Becoming a musician in the digital era is much easier than it was for people of previous generations. At one point, the only entry point into the music industry was through record labels, who were very difficult to get in touch with. Thankfully that isn't the case anymore, and with the help of technology, social media, and video streaming platforms, musicians can successfully earn money, gain exposure, and pitch their music to talent scouts and agencies.
This article will break down how you can do that:
Distribution Services
One of the first things that you should do when you want to gain exposure is to contact a music distribution service. Many independent musicians recommend Indiefy for music distribution because they facilitate the sale of artists' music on platforms like iTunes, Google Play, and Deezer. Distribution services act as record labels, signing deals directly with independent artists. Sometimes distribution services also refer musicians to record labels with whom they do business, though this is rare. A distribution service will work with any independent musician, so no matter your experience or reputation, you will be able to market yourself through them.
Social Media
Another important thing for you to do is to market yourself on social media. There are lots of different social media platforms, some of which are better for music marketing. The best are Instagram and Facebook. Snapchat can also be useful, though it's usually advisable to build your following on Instagram and Facebook first. The former is a particularly good place to start out because you are able to tag your videos and pictures with locations, hashtags, and information that will make it easier for your target audience to find you. Instagram also allows you to build a unique homepage.
Video Streaming
You should also create an account on a video streaming platform, like Twitch or YouTube. Twitch is better for content creators who already have substantial followings, while YouTube is great for finding an audience. YouTube's algorithm can be cracked quite easily, provided that you take time to study and understand it. There are lots of online courses that make understanding YouTube's algorithm much easier. Video streaming platforms also allow you to monetize your content, which means not only do you gain exposure, but you also are able to profit from your music. You can also get sponsorships, which can be very lucrative.
If you want to become a successful musician in the digital age, then you need a brand. Developing that brand can be difficult but is an absolute necessity. There are several ways that you can develop your brand, two of which have already been mentioned. Another way of developing your brand is to create a persona or a character. This is usually just an exaggerated version of yourself. Dress a little more flamboyantly, talk romantically, and draw as much attention to yourself, while still appearing humble. It's much easier to sell your music when you have a flamboyant persona. Earlier on, we mentioned the term target audience. This is a marketing term that refers to one's intended audience; the people to whom one is marketing a product. If you aren't clear about who your target audience is, then you will struggle to sell your music. Usually, one's target audience is the people who listen to the genre of music that you produce. With that said, there are many different genres and subgenres of music. In order to find your audience, you need to find the people who listen to your specific niche, which you can do through hashtags and other musicians' social media pages. If you live in a city or large town, a live appearance at your local radio station is definitely something that's worth pursuing. Local radio helped many of the world's most famous musicians get their careers off of the ground. Talent scouts regularly listen to local radio stations, looking for new musicians to sign. In addition to gaining exposure, you will also meet new people in your area, and make connections in your town or city's music scene. Getting a spot on a local radio show shouldn't be difficult if your music is good. You may also want to try and get an appearance on an internet radio show. Another thing that you need to consider is producing your own merchandise. Lots of musicians find that merchandise helps their music sales. If your merchandise looks cool, people will wear it even if they don't listen to your music. This will help to spread your name and increase your industry exposure. Becoming a successful musician isn't impossible, it just takes a bit of work. You need to focus on marketing yourself and should consider hiring a distribution service, that will be able to market you on a greater scale and get you live on platforms like Spotify and iTunes.
Brand Development
Target Audience
Local Radio
Producing Merchandise
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of musictimes.com
