal aspects of your release, for example in the case of a cover or remix. A trusted distributor, such as recordJet, should be chosen, and your song should already be set up there.

At the same time, your press work begins. Create an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) with information about you and your music, press photos and a snappy yet compelling story. Contact relevant blogs, radio stations and magazines to promote your release. Even if you don’t have a big PR partner, you can generate initial media attention this way.

About 2-3 weeks before your release, you should start an intensive social media campaign. For example, post teasers, behind-the-scenes content, and visualize the countdown to the release to build excitement among your followers. The last week before your release is crucial for community engagement. Post targeted reminders, prepare your followers, and start a countdown to create the final hype. This is the phase where you actively answer questions, hold Q&A sessions, or start livestreams to generate a final boost of attention.

Now is the time to update your bio and pictures on Spotify and upload a Spotify Canvas. You can also enter your lyrics via MusixMatch and make them available to your fans. Then it’s time to pitch for playlisting. Playlists are real currency, and you should leave no stone unturned to get featured on as many playlists as possible. On Spotify and other DSPs, you can pitch your songs for major curated playlists before release. Ideally, this will help your music get placed in playlists like New Music Friday.

On the release day, the following things should be noted. First, you should add any missing streaming links to your landing page. The next step would be the “Out-Now” post on social media. A smart move would also be to update your own playlists. If you have a newsletter, you should of course include links to the release.

After the release, it’s important to continue promoting your release and stay active. Creative content should remain a top priority when it comes to presenting different posts about the song. Create at least 2-3 feed posts plus at least 1 story and at least 1 TikTok per day with your own sound. You should continue this for the next 4-5 weeks. Analyze your social media interactions, examine streaming performance statistics, and consider if adjustments are needed for future releases. With the tools from recordJet, you can precisely analyze the success of your release and note what went well and where you see opportunities for improvement in your next release. This allows you continual growth with each release as you gather valuable experience.

2. Financial Planning

If you have made the decision to release your music without a label, advance, or any other savings, you’ll need a budget to pay your musicians, rent for recording studios and/or producers. You will need money for mixing and mastering your songs plus additional money to cover distribution and promotion. If a music video is involved, it can quickly drain your account. Two things that can assist in supporting your financial planning are grants and crowdfunding.

If you want to apply for funding for your music, there are many regional and national institutions that can help. Many grants have restrictions like age limits or a minimum income from music. Still, it’s worth getting to know the various funding options and researching them well in advance. Sometimes cities or districts also have programs. Stay informed and subscribe to these institutions’ newsletters so you don’t miss any funding opportunities.

Crowdfunding could also be an option. The advantage here is the connection with your fans, which is essential. You can present a project – like producing an album or music video – that they can support financially. Startnext, Kickstarter, or GoFundMe offer platforms for crowdfunding. Typically, you set a target amount you want to reach. There are also subscription models like Patreon. Here, your fans can pay you a monthly amount in exchange for exciting background info (e.g., behind-the-scenes videos), goodies (e.g., merch like T-shirts), or early access to your next release.

3. From Branding to Release Strategy

A well-thought-out marketing and PR strategy begins long before the actual release. It starts right at the beginning. Ask yourself questions like:

• Who am I?
• Who do I want to be?
• What values and messages do I want to convey?
• What do I want to show and what do I not want to show?
• Where do I want to go?
• What is my USP – my Unique Selling Point – What makes me stand out?

These are all questions related to your persona, the public image you want to present as an artist. It’s about how you want the qualities, values, and stories you embody. From this, your image emerges, which is how you want to be perceived. Perception also has, alongside the content, a lot to do with packaging. This inevitably brings us to branding. It’s called your visual identity. It represents what your audience sees. From your logo to your album cover and even your stage outfit. Consistency is key here. 

Use uniform colors, fonts, and designs to create a recognizable look. Ensure that your communication style is consistent across all channels. This means your social media posts, interviews, and press releases should all reflect the same personality. However, the communication style should be adjusted to the platforms you use. While Instagram and YouTube have more of the character of an online business card, platforms like TikTok or Instagram’s Broadcast Channel are places where you can showcase other aspects of your artist persona. 

The integration of social media and other channels is also an important point. By now (4 weeks before release), you should start preparing your posting plan. Consider a pre-save campaign to positively influence streaming algorithms. Many musicians release songs without having built an engaged community beforehand, which affects their release. Ask yourself which social media platforms fit you and your brand, and ideally focus on the largest platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube). If your music is in English, it might also make sense to check out newer platforms such as Rednote, which are currently experiencing a hype. Regular posting and engaging with your account is a given. Post at least two feed posts per week and at least one story.

With TikTok in particular, you could post one TikTok per day with your own sound. Consider using videos, in a format of 9:16, to find new and exciting ways to promote your new release. The motto is: Test! Test! Test! Use 9:16 clips for other platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. This includes, in addition to video shoots, a photoshoot on-site and short 9:16 videos for your social media strategy. Think of entertaining ways to present your song with different short videos.

Along with a social media strategy, an organized Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is essential, allowing you to promote your music online. It is generally used to provide your artist bio, music, videos, and details about upcoming releases in one clear online format. Compiling your EPK also gives you the opportunity to update your press photos or link unreleased music video. After that, think about whether your song is suitable for radio and specific playlists. If so, you can start contacting playlist curators, blogs, radio stations etc., and inform them about your upcoming release. If you’re planning campaigns with influencers, you can also use your EPK to contact and book them.

To succeed in the music business, it’s important to understand who listens to your music and who should listen to it in the future. Defining your target audience helps you make the right decisions regarding your marketing, communication strategy, and even your music. Ask the right questions here too:

• Who is currently listening to your music?
• Who are they?
• Use platforms like Spotify for Artists or Social Media Insights to gather demographic data: age, gender, location, and preferences.
• What are their interests?
• What other artists do they listen to, for example?
• What content do they consume on social media?

Also, think about what needs or emotions your music addresses. Your target audience are the people who feel entertained, inspired, or represented in their respective mood through your music. This information will help you figure out which platform is best for communicating with them. Define a Listener Persona: Based on the data, you can create fictional “personas” that represent your target audience.

A good strategy for your releases, to fully capitalize on the potential of your release, is the Waterfall Strategy. This involves gradually releasing songs from an album or EP gradually. This allows you to generate continuous attention and increase the likelihood of being placed in potential playlists. This tactic allows you to steadily build hype and engage your community in the long term.

Develop a release strategy with clear milestones. Define a specific release date, prepare your promotion in advance, and use various channels to reach your target audience.

