Welcome to a new year and a new decade. With new music marketing strategies and new platforms to get your music heard, it’s time to update your music marketing strategy for 2020 and the decade beyond. We’ve got 11 sure fire music marketing tips and tricks to get your music heard by the masses and help get you established. From getting ahead on new social media trends to risk-free band merchandise, we’ve got 11 essential music marketing tips for 2020.
Get up to speed with new social media
Social media is maybe the best way to get ahead in the music business in 2020 and beyond. It’s a free way to engage and grow your audience – and with billions on Youtube and Facebook, there’s an almost unlimited audience to tap into.
But it’s important to stay on top of the platforms and new websites including Tik Tok. A video streaming site similar to Instagram, it’s taken off since launching in 2017 and become the 7th most downloaded app from 2010 to 2020.
It’s quick and easy to use – you just point and shoot with your camera – and it has a fast-growing audience.
Synchronize your social media campaigns
Social media is a brilliant, cost-effective way to launch your 2020 music marketing strategy. But keeping on top of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Tumblr, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Reddit and the rest can feel like a full time job.
Streamline your social media accounts by using sites like Hootsuite and Sendible that let you schedule content and posts across all platforms throughout the day, week, month or even year. Both offer free 30-day trials so you can give them a test before taking the plunge.
Get online
Having your content on social media sites is essential – you can reach billions of people across the world on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and the rest. But if you’re really serious about making it in the music industry in 2020 and beyond, it’s important to have your own website. As well as a space to host your music, videos, blog, artwork, it can also make you money via music sales, gig tickets and merchandise.
And don’t be put off by the time or energy needed to create and maintain your site. You can build your own relatively cheaply using sites like Wix and WordPress, or you can go straight to website builders who’ll deliver you a final project to your specifications.
Go old school
So many tips and tricks focus on music marketing in the online world. But there’s been a return to old school values recently, making it an important part of your music marketing strategy as we head into the new decade. Head to your nearest record store and ask to put up your latest flyers, artwork and gig listings – or even ask them if they’ll support your music by playing it in store.
Do the same at any other cool places nearby including independent coffee shops, bars and boutiques. It might take longer than firing out a few emails, but there’s no substitute for face-to-face interaction.
Get interactive with your fanbase
Once you’ve grown your fanbase, there’s no better way to keep them interested than by interacting with them. That means responding to their posts and comments where you can, asking interesting questions of them and also giving them first access to tickets, new releases and new merchandise.
One way to boost your interactions is by running competitions direct with your fanbase. In return for VIP tickets or a meet-and-greet, you could ask fans to sign up to your email database or like and share your social media post. They get a chance to win the competition and you get added exposure or grow your email database, which is a key part of music marketing.
Get yourself heard
There are an almost endless number of ways to get your music heard via music marketing. Channels like Spotify, Soundcloud and Youtube let you control and upload your own music so your fanbase can hear them. But supercharge that by targeting playlists and radio stations with big followings. Getting onto a Spotify, Anghami or Youtube Playlist with half a million followers can give your music career a turbo boost – here’s Spotify’s advice on how to get playlisted.
And don’t forget your local radio stations. They might have a smaller following than in previous decades, but they’re still an important part of your local community and often very happy to play and support local talent.
Get viral
Attention spans are short and time is precious. Which is why video and images work best for music marketing and a lot of content (and explains the rise of Instagram and Tik Tok in recent years). So work with that and create your own video and photo/image content. Create your own brand style so that fans instantly know it’s your content – that could be through the background music, the fonts you use, the colours and of course your logo.
Keep the content engaging and think funny or emotional or vivid. Keep it short for example under a few minutes for video. Writing is far from dead: there’s been a resurgence in long-form interviews and features, but when it comes to social media and the 2020 generation, keep it short and sweet.
Get your own merchandise range
Making money from the music industry is more of a puzzle than it’s ever been. With streaming, film and TV sync deals, downloads, live gigs, corporate gigs and sponsorship, there have never been more ways to make money. But one of the easiest ways to make money is with a range of merchandise.
Plus it’s an excellent way to market your product and your brand to fans and their friends and family.
From t-shirts to keyrings and hoodies, shot glasses and badges, there’s an almost unending array to choose from. And the good news is that most of the money goes directly to the band or act. Sites like Everpress let you design and print your own T-shirts with no upfront fees. You only confirm the run once the minimum number of orders has been hit.
Another good alternative is Bandcamp. As well as being one of the best platforms for selling your music (you keep around 75% of the profits), you can also sell a full range of merchandise including vinyl, t-shirts, tote bags, USB sticks etc.
Reach out
As well as using Social Media platforms and your own website, it’s important for music producers to reach out to other avenues and platforms for music marketing. As we’ve already mentioned, streaming playlists are a vital resource, but it’s also important to reach out to the media.
Where once that meant just magazines and newspapers, it now also includes bloggers, vloggers, influencers, online radio shows, podcasts and dozens more.
Be specific and target a particular magazine, website, blog or podcast. There’s no point bombarding pop websites if you make underground techno. So be targeted in your approach. You’ll often find their contact details on their About page on Facebook. Send them an email with your details. Be brief but informative, tell them what news you have coming up and why you’d be a good fit for their page.
Never bulk email people – the personal approach will always work better in the long run. And if you don’t hear back within a week, try a follow up email.
Play, play, play!
If you’re just starting out, the best way to get exposure from music marketing is to say yes to gigs. It’s a good way to learn about your art and how you play live. It’s also a great chance to network and meet like-minded people.
Playing a mall opening party might not be up there with a Glastonbury set, but as the old adage goes, everyone has to start somewhere. And once you’ve built up a following from live gigs, you can be picky about which gigs you choose. And always be very careful about playing for exposure. In your very early days, it can make sense.
But once you’re established, always push for payment. It’s a fine line, but music is often seen as a free commodity, and even if it’s just to pay your taxi to and from the gig, every dollar, dime and dirham counts in this industry.
Be consistent
Consistency is key to success to music marketing. It runs all the way through your brand, from your music to your logo. It is also how you interact with your fans, how your music sounds. Make it as easy as people to fall in love with you by being consistently good.
This doesn’t mean you can’t expand your music and grow, but try not to chase trends or gimmicks.
They might work in the short term, but true success comes when you love what you’re doing. Therefore that shines through your music and connects with others.
Conclusion
So there we have it – 11 essential tips to help turbocharge your music career in 2020 and beyond. Good luck and don’t forget, Ma’ana are here to help with any and all music industry questions and advice.
If you wish to know more then please check out these other helpful blogs.
How To DIY Your Own Music Video For Free
A Step-By-Step Guide To Middle East Streaming Site
Promote Your Music With These 7 Tips And Get More Fans
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