Whether you’re a seasoned musician or new to the business, there is always a lot to learn about the intricate art of promoting oneself and how to do it the right way. By now you’ve probably heard all about Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and how important social media is generally. You might also feel a bit tired of the same old, same old and would like to try the path less travelled by the majority. After all, there’s no harm in exploring some new options, is there?

Get Playlisted 

Nowadays most music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal come with playlists curated either by their users or editors. Ending up on such a playlist might seem like a daunting task, but if achieved could result in a massive boost in your following.

On Spotify, bands can now pitch their songs to the editors but the chances to get selected are quite slim. However, one can always look into some popular playlists with music in a similar style as your own and try to get included. The more playlists you are part of, the better!

Copyright: Richard Villa

Collaborate with other creatives

Collaborating with other artists (of any kind really) could be beneficial for a couple of reasons: first of all, it would help you extend your creative network. Second, getting new engaging content will attract new followers and maintain the old ones. It’s fun to grow but making sure your old audience stays entertained and happy is key to a loyal fanbase.

For example, Black Veil Brides has been collaborating with cover artist Richard Villa who painted the cover art for most releases of the band (one example above) which meant that the band always has some beautiful artwork to feature as well as the fact that they created a special relationship with Villa.

Create your own website and update it constantly  

This is probably a no-brainer but hear me out: while every band out there can easily create their own website and throw some information on there, a lot of bands forget the most important part: maintaining it. A website can only serve its purpose if it’s properly taken care of.

As journalists, if bands want us to write something about their new release but their website looks like it has not been updated since the early 2000’s, our interest drops before even hearing how the band sounds like. It’s sad but true, image is everything nowadays and the way you present yourself is the only way people can be attracted towards you before giving you a listen.

For some inspiration check out Kamelot’s website which is very well kept and fits the color scheme of their newest release.

Create a newsletter

Connecting with the whole taking care of your image, a lovely personal touch could come in the form of a newsletter. Most bands rely on their PR agents to include them in their newsletter but making your own and sending your newest releases personally to your contacts shows attention to detail and it’s something journalists will appreciate.

Get promoted on podcasts

Although radio is not as popular as it used to be, its cousin, the podcast, is getting bigger and bigger. Some podcasts are currently very popular, with audiences clinging onto every word the host is saying. Plus, let’s be real, a lot of music podcasts are just really entertaining!

Last.fm

I discovered Last.fm (an online radio streamer) when I was a teenager, before Spotify was anything, and it was heaven for people like me who wanted to see their music categorised into how many artists you’re listening to, broken down into scrobbles (basically how many songs have you ever listened to) and loved tracks.

The website has a loyal audience who enjoys checking out their playlists and discovering new artists from there. Therefore, creating a page and making your music available there could open you up to a whole new fanbase.

In conclusion, exploring as many options as possible is your best shot at finding your way towards a loyal and loving fanbase. This article only shows 6 potential new avenues but do not be afraid to try out even less popular approaches. You never know what the next best thing will be and you might just become an overnight success by trying out something unpredictable.

Hopefully these tips will assist you in growing your fanbase. If you feel like this is something you need assistance with, we’d be more than happy to give you a hand, and you can reach out to us here. 

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