4. Opportunities for Growth in Marketing and Promotion

Many musicians rely on their music spreading on its own. Marketing and promotion form the backbone of a successful music career. Even the best songs reach their full potential only when supported by a well-thought-out marketing strategy. There are many examples of artists who can attribute their successful careers to their perfectly planned marketing strategies. Instead of counting streams, focus on gaining new fans who will listen to your music long-term. The right target audience will reveal itself over time – start with three AdSets: broad targeting, similar/matching artists and genres. More important than expensive ads is creative content that has already performed well organically on TikTok or Instagram. Additionally, use server-side tracking to increase the efficiency of your campaigns.

Paid ads are only worthwhile when your organic content is performing – then they can give your career a real boost and help you build a loyal fanbase. If you feel you can’t handle it alone or if you’re at a point in your career where you’re already seeing some success, it might make sense, as an artist, to partner with a promo agency for your release – whether it’s a single, EP, or album – once you reach a certain level of reach.

• Promo Agency: With the help of a suitable promo agency, your reach and success could improve – thanks to the agency’s established contacts, expertise, and services.
• Use Social Media: Prepare your community in advance for the release. Create teasers, behind-the-scenes clips, or exclusive insights. But don’t just focus on social media; use as many avenues as possible to generate control over your reach and audience. Social media platforms constantly change their algorithms, and these changes can drastically affect how many of your followers see your posts.
• Email Marketing is More Stable: Use an email distribution list. This gives you full control over your communication. You’re not dependent on a platform deciding if and when your message is seen, and you can build a deeper, more sustainable relationship with your fans.
• Collaborate with Music Blogs, Playlists, and Radio Stations.
• Invest in Digital Ads (e.g., on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok): Paid ads on social media can be a quick and effective way to build your email list. Create a landing page with clear design and set up conversion campaigns by defining your target audience, creating engaging ads, and setting “leads” as the goal.

5. Pitching Effectively

Pitching your songs to curated playlists on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and others is a great way to expand your reach. But how do you pitch a song effectively? First and foremost, timing is crucial. Pitching should be done at least a week before the release. The earlier, the better. This increases the chances that your song will be considered for playlists in time. Before pitching your song, make sure all metadata (song title, artist name, genre, release date, etc.) is correct and complete. This makes the curator’s job easier and increases your chances of being taken seriously.

recordJet team can personally support you in your release planning and strategy through individual consultation sessions. Your deal would include exclusive services such as express delivery, YouTube monetization, chart registration, and high-res master files. Their team will also assist with the verification of your artist pages on Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as help you access Spotify for Artists. Through direct contacts with platforms, they can prioritize your playlist pitching. They also support your TikTok promotions, including sound banner pitching and trend analysis. Additionally, we plan targeted marketing campaigns in partner stores to maximize your reach.

Spotify also offers the opportunity to pitch your songs to playlist curators independently of us via its “Spotify for Artists” tool. Make sure to write a compelling pitch that includes information about your music, your project, and your planned marketing.

This would also be the right moment to work with Groover. On Groover, curators and music professionals listen to your tracks, provide feedback (within seven days), and share the tracks they like. This helps artists get their music heard by media and music professionals. Groover has already reached over 1 million shares (articles, radio airplays, playlist additions, etc.) and has facilitated over 1,000 artist contracts with labels.

If it doesn’t work out at first, don’t get discouraged! Remember: more than 100,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify every day. You can listen to over 100 million songs on Spotify alone. The key is to stay persistent and impress with your quality. Also, take a look at other streaming services like Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube Music, or Tidal. They also have relevant playlists.

Conclusion

By avoiding the five mistakes mentioned above, you’re on the right track. Your next steps should involve setting concrete goals for your career. Clearly defined goals help you stay focused and make your successes measurable. We hope this article has provided you with some good tips and ideas. Keep your eye on the goal and don’t go down the path without a plan and a strategy.  Good luck!

Want to try recordJet? Groover artists now get a 25% discount: Sign up on recordJet and use the code groover25 for your first release! Follow recordJet on Instagram and Spotify.

Looking to get in touch with music pros? Try Groover!

L’article Success is No Coincidence: The 5 Biggest Mistakes in Music Releases and How to Avoid Them est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

Of course, preparing a release means you have an album ready to go. Remember not to rush the creative process that’s necessary to get there. If you have any doubts or if you feel that something is missing in your album, you can turn to the mentors and sound specialists on Groover to get constructive feedback on your tracks.

1. Pick a budget and release date

Having an idea of a budget will help you strategize – how much will you be able to invest in promoting your album? Take into account artwork (photography, videography, editing), campaigns (Fb and IG ads, Groover, Spotify), digital distribution, merchandising,…

Remember that distribution services need time to get your music on every platform, so give yourself a minimum of 4 weeks before release to start preparations and submissions. The preferred day for music releases is Friday because that’s when the Billboard week resets, so streaming platforms do most of their algorithmic and editorial playlist updates (ex. New Music Friday) on that day.

We advise you to check that there are no major events or highly anticipated artist releases on your release day to avoid being overshadowed in the press and on social media.

2. Technical Checklist

These are necessary in order to make sure you won’t run into any technical or legal issues:

Note: We recommend having your album artwork (more in visual checklist) ready before submitting to digital distributors so as not to delay the process by having to add it later. For the full list of files and details distributors expect, see our guide on how to distribute your music.

• Confirm royalty splits with collaborators (both publishing and masters splits)
  • so every producer, co-writer, and feature artist legally agrees on their percentage – just make sure to get written agreement from everyone – great article on it here
• Add metadata to WAV & MP3 files
  • for proper classification and songwriter credit – here’s a guide on how to do it
• Submit songs to digital distributor (at least 4 weeks before release)
  • so it’s available on all streaming platforms – here are the best ones for indie artists
• Create a pre-save link and/or smartlink
  • so fans can save your tracks in advance and boost your streaming algorithm – do so through your distributor
• Update your press kit and website with recent information, photos, and dates
  • so media/journalists and new fans will know more about you
• Register the songs with your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, etc) and any other collection agencies
  • so you’re ready to receive royalties – full guide here

👉 Get your personalized Music Planner for free

3. Promotional (Visual and Web) Checklist

Half the work in getting a release off the ground is all about promotion and exposure, so make sure to:

Visual:

• Prepare album artwork
  • so you stand out visually – use your iPhone, a professional camera, AI, a drawing, no budget necessary
• Add artwork to website, press kit, and submission with distributors
  • just in case it wasn’t done before (which we recommend)
• Find golden snippet of single (or song you want to push most)
  • choose 10-15 second snippet to use as main “viral” sound when posting about release online (very important)
• Create a long-form video for YouTube and other edits for social media
  • film a music video or lyric video that can be posted in full and chopped up into smaller snippets later
• Create short-form content for social media and Spotify Canvas
  • BTS from the studio/photoshoots/video shoots, vlogs, funny moments, shorter version of long-form video
• Edit visuals far in advance
  • so you have a vault of content to pull from whenever needed

