Getting plays for your music through free promotion can be challenging but highly rewarding. This is especially true if your money is tight, like so many of us are experiencing in this crazy economy! While it's rare, it can happen, especially if your songs are fire.
Leverage the power of social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. Post regularly about your music, share behind-the-scenes content, and engage with your followers.
Use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience and collaborate with influencers who can help promote your music to their followers. Instagram Stories, Facebook Live, and TikTok challenges are great tools to gain traction and visibility.
Add your music to the conversation in a way that won't be too annoying or intrusive!
Reach out to music blogs and online magazines that feature new artists. Submit your music for review, interviews, or features. Bloggers and journalists are always on the lookout for fresh content, and getting featured can introduce your music to their readers.
Research blogs that align with your music genre and follow their submission guidelines carefully to increase your chances of being featured. Many blogs charge, but many others don't have a fee, and you just need to stand out.
Collaborations can help you tap into new fan bases. Partner with other musicians, producers, or vocalists to create new tracks or remixes. By working together, you can share each other’s audiences and promote each other’s music.
This can be particularly effective if you collaborate with artists who have a similar or complementary style to yours.
Join online communities and forums related to your music genre. Platforms like Reddit, music-specific forums, and Facebook groups can be great places to share your music and get feedback. Be an active member by contributing to discussions, offering valuable insights, and supporting other artists.
When you share your music, do it in a way that’s relevant to the conversation and not overly promotional. Again, try not to be annoying!
Getting your songs added to popular streaming playlists can significantly increase your plays. Submit your music to playlist curators on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms. Focus on both official playlists and user-generated ones. Like blogs, some charge, while others do not!
Create your own playlists featuring your music alongside other popular tracks to attract listeners who enjoy your genre.
Take advantage of music discovery platforms like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and ReverbNation. These platforms have built-in communities that can help you gain exposure.
Regularly update your profile, engage with listeners, play other people's songs and support, and participate in community activities. Offer exclusive content or free downloads to incentivize listeners to share your music.
With the rise of virtual events, hosting online concerts or live sessions can be an excellent way to engage with your audience. Platforms like YouTube Live, Instagram Live, and Twitch allow you to perform live and interact with viewers in real-time.
Promote these events across your social media channels and encourage your followers to attend and share the live stream. The more they share, the more you can get in front of people who haven't discovered you.
Enter music contests and challenges that are relevant to your genre. Many online platforms, social media networks, and music communities host contests that can provide exposure and opportunities to win prizes or features.
Participating in challenges, such as cover song challenges or songwriting contests, can showcase your talent to a broader audience and potentially attract new fans. Sharing your contest entries on social media can also boost engagement and plays.
Like blogs and playlists, some contests charge, while others are absolutely free to participate in. Go to the search bar on Google and different social platforms to see if any contests are happening that you can get in on!
As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 300 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
If you are in need of singer, songwriter or song producer services, see what Yona Marie can offer you on her services page.
