In electronic music, mixtapes are an essential method of promotion. They help you stay on your fans’ radar, connect with other artists, and show off your DJ skills. In this article, we explain what a mixtape is, how to distribute them, and how to promote them.
1. What is a mixtape?
A mixtape is a collection of music tracks mixed together. It’s usually created by a DJ using mixing software (Serato, rekordbox, etc.), turntables, or production software such as Ableton Live. A mixtape differs from a playlist in that all the tracks are grouped together in a single audio file, with no break between them.
Mixtapes can help you to stay present, in addition to promoting your tracks. This medium is used by many artists in the electronic music world to create regular releases that keep the spotlight on them. Some artists have launched mixtape series that have contributed to their visibility, such as The Magician with his Magic Tapes or Zimmer with his Zimmer Tapes.
2. How do I make a mixtape?
There are various ways of recording a mix. You need to have some knowledge of DJing to use software such as Serato, Traktor, or rekordbox. If you don’t yet know how to mix, making mixtapes is a good way of learning from home before performing at a venue. However, make sure you have a fairly professional mix before publishing it online.
Here are several ways to record an electronic music mixtape:
- From home: the easiest way to record a mixtape is from home. If you’re using computer software, you can record directly. With turntables such as the Pioneer CDJ or XDJ, it’s also possible to record onto your computer or directly onto a USB stick, depending on the model. If you want, you can also record the set as a video, enabling you to publish it on YouTube and grab excerpts for social networks.
- During a performance at a venue: if you’re mixing at a bar, concert hall, or festival, why not record your set? This will enable you to maximize promotion around the event. The mix will not only be heard by those present at the venue, but also by your online audience. Before your performance, check out the DJing equipment on-site to find out how you can record your set.
- In the studio: if you don’t have any equipment at home, or if you want a more professional result, you can go to a studio. There are many studios (such as HF Music Studio in Paris) that offer hourly rentals of turntables. This is a good way to get access to professional equipment. If you want to make regular mixtapes, you can book several hours to group recordings together.
3. How to manage copyright?
Including tracks by other artists in a mix raises the question of copyright. One of the most suitable platforms is Mixcloud: as it specializes in mixes, this service has licensing agreements with the major rights management companies. This maximizes the chances you won’t have rights issues when uploading.
Soundcloud and YouTube are also often used for sharing mixtapes. These sites have a track identification system, which allows rights holders to be notified of the presence of their track in your mix. In most cases, this does not result in the mix being blocked. You won’t be able to monetize your mix, but the rights holders will be able to.
The mix can also be blocked due to the presence of certain titles, particularly for rights held by a major label. In all cases, we encourage you to be vigilant about the information shared by the platforms when you upload, and to act with respect for copyright.
Finally, you cannot upload a mix to streaming platforms such as Deezer and Spotify. These platforms do host some mixtapes in their podcast sections, but they generally come from radio stations or labels (e.g. Radio Nova and Defected Records) with copyright agreements.
As an artist, you can still take advantage of streaming platforms by creating a playlist that includes tracks from your mixtape. Many electronic music artists are adopting this strategy, with playlists that help listeners find the tracks played in their sets and mixtapes.
4. How to promote your mixtape
Share the mix on your social networks
Once you’ve uploaded your mix, social networks are an obvious place to share it. To avoid copyright problems, avoid uploading your mix there. Instead, you can use the search engine for Instagram Reels or TikTok videos to include one of the tracks from your mixtape. When you create a post to talk about your mixtape, remember to include some storytelling: you can talk about the concept of the mix or how you selected the tracks, for example.
Tag selected artists
In your mix, you’ll include your own tracks as well as those of other artists. This helps them gain visibility: when you post on social networks, remember to tag the artists’ accounts. That way, they’ll know you’ve selected them, and may share your mix or contact you.
You can also inform them by private message, which is a good way to start a conversation, or even a first step towards collaboration on a remix or featuring track.
Spread the word about the mix
In addition to your social networks, you may have other communication tools such as a website, newsletter, or press kit. Remember to include links to your mixtapes, so that your audience and music professionals can discover more about you. of course, if you want to find concert dates as a DJ, including your mixtapes in your media kit will be essential.
Offer exclusive mixes to media outlets
Once you’ve published your first mixtapes on your channels, you can start offering them to the media. This will give you greater visibility with a new audience. To maximize your chances, it’s best to offer a mix exclusively. You can turn to YouTube channels, Soundcloud artists, and media outlets that match your musical style. See which of them already publish artists’ mixtapes.
In addition, consider contacting radio stations. Because they need continuous musical content, many radio stations include artists’ mixtapes in their programming. Don’t limit yourself to the best-known radio stations: there are also many independent stations that are open to emerging artists.
Mixtapes are an excellent promotional tool for electronic music artists. They bring several advantages, such as offering content for your fans between releases and developing relationships with other artists. Last but not least, if you’re looking for gigs as a DJ, mixtapes will be indispensable for giving an overview of your musical tastes and talents.
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