Web:

• Create post schedule for IG, TikTok, and X
  • release announcement (as early as possible), teasers, pre-save link, snippets, release day post, video release
• Pitch best song to Spotify’s editorial team using Spotify for Artists
  • so you have a chance at landing on an editorial playlist – walkthrough here
• Write press release
  • to send to media outlets so they can write about you and your project – tips and examples here
• Pitch songs to curators on Groover
  • so you can get playlist adds, media write-ups, radio play, and more
• Set up Spotify Countdown Page
  • if you have 3,000+ monthly active listeners and an upcoming album or EP (singles aren’t eligible), get them excited about your new project

4. Release Day Checklist

Congratulations, you made it! Here are some things you should be sure to do on the big day:

• Post, post, post (include streaming links)
  • every social media profile of yours should have a release announcement
• Add streaming link to bio
  • so every social media visitor knows you make music – smartlinks are the most inclusive option
• Send newsletter
  • if you have a list of your supporters’ emails, let them know about your project
• Send email campaign with streaming links included
  • so the industry connections you’ve been in touch with can check out your new stuff
• Engage with following
  • answer messages and comments, livestream, repost others’ stories so your account stays very active
• Add own music to Spotify playlist
  • Spotify doesn’t know the difference between your personal account and another – boost your streaming algorithm by saving your own music

5. Post-Release Checklist

It’s not time to slack off yet:

• Prepare FB/IG ad campaign
  • use short-form content paired with your golden snippet (see above) to attract new listeners and boost streams
• Share your wins
  • so people know about your playlist add, press write-up, or streaming milestones
• Follow up with contacts
  • so you maintain positive relationships with people in the business
• Continue social media promotion
  • keep posting TikToks of golden snippet, short-form content, photos
• Monitor insights and data
  • check Spotify for Artists and digital distributor to understand who your listeners are – cater your content and ads to them

Conclusion

You’re ready to go! Remember that this is a very extensive guide and does not necessarily apply to every artist. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have every single thing on these lists prepared. The point is to make sure you understand all the moving parts before diving in yourself.

Use these checklists in any way that is helpful to you, and personalize them. The smaller the task, the easier it is to achieve, so break things up if they’re too overwhelming! Good luck, you got this.

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Promotion is obviously a big part of your release strategy and you can count on Groover to help you gain visibility 👇

L’article Album Release Checklist: How to Release an Album Independently est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

Here are some quick tips that can make a big difference in promoting and developing your music career 👇

1. Don’t try to fit into a box

An essential tip, especially today in the age of social networks and streaming platforms, when it’s becoming easier than ever to copy or imitate what you see and hear: don’t try to fit into a box!

Unique, truly original projects are becoming increasingly rare. Besides, diversity is the key if we want to continue to be creative and nurture a healthy music industry!

Don’t be afraid to explore your own influences and create a unique musical identity that sets you apart from others—because you are unique.

At first, it may be a little rough, but by trying things and searching, you will always eventually hit the target. And at that moment, you’ll thank yourself and others will thank you too, because you’ll have become a source of inspiration.

Working hard, being good at what you do, and being your own person… sounds like a recipe for success, doesn’t it?

2. Set realistic goals

Having clear and achievable objectives can help you stay focused and motivated. Whether it’s the number of posts per week you want to post on social networks, the number of concerts you want to do in the month/year, the number of playlists you want to contact for the release of your next song, the number of media outlets you want to contact, etc.

Focus on what you can control before focusing on your results. This will allow you to measure your progress and adjust your strategy based on what works and what doesn’t.

3. Think about a good social media strategy: 3 pillars

can start from this 3-pillar base to build a good social media strategy:

• content about you,
• content about your collaborators/features/label/entourage,
• and fun/less-promo content.

This diversification of content will give your followers an overview of who you are as an artist and your environment. Of course, you’re free to show what you want, the main point is just that your followers have some kind of connection with you. And that happens by way of the emotions that your content makes them feel.

You can also co-post on social networks with other artists, media outlets, venues, etc. This will allow you to expand your audience and maybe reach new people who might be interested in your music.

4. Avoid releasing songs at certain times

As an independent artist, there is no real rule. You won’t be threatened by the release of Taylor Swift’s album on the same day as you, no worries about that.

However, avoid releasing your tracks during saturated periods, such as holidays or major media events, where your music may be drowned out by other releases. People can be more or less in the mood to make new musical discoveries.

Also think about your style of music: maybe it doesn’t fit all times of the year or all seasons? Think of your listeners: who are they, what age and what gender? Try to determine the most favorable times for them. The statistics of streaming platforms and social networks will help you a lot on this point.

And finally, rest assured: the first day of release is very important, but the days after also count. All you have to do is do your best for D-Day, and then do everything you can to continue to make your music known as widely as possible.

5. Release your EPs or albums using the waterfall strategy

Rather than publishing all your songs at once, consider using the waterfall strategy. Publish a single first, followed by several others, then group them into an EP or album. This can keep your fans interested over a longer period of time, and bring it back to your previous singles with each new release. Need some more details on the waterfall strategy?👈

6. Participate in contests regularly

Musical contests offer a great opportunity to get noticed by industry professionals and gain visibility with a new audience. Look for local or online contests and events where you can showcase your talent.

| Consult the guide to the musical springboards of the moment

7. Set up a pre-download for each of your releases

Use pre-download features on streaming platforms to allow your fans to save your music before its official release. This can generate anticipation and boost the first release figures. It’s a good way to grab the attention of streaming platform algorithms!

8. Send your music to independent playlists

Playlists can be a great way to reach new listeners. You’ll probably want to aim for the biggest playlists, but be careful, it’s not necessarily the best strategy! Why? Because your chances of getting an answer are close to zero. However, many independent playlists want to support emerging musicians.

Little by little, the work your way up. One small playlist, then another, and yet another… until you have a snowball effect.

The advantage of independent playlists is that they usually have very targeted audiences. So if they choose to add your song, there is a good chance that their listeners will appreciate it.

Keep in mind that if people skip your song, it sends very bad signals to the algorithms. So try to get on playlists that really match your style.

And now all you have to do is identify the independent playlists that suit you and send them your music!

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Send your music to playlists of your choice 👇

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9. Share your press coverage on social networks to gain visibility and credibility

If your music is featured in media or blogs, be sure to share all of these articles on your social networks. This boosts your credibility as an artist and can grab the attention of new fans and music industry pros. Plus, it’s a way to thank these media outlets that put you in the spotlight.

