Marketing is how you get your music heard. It's not about being 'salesy'—it's about connecting your art with the people who will love it. But here's the reality: a person will not find your music by itself. You need to find a way to make them find out about it.
The Common Mistake
This is what we know a lot of starting artists do:
- They spend a lot of time creating music.
- They can't find a label that is interested in signing their music.
- They decide to release the music themselves.
- The track hits the platform on the release date.
- They put out a couple of social media posts.
- The end.
This isn't enough. The audience you're looking for is bombarded with content and music every day. They won't go to Spotify and start looking for a name they've never heard of. Have you ever done this yourself? Probably not…
How Music Actually Gets Discovered
New music is often discovered through curated playlists, the radio, friends who recommend new music, TV shows, online content, etc. So your job becomes to find a way to get your audience to find out about your music. This happens through a combination of marketing and promotion.
Marketing Basics for Artists
At its core, marketing answers: Who is your audience? Where are they? What do they care about? How can you reach them?
The Marketing Mix
- Product: Your music, brand, and experience
- Place: Where people find you (platforms, venues)
- Promotion: How you spread the word
- Price: What you charge (or don't)
Remember
Great marketing feels natural when it comes from genuine enthusiasm for your music and real care for your audience. But it requires intentional effort—your music won't find its audience on its own.