10. Subscribe to the TikTok newsletter

TikTok has become a must-have platform for music promotion. Subscribe to their newsletter to stay up to date on trends, challenges, and collaboration opportunities that could help propel your music on the platform.plateforme.

Conclusion

By following these simple, yet effective tips, you can get a significant boost to your musical project and open new doors in your artistic journey.

Stay creative, stay engaged, and keep sharing your passion with the world!

– Translated by Kole Wright –

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Spread your music worldwide ⬇️

L’article 10 Quick & Easy tips to Boost your Musical Project est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

In this article, we will discuss some of the most effective music marketing strategies that independent musicians can use to increase their chances of success. With the right resources, independent musicians can utilize the best promotional strategies to stand out from the crowd.

Before we get into the 10 top music marketing strategies, let’s go over some basics first:

1. What is music marketing

Music marketing is promoting and advertising music and related products, such as digital downloads and streams, physical merchandise, concerts, and more. There is often a large overlap with digital marketing as the music business has taken over more of the digital sphere. Music marketing also involves developing relationships with music industry professionals and influencers. By doing so, one can boost the visibility of an artist, album, or even just a single. The goal of music marketing is to increase awareness and thus, sales and profitability of an artist.

2. Build a fanbase on social media

Music marketing all starts with building a fanbase and having an online presence. Building a fanbase nowadays is very much centered around creating an identity on social media. In order to attract listeners to music, it’s important to have an engaging and active social media presence. Posting new music and updates regularly is key to building a relationship with fans. Make sure to interact with your followers and engage in conversations. Additionally, creating unique and exciting content such as music videos and behind-the-scenes footage can help to attract new fans and keep existing ones interested. Networking with fellow artists and industry professionals is also important in order to reach new potential listeners. Ultimately, it’s all about connecting with people. You want to provide your followers with an enjoyable experience so they keep coming back for more.

Do you want to improve your engagement on social networks like Instagram and TikTok? Stay organized with your posts by creating a content calendar. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by social media strategy and all the different social media channels to choose from. Our advice is to see it as a business: what platform works best for your project? The type of platform will determine your content strategy. If you’re great a recording short videos of you playing live at home, try out TikTok. If photos are more your thing, then use Instagram. Want to live stream your artistic process or a live session in your bedroom? Maybe Twitch is for you. Ask yourself, what kind of demographics are you targeting to get new subscribers on board and which platforms target those audiences? Check out our article on how to manage your social media accounts as musicians.

3. Play live

In addition to building a fanbase on social media, it’s important to actually get out in the real world and start playing live! Playing live shows is an excellent way to build a fanbase and market your music career. It’s an opportunity to show people what you have to offer and make a lasting impression. Start by booking gigs in your local area, and then gradually expand to other cities. Promote your shows on social networks and amongst friends and family. Finally, make sure to interact with the audience during and after the show. Thank them for coming out, and encourage them to follow your social media accounts and share your music. With some hard work and dedication, you’ll be able to build a loyal fanbase that will help you grow your music career.

When playing live, you can use the occasion to sell your music merch and CDs. More and more artists in the indie music scene are getting creative with merch ideas, so much so that it hooks listeners into becoming loyal fans. Anyone can make T-Shirts to sell when touring– and it’s a classic piece of merch, but it’s been done before. How can you stand out and sell merch that makes a lasting impression? Maybe you have a hobby that you could shine the spotlight on? French artist Flavien Berger makes soap on the side and sells his handmade soap bars at his concerts. I myself am a florist-musician and sell homemade seed packets at my shows! Think about what makes you stand out as an artist and how to translate this to how to market your overall universe. This is a simple way to build your branding as an artist and let people into your world.

Do you want to play live more often? Get in touch with bookers ⬇️

4. Create stunning visual content to market your music

Nowadays, artists are expected to make great music and great visuals as well. An effective music marketing campaign will always be more effective when enhanced with captivating photos or music videos. Make sure that you have high quality photos of you or your band. People want to see who they are listening to! Do you have a unique visual universe or story to tell? Work on your storytelling when creating your visual content. Start by brainstorming ideas for a music video that highlights who you are and what your music is all about. Once the music video is ready, it’s important to have a plan to market it effectively. Utilize social media, online streaming platforms, and online advertising to promote your music video.

Leading up to a music video release, be sure to share teasers to announce what’s coming. This way you can get your audience excited to listen to your new song as soon as release day comes. You can even start marketing efforts before your music video comes out by running marketing campaigns with a pre-save link. Creating teasers with videos is also helpful when creating a Spotify Canvas! Check out our article on how to use Spotify Canvas to add looping videos to your music on the streaming platform. Following release, be sure to continue promoting the clip, with more excerpts and also behind the scene footage from filming. This is a good way to remind your followers and subscribers that you released a new track if they missed it! To map out teasers, pre-saves and release day, try our free music release checklist generator.

5. Create a press kit

Creating a music press kit is a great way to get the attention of media outlets and potential fans. A music press kit should include your music, such as singles, albums, and/or Spotify or Soundcloud links, along with photos, a bio, and any other relevant information about you and your music. Include links to music videos or live sessions. Make sure to include your contact information, such as your website, social media accounts, and email address or phone number. You should also include a list of notable press coverage, radio plays or playlists, and important concert dates if you have them. Finally, create a PDF of your press kit or an EPK (electronic press kit) and keep it up to date.

It’s important to keep in mind when creating a press kit that you want to be as clear and concise as possible. Music industry professionals are usually overloaded with submissions and unread emails from artists looking to promote their project, and don’t have a lot of time! We recommend creating a press kit that is no more than 3 pages long. You can have a longer version available if they ask for it, but you want to make it easy for them to understand your music and universe quickly. If you send them a 20 page document right from the start, they may not even open it. Think: keep it simple and with only the most relevant information. Make a good first impression!

6. Network with industry professionals

As an independent musician, networking with industry professionals can be an important step to advancing your career. First, create a list of industry professionals that could be interested in your project, such as music bloggers, radio programmers, or playlist influencers who can help you get your music heard. You can make things easier for yourself by even creating a spreadsheet of contacts, with their email and what they do, separated into categories. If you don’t know how to start finding the right industry professionals for you, you can do one of two things. You can do some research on similar artists and write down who they have gotten press coverage from, what playlists they are in, or what music blogs talk about them. If you want to search directly by music genre, type of industry professional, or location, check out Groover!

Research each one of these music industry professionals to determine how they can help you. Once you have identified people who can help your career, reach out to them via email, social media, or Groover. If you’re having a hard time finding their contact information, try using LinkedIn! Make sure to have a specific question or request in mind. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and explain your music and what you’re trying to accomplish. When possible, try to set up a meeting or a phone call, as face-to-face connections are often more effective. Be sure to ask lots of questions and try to build a relationship, as that can lead to further opportunities.

See if there are any events in your area for independent musicians to get in touch with music business professionals. There are also more and more springboards and competitions popping up for emerging artists around the world. These types of events are great opportunities to meet people and also test out your skills on stage. Networking with industry professionals can be a great way to get your music heard and build a team of ambassadors around your project.

Connect directly with music industry professionals on Groover ⬇️

7. Create a newsletter for your fans

Creating a music newsletter for fans is an excellent way to market your music. Start by creating a list of email addresses of people that you think would be interested in your music. This could be family and friends, current fans, and people from your local music scene. Next, create an interesting subject line for your email that will make people want to click. When writing the content of the newsletter, be sure to include updates on any upcoming shows, music releases, or any other relevant news that your fans would be interested in. Additionally, include links to your music on streaming platforms and your website, and any other outlets where people can download your music. Finally, be sure to include a call to action, such as asking them to follow you on social media or share your music with friends and family.

A lot of the time, music lovers want to see behind the scenes of an artists life. You can use your music newsletter to let fans into your universe and let them know what else you’ve been up to! A lot of indie musicians also turn to platforms like YouTube to create video shorts to share with their fans. For them, this is almost like a visual diary that acts as a newsletter, keeping people updated. If you don’t like the idea of sending emails to people but like the written format, you can always put up blog posts on your music website. The content can include anything from daily observations and musings to your creative process and lyrics. There are so many creative ways to promote your project!

8. Use targeted ads

Do you have a new single that just dropped? Targeted ads are a great way to market your music career as an independent musician. Start by researching who your target audience is and create a profile of who you’d like to reach. You can use social media platforms such as Facebook Ads and Google Ads to create targeted campaigns that reach your desired audience. Be sure to optimize your campaigns by testing different text, images, and targeting options. You want to ensure that your ads are seen by the right people. Ultimately, targeted ads are a powerful tool for any independent musician to promote their work and gain new fans.

Not sure which audiences to target? Check out some analytics before running your ad campaign. On Spotify for Artists, you can see where people listen to your music and the demographics. On Instagram and other social medias, you can also get access to this type of information! Even when you launch a pre-save campaign, you’ll be able to see the data of where in the world your track is being saved. Use all of this data to your advantage! Test out some campaigns, see what works and what doesn’t, and adjust accordingly.

| Launch advertising campaigns and grow your fanbase with Base for Music

9. Post cover songs to social media and YouTube

We’ve all seen indie artists who originally got famous after posting a cover song. This technique can help you in your music marketing strategy! Independent artists can post cover songs to their social media or YouTube channel to expand their fanbase and reach new audiences. By covering popular songs, independent artists can gain more exposure as the original artist’s followers hear the cover version. Additionally, covers can be used to target new genres and crossover audiences. By creating a unique version of a popular song, independent artists can gain the attention of the original artist’s followers, as well as fans of the genre of the cover song. Check out our article on how to legally release a cover song on streaming platforms here.

Also by posting cover songs, you can share your musical influences with your audience. This is smart for your brand because it gives context to what you do! Or perhaps you want to cover a song that is in a totally different genre from the music you make. You’ll be doing something original by making it your own! The power of crossing genres and reinterpreting something can be an effective marketing strategy in indie music.

10. Get your music into Spotify playlists

Getting your music into Spotify playlists is an important part of any music marketing strategy. By getting your music into playlists, you can increase your exposure and get more people to discover your music. Spotify playlists can be a powerful way to reach an audience that might not be familiar with your music. In addition, by getting your music into a playlist, it could help to increase your streams and lead to more revenue for your music. Overall, getting your music into Spotify playlists is an essential part of any music marketing strategy. Check out our article dedicated to the topic here. On Groover, you can also pitch your track to playlist curators and get guaranteed feedback in 7 days.

11. Collaborate with other artists

Probably the most fun way to approach music marketing is by collaborating with other artists. Working together with another artist or band can be a great way to introduce your music to a larger audience, as well as to share resources and ideas. It also allows you to create unique content that both you and the other artist can use to reach potential fans. Additionally, collaborating can help you to establish relationships with other artists and industry professionals, which can be extremely beneficial for your career. Collaborating also allows you to learn from each other, grow together, and exchange music marketing strategies and techniques.

12. Use the best music marketing platforms

To keep it simple, we have determined two outlets that make the best music marketing platforms for independent musicians today. The success of a music marketing platform comes from the platforms ability to provide artists with the tools they need to get their music heard and reach a larger audience. The first and most obvious outlet to help artists promote their music is social media: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch– the list goes on. Social networks span far and wide, and our advice to indie musicians is to focus on just one or two to start. That way, you can really build a community and connect with fans. We will go into detail about using social media as a music marketing platform later on.

The second best music marketing platform that allows artists to boost their visibility and build a professional network is Groover. Groover is an innovative platform designed to help independent musicians take the next step in their music career. It allows artists to connect with industry professionals directly and get their music heard. For 2 Grooviz (2 euros), an artist can send their music to an influencer of their choosing: labels, playlists, radios, media, managers, publishers…and under 7 days, they will get guaranteed feedback. Artists often spend hours sending emails and messages that never get answered or even read. With Groover, independent musicians can get the feedback and exposure they need to take their music to the next level.

Conclusion

Overall, independent musicians have many resources at their disposal when it comes to music marketing strategies. It is important for independent musicians to consider their own needs, budget, and goals before deciding which strategies work best for them. With the right combination of strategies and hard work, independent musicians can reach new audiences and promote their music successfully. If you play in a band, our tips on promoting your band cover email marketing, SEO, merch and word of mouth.

| Read also: How to release music the best way

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L’article 10 Top Music Marketing Strategies est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

How many tracks are on an EP vs. an album, and what do EP and LP mean?

• An EP, short for extended play, generally contains around four to seven tracks.
• An album, also referred to as an LP record or Long Play, will be longer in duration and contain usually around eight to twelve tracks.

Since 2016, artists have been releasing more EPs and singles and less albums overall. Data from Ditto Music shows the steady rise in these shorter formats and the slow decline of the album. This most likely has to do with how we consume music on streaming platforms and how artists choose to release music more frequently to get noticed by the Spotify algorithm.

Nowadays, it’s easier than ever for artists to get their new releases onto digital music platforms by using independent music distribution services such as Tunecore, Distrokid, or CD Baby. Artists no longer need to be signed to record companies to make it in the recording industry! Let’s dive in.

1. What kind of message do you want to send to the music industry?

Before deciding whether to release an EP or an album, you need to figure out what kind of message you want to send to the music industry. What stage are you at in your music career? Nowadays, new artists tend to release new songs as successive singles, often followed by a first EP. For streaming services, this “waterfall” strategy is a good way to keep momentum going and engage new listeners. Album sales are perhaps dwindling because of our shorter attention spans and the way we discover new music. For music lovers and audiophiles looking to discover new bands, it’s easier to listen to playlists, stumbling upon singles and EPs before committing to listen to an entire album. Start small and don’t expect to reach the Billboard charts with your debut single. EPs are also a great way to experiment and discover your unique sound. If you’ve already established yourself as an artist and have released EPs, maybe it’s time to work on a full-length album. Especially if you have financial support behind you- either from independent labels or major labels– it will be easier to embark on recording sessions for a longer project.

To sum up what kind of message you want to send to the music industry:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Discover and present your unique sound
  • Engage new listeners
  • Release music frequently with successive singles

• Cons:
  • Shorter format can be creatively limiting
  • Every song needs to catch the listener’s attention

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • Establish your unique sound
  • Tell a more complex story

• Cons:
  • Need an established fanbase who will listen
  • More time and budget

2. Estimated budget for an EP vs estimated budget for an album

When deciding between recording an EP vs album, different budgets need to be taken into account. Producing an album is going to be more costly than producing an EP just based on the number of songs. Some independent artists choose to record EPs and albums in a very DIY low budget manner, taking advantage of their home studio to cut down on costs. More songwriters are also learning the production side of things and choose to mix and master their own tracks. Other artists set aside large budgets (or have the financial support of a record label) to record everything in professional studios and pay for high-quality mixing and mastering. How you decide to budget your EP or album is up to you and your resources! Whether you’re looking for a more DIY demo sound or professional and clean, here are the different costs that you will need to consider:

1. Studio Time: If you’re recording in your bedroom, studio time is free. Take into consideration the recording equipment you’ll need to buy if you haven’t set up a home studio yet. Otherwise, you will have to book some time in a recording studio, with or without a sound engineer. Some recording studios function on an hourly rate while others work on half-day or full day prices. Hourly rates can range anywhere from $30-$300 per hour, and the studio and location is taken into account here. It will probably be more expensive to rent recording studio space in New York City than in a small town. When choosing where you record, the genre of music can play a big role in your decision. It’s probably easier to produce electronic music or techno in your bedroom and record a rock band in a real studio. Don’t be afraid to get creative: why not try recording some folk music in a forest or some classical music in a cathedral?
2. Session Musicians: If you’re not playing all the instruments yourself, you may need to hire session musicians for recording. Maybe you need a bassist, a drummer, a background vocalist, or a skilled guitarist to play on your track. Some may charge a flat fee per song or project, while others will work on an hourly rate. Depending on their skill level, they could charge anywhere from $50-$300 a song.
3. Mixing and Mastering: Once you’ve got the recording done, you’ll need to set aside a budget for mixing and mastering your tracks. This can also range greatly based on the engineer’s experience: some sound engineers starting out may charge around $100-$300 per mix and between $50-$150 per master, whereas a more experienced professional can charge upwards of $800 per mix and more than $200 per master.
4. Artwork and Visuals: In addition to high quality recordings, there should be some budget for your EP cover art, album artwork and visuals. This could include anything from music videos to professional band photos and more. Some artists go the DIY route while others choose to invest more money in producing a stunning album cover, music videos or live sessions.
5. Physical Copies and Merch: Are you planning on making physical copies of your EP or album or just plan to distribute it digitally on music-streaming services? Vinyls are making a comeback (cassettes too!) and even if you’re not signed to a record–label, you can invest some budget into small batch record pressing with an independent vinyl manufacturer. While you won’t necessarily be selling them in music stores, they can be great to have at your gigs.
6. Promotion and Marketing: Both EPs and albums require promotional and marketing efforts. We can’t emphasize enough the importance of promoting your music once it’s released! Some artists choose to promote music themselves and others (who may have more budget) hire a PR agent to do it for them. An album will probably have a bigger marketing budget than a EP just due to its length: more songs equals potentially more singles and thus more content to promote. If you want to promote your music on a budget and get guaranteed feedback, send your music directly to media, playlists and more on Groover.

These are the primary costs that you’ll need to take into consideration when calculating your budget for producing and EP or an album. Keep in mind that every artist budgets differently, depending on your personal resources, goals, and even style of music. We recommend keeping a spreadsheet of your expenses to stay organized and think ahead. Prioritize the primary costs that are the most important to you- perhaps getting excellent sound quality on your final mastered tracks or hiring a skilled PR agent to hopefully land you an album review in Rolling Stone. Think strategically here too; we’ve all seen indie artists produce merch or physical copies perhaps a bit too early in their career and end up with boxes of t-shirts or CDs that go unsold. Be smart!

To sum up the estimated budget for an EP vs album:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Less expensive to produce

• Cons:
  • Have to be more selective about the tracks

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • Can include more content

• Cons:
  • More costly and time consuming

3. Is the communication strategy the same for an EP or an album?

The communication strategy for an EP or an album is similar but varies in scope and content. The main difference, once again, is that with an album, there is more content to promote. You’ll want to plan ahead of time to build anticipation for both an EP and an album, making sure to release teasers and engage with your fans on social media to generate buzz before the release. It’s important to create a timeline for singles, music videos, concert dates and more to build engagement and keep momentum going. You’ll want to organize an album release way more in advance than an EP release, giving yourself the time to release multiple singles and perhaps even book a tour. While EPs can give audiences a taste of your music, albums usually will tell a longer story or center around a specific concept. You’ll want to take advantage of this storytelling to get more press and reviews as well as interviews. If you have new music out for the first time, it may be harder to communicate that your new album is coming if you’ve never released anything beforehand. Unfortunately, we all have shorter attention spans- especially when it comes to music. A ten second excerpt of a first single on Instagram or TikTok needs to entice listeners enough to go listen to the full track on Spotify or Apple music. This is hard to do, so you can imagine that it is even harder to get that listener to keep listening to a full debut album when there is so much else out there to discover.

To sum up the communication strategy:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Can continually create buzz with singles

• Cons:
  • Once the EP is released, must have more content ready

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • Get more in depth press or interviews
  • Use the album to book a tour

• Cons:
  • More time-consuming than an EP
  • Less frequent releases

4. How should you choose the order of songs in an EP vs album?

You will need to consider song flow in both an EP and album, creating a cohesive and engaging tracklist for listeners. In both cases, you can choose to order the songs with a narrative arc, a chronological arc, or a sonic arc that focuses on the mood. Because an EP is shorter, you’ll want to make an impression right away by placing your strongest tracks at the beginning and end of the EP. You have less time to hook your audience, which is why some artists put-out EPs to release only their best songs. You’ll want to choose the strongest track for the lead single to make your debut. In an album, you have a bit more freedom. You can create tracks that serve as intros and outros, play with transitions and interludes, and really take the listener on a longer journey.

In both EPs and albums, it’s important to find the right balance when ordering slower and faster songs. Unless you want to make a stark transition in the middle between fast and slow, it’s best to interweave these tracks to create a more cohesive sound. I like to picture a collection of songs as full of peaks and valleys or like taking a ride in an elevator. Do you want your listener to get in on the ground floor, take a ride up, then come back down to get off where they got in? Or do you want to leave them somewhere else from where they started?

To sum up the order of songs:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Easy organization with less content

• Cons:
  • Every song needs to stand on its own

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • More creativity in ordering and telling a powerful story

• Cons:
  • More content leaves more room for a sound that is less cohesive

5. How to work your image with an EP or album?

You want to create a consistent image to promote your music in both an EP and album. It’s important to have high quality press photos so people can see the artist behind the sound. Nowadays, more and more artists are filming live sessions of their music to promote certain tracks. What better way to show audiences your style than with a live performance? Storytelling will be your best friend here, especially with an album. While artists can use a debut EP to experiment and find their sound, a first album is a perfect occasion to really hone your unique music style and identity.

To sum up how to work your image:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • More room to discover and play with your image

• Cons:
  • Needs to be compelling enough to get people to listen

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • Ability to get creative and create more content

• Cons:
  • More content leaves more room for an image that is not as consistent

6. Which is more effective to attract new listeners?

If your goal is to attract new listeners, the EP is probably the way to go. There is a shorter time commitment involved and you can produce an EP much faster than you could an album. That being said, some music fans still listen to full albums of artists they’ve never heard of before! Overall, however, it’s a good strategy to release EPs to build a fanbase, and once you have loyal listeners, you’ll have built that following of fans who are just waiting for the full-length album.

To sum up attracting new listeners:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Easier to attract new listeners with a shorter format

• Cons:
  • Harder to tell a compelling story in a shorter format

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • Make a bigger statement in the recording industry

• Cons:
  • Less likely to engage new listeners with too much content

7. What are your goals with this release?

When choosing between an EP or an album, ask yourself: what are my goals with this release? An EP can be a great opportunity for indie artists to make themselves known in the music business. Do you want to find a label, manager, or touring agent? Start with an EP. Sure, some record labels sign artists who have never released music before, but this is becoming more rare. They want to see that you have potential and are less likely to take risks on a new project. Prove to them that you have managed to release some hit songs on your own and grown an organic following. Have you already released some EPs, found your unique style, and now want to really get creative and embark on a full album? Go for it. You’ll know what is right for you based on these goals and also your budget and timeline.

To sum up the goals with the release:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Find a professional entourage

• Cons:
  • Lots of competition among new emerging artists

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • Establish your sound in the music industry

• Cons:
  • Takes more time and patience

8. Should I release an EP or album to get into playlists?

Playlists on streaming services, especially Spotify, have become the ultimate goal for indie artists to grow their fanbase, and thus royalties and revenues. Whether you release an EP vs album, you can take advantage of the waterfall strategy to release successive singles before the full project comes out. That way, you can pitch each single individually to the editorial team on Spotify For Artists. If you release an album, you won’t be able to pitch all of your tracks. Because of this, some artists choose to release EPs so that each individual song can be released as a single beforehand.

To sum up getting into playlists:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Can release each song as an individual single beforehand, increasing chances of getting into playlists

• Cons:
  • Less content on your music catalog for people to stream

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • More content in your music catalog for people to stream

• Cons:
  • Can’t release every song as a single

9. Should I release an EP or album to get more media coverage?

For both EPs and albums, it’s important to create a press kit to accompany the project. Check out our tips on how to create a press kit here. Both EPs and albums can garner media attention, so consider your promotion strategy in terms of quality over quantity. Media and journalists are used to artists releasing shorter projects nowadays and that doesn’t stop them from writing articles or interviews. You may not get a ton of media coverage on a new single alone, but an EP is certainly enough to spark interest. Keep in mind that if you release a new music video alongside a single, you will be more likely to get media coverage because there is more content to promote.

To sum up getting more media coverage:

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Easier for journalists to listen to and review an EP

• Cons:
  • Some media may only cover albums

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • More content and story to cover

• Cons:
  • More time consuming to listen to

10. Is the artist development strategy the same in an EP vs album?

When you’re an independent artist just starting out, it’s important to release tracks regularly. An EP can be a great way to do this! An album represents a lot more time and money than an EP and can be daunting when you’re just starting your career. You can consider the EP as an opportunity to test your audience, see what works for you and what doesn’t. This can refer to finding your sound as well! EPs can allow you to hone your craft and experiment as an artist, whereas albums can really establish your unique sound and vision. Some well known artists use albums the way an indie artist may use an EP- to experiment- but this is because they already have an established fanbase that is willing to follow them no matter what.

To sum up artist development

🔸 Release an EP

• Pros:
  • Test your audience and experiment with mixing genres

• Cons:
  • Not having a strong enough portfolio of debut tracks or a singular sound

🔸 Release an album

• Pros:
  • Hone your craft and vision

• Cons:
  • Time consuming and requires more budget and patience

Conclusion: EP vs album

In conclusion, these are the main factors to consider when choosing between an EP vs album. An EP can be a great showcase to show fans what you’re capable of and really put all of your best tracks forward. The album is an opportunity to really express yourself, tell a compelling story with variations in tempo, lyrics, and to show a lot more content. We recommend that indie artists use the EP as a strategic first release so that you can take advantage of releasing music frequently with successive singles. If you’re ready to make a statement and have the time, budget, patience (and audience)- embark on the journey of creating an album. Though EPs are becoming more and more popular, there is still a certain magic to albums that can’t be found with another format. In both EPs and albums, always remember: quality over quantity.

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Promote your music 👇

L’article EP vs Album, What’s Best For You? Complete Guide est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

1. Create additional content: teasers, behind-the-scenes, images

So your music video is finished and now it’s time to create additional content from the final product. After all, the key to any successful marketing campaign is to build hype and interest before the final product is released! In the case of music videos, this means creating high-quality derivative content like teasers, behind-the-scenes footage, and still images.

Teasers should be short, anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds, and capture the attention of your audience while leaving them wanting more. Decide which part of your clip is the most visually pleasing or the moment in the song that will grab peoples attention. This can sometimes be the intro or a preview of the chorus. You can add text to your teaser to include the song name, artist name, and release date. Once you’ve found the perfect excerpt, it’s important to create different video formats depending on the platform you will share the teaser on. Lots of social networks are now favoring the vertical viewing format to fit with a phone screen. Here is a quick rundown of the video formats and specs you should use depending on the social media platform:

• Instagram reel and story: .MP4 or .MOV, 4GB max, 9:16 aspect ratio, 1080 x 608 pixels minimum, 1080 x 1920 pixels maximum
• TikTok video: .MP4 or .MOV, 287.6MB max, 9:16 aspect ratio,
• Instagram post: 1:1 aspect ratio

After you’ve created some good teasers, try to gather some behind-the-scenes footage and still images. We recommend keeping the behind-the-scenes footage for after the release as a creative way to promote your content once it is already out there. Behind-the-scenes footage can be a fun way for independent artists to show the making of the clip and remind people to listen to the track if they haven’t already. You can use still images that stand-out from the clip to promote your content both before and after release.

👉 Need some help to create the content? Contact an expert directly on Fiverr

2. Keep your content organized

With all of this digital content to support your music video release strategy, it’s important to stay organized. We recommend using a platform like Google Drive or Dropbox to keep everything in one place and easily be able to share your video content with others. Make separate folders for the different content types and varying formats if relevant: teasers, behind-the-scenes footage, and still images. You can make the files downloadable so that your collaborators, musicians, and producers can share the content on their own social media channels. This will be much easier than sending various files over email or by message; you can improve your communication by keeping everything in one place!

3. Music video release strategy: keep a social media calendar

For both small businesses and independent musicians, it is important to use social media marketing effectively by creating a content calendar. By staying organized with a social media calendar, you can optimize your content strategy to keep your fans engaged. You can use sites like Hootsuite (paid subscription) or Hubspot (a free option) to create your content calendar and optimize your posts. First and foremost, you should decide on the release date for the music video. Do you want to release the video on the same day the song is released? Or first release your track on streaming platforms and then follow up with the clip a week later? Most artists choose to release their track and music video on the same day, encouraging subscribers to listen and inciting clicks by providing striking visuals.

Once you’ve decided on a release day (and we recommend planning at least one month in advance), you can schedule your teaser posts accordingly. You can announce the release and start sharing teasers and images up to 2-3 weeks in advance. Some artists announce their music video release a week or a couple days before it comes out, which can work for some- especially those who already have an established fanbase. Indie artists can benefit from having enough time to spread the word and build hype so you can get your music heard as soon as it comes out!

In your social media calendar, for each post you plan you should include:

• The type of content: video, picture, live session, story (if you have a Google Drive with all your media organized, you can even link the file directly into your calendar!)
• The chosen social media you will share it on
• The date and time you plan to post
• Relevant information such as a caption, hashtags, links to include, etc
• If you plan to crosspost the content with another collaborator (the director of your clip, for example)

4. Track your performance and engagement and adapt!

To ensure that your marketing efforts are effective, it is important to track the performance and engagement of your posts using analytics. Mostly all social media platforms now give creators access to their statistics and demographics: what posts got the most engagement and who your audience is. If you find that sharing still images doesn’t garner as much interest as sharing video teasers, then adapt! Of course, it is good to have varied and diverse content to build the storytelling of your universe, but if something isn’t working, try to favor what does.

5. Reach out to media on Groover to feature your music video

Besides developing a solid social media plan for your music video release strategy, it’s important to reach out to music business professionals as well! The best chances you have of getting new fans is to have your music video featured in a music blog or other media with a strong following. You may be asking yourself- are music blog posts still relevant in today’s music industry? Yes they are! Independent music often thrives on music blogs and some record labels find up and coming artists to sign to their roster this way. How do you get your music video featured in an article or music blog? Some artists and indie labels choose to work with a publicist who has direct contact with different media platforms, while others do it themselves. This could consist of launching a mass email marketing campaign, but as industry professionals are highly solicited, often artists are left with an empty inbox.

The best way to get your music heard and get guaranteed feedback is by using Groover. For 2 Grooviz, or 2 euros, you can send your track and music video with a pitch to an influencer of your choosing. This could be anyone from a journalist or music blog to a label, publisher, or manager. You’ll get guaranteed feedback within 7 days, and if not, you get your Grooviz back to send to someone else! The platform is also very practical when it comes to targeting the right people to send your music to. You can filter by type of music professional, their location, the genres of music they are interested in, and the statistics of how they responded to other artists propositions. You can also see what they can offer you concretely if they like your track: a playlist addition, an article write-up, radio play, an opportunity to play live, and more. Groover is definitely the simplest, most cost-efficient, and most transparent way that artists can get real opportunities and promote their music!

6. Types of music industry professionals on Groover who can promote your music video

What are the types of music industry professionals on Groover who can give your music video a boost on release day? Here are the best types of influencers using the platform that can help artists in their music video release strategy:

YouTube Channels

You can find different YouTube channels that fit your genre and style of music who could include your track in one of their compilations or playlists. The good thing about promoting your music video with a YouTube channel is that you can do so on the same platform: potential new fans will be more likely to go to your YouTube channel and subscribe if they are already using the platform!

Music Blogs & Media

As stated above, getting media coverage from a music blog can be a big boost to your promotion strategy! Lots of music blogs and media outlets often have a weekly round-up of new releases or fresh finds. Try sending your music video to a media specialized in your genre to land in their write-up as soon as your track is released. Not only will you get exposure from this, but you could also get potential streams on Spotify or other streaming platforms if the music blog has a corresponding playlist for their subscribers.

Journalists

Similar to getting exposure from music blogs and media, journalists can be super helpful in your music video release strategy. If you send your music video to a journalist and they are interested in your universe, this could be a great occasion to do a full interview or article on your project!

Playlists

While you may think that playlists don’t have much to do with a music video release strategy, think again! By getting your track into playlists on streaming platforms, especially Spotify, you can boost your exposure, streams, and potential traffic to the rest of your work- your music video, for example. If someone discovers your track on a playlist and is intrigued, they will often look you up and head straight to your YouTube channel or Instagram profile!

7. Music video release strategy: plan ahead and follow up

In conclusion, developing a music video release strategy can be a lot of planning, but with the right tactics and marketing strategies, it can be a lucrative way to promote your music and reach a wider audience. Make sure to give yourself enough time to plan ahead and don’t be afraid to follow-up and keep the ball rolling once your clip has been released. If you’re organized and persistent, you can create an effective music video release strategy that will help you to promote your music and overall build your brand.

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L’article How to Develop a solid Music Video Release Strategy est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.