How Musicians Grow A Fanbase From Scratch To Millions In 2024

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In 2023, the landscape of how to build a fanbase changed more significantly than in any other year I’ve seen. As we move into 2024, there are numerous pitfalls that musicians encounter daily, derailing their dreams despite having great music. Unlike some YouTubers, I engage with this work every day, documenting my findings from working with a diverse range of musicians, whether they are DIY, indie, or major label artists, across various genres. If you’re skeptical about my experience, I invite you to watch the biography video on my channel page. I’ve dedicated over a decade to mastering music marketing, spanning music, comedy, podcasts, streaming video, YouTube, and even the complex field of politics. I consult with managers, PR professionals, booking agents, campaign strategists, A&R executives, and even presidential campaign runners. I distill all this knowledge into this YouTube channel, and today, I’ll share top-line strategies to help you build a fanbase.

Understanding Algorithms: The Foundation of Music Promotion in 2024

Appealing to Algorithms Appealing to algorithms is crucial. Despite initial resistance, understanding how these algorithms work can immensely benefit your music career. Algorithms are designed based on human attention spans, so releasing music in a way that aligns with these principles will help you gain traction.

Effective Release Strategies Successful artists in 2024 often release a single every 6-8 weeks, occasionally adding alternative versions, covers, remixes, or sped-up/slowed-down versions popular on TikTok. They maintain a consistent and eventful presence by doing something notable every two weeks and smaller activities weekly. This method requires only six songs per year to fill up a calendar, paired with a well-thought-out release schedule involving single screen videos, lyric videos, music videos, and alternative versions.

Maintaining Quality Over Quantity

Strategic Song Releases Releasing a song every week may come across as desperate and can dilute the perceived value of your music. Instead, focus on quality and emotional power in your releases. Artists like Dua Lipa record numerous songs but only release the best. This approach ensures that each release is impactful and maintains the audience’s interest.

Eventful Marketing Eventful marketing is essential for keeping your audience engaged. Continuous reminders and building relationships through stories and visuals around your songs ensure that your music stays relevant in listeners’ minds. This strategy was exemplified by Lil Nas X, who used memes and continuous engagement to make “Old Town Road” a massive hit.

Singles vs. Albums

Building Deeper Connections While singles lure new listeners, albums and EPs build deeper relationships with existing fans. Singles act as an introduction, much like a sample in a mall, drawing people in to explore more of your work. Albums and EPs provide a richer experience, turning casual listeners into dedicated fans who support you through merchandise, live shows, and social media engagement.

Algorithmic Advantage Algorithms primarily favor singles. Releasing quality singles consistently increases the chances of being discovered and played on platforms like Spotify, which dominates music streaming. Understanding and utilizing Spotify’s editorial playlist submission guidelines can significantly boost your exposure.

YouTube: Building Relationships

The Power of Visuals YouTube is pivotal for music discovery and building relationships with fans. A compelling music video can leave a lasting impression, prompting viewers to share it and become invested in your music. Regular uploads of various types of content, such as behind-the-scenes footage, playthroughs, and lyric videos, keep the audience engaged and favorably positioned in YouTube’s algorithm.

Consistent Sustained Promotion Maintaining a consistent release schedule on YouTube helps build relationships and reminds fans of your presence. Eventful activities and continuous content feed the algorithm and keep your audience engaged, leading to organic growth through shares and recommendations.

Collaborations and Algorithmic Connections

Leveraging Features and Remixes Collaborating with other artists can introduce your music to new audiences and create lasting algorithmic connections. These collaborations appear in recommendations and playlists, continuously driving new listeners to your music.

Tagging and Social Media Interactions Proper tagging on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, along with social interactions on Twitter and Instagram, can help algorithms link you with similar artists. This strategy increases your visibility and the likelihood of being recommended to potential fans.

Community Engagement: The Human Element

Understanding Your Community Engaging with your local scene, genre-specific communities, and online forums helps build connections that open doors and provide support. These relationships often lead to collaborations, shared resources, and increased exposure through word-of-mouth recommendations.

Practical Community Involvement Regularly interacting with your community can lead to significant growth. Networking with mixers, directors, and other artists within your community can introduce you to influential figures and opportunities. Building these relationships organically through mutual support and collaboration is key.

TikTok: The Game Changer

The Earworm Era TikTok has revolutionized music discovery, allowing artists to reach millions with minimal budgets. By studying and engaging with TikTok’s trends and tools, musicians can create viral content that drives listeners to streaming platforms.

Effective TikTok Strategies Creating varied content, including lo-fi, edited, and high-production videos, helps maintain audience interest. Interacting with similar artists through video replies, stitches, and duets further strengthens your algorithmic presence, increasing the likelihood of your content being recommended.

Social Media: Authentic Engagement

Embracing Authenticity Authenticity is crucial on social media. Audiences are drawn to genuine personalities and stories. Sharing honest, vulnerable moments and interesting thoughts helps build a connection with your audience, making them more likely to engage with your music.

Strategic Platform Use Different social media platforms serve various purposes. Instagram is ideal for maintaining relationships and showcasing your vibe, Twitter and threads are great for community building, and TikTok is unparalleled for music discovery. Tailoring your content strategy to each platform maximizes your reach and engagement.

Genre-Specific Strategies: The Cheat Codes

Understanding Your Genre Each genre has unique promotion strategies that can significantly boost your fanbase. Researching and exploiting these cheat codes can give you an edge. For example, while radio campaigns might be ineffective for DIY pop artists, they can be highly beneficial for indie rock artists targeting college radio or Sirius XM.

Community Insights Staying informed about your community helps identify these genre-specific opportunities. Regularly engaging with your community and observing successful strategies can reveal valuable insights and practices to incorporate into your promotion efforts.

Conclusion

Building a fanbase in 2024 requires a multifaceted approach that leverages algorithms, community engagement, and authentic social media use. By consistently releasing quality music, engaging with your community, and utilizing platforms like TikTok and YouTube effectively, you can create a sustainable and growing fanbase. Remember, this journey requires dedication, continuous learning, and strategic execution. Dive deeper into each topic with the resources linked in the description and on my channel to fully master the art of music promotion.

Additional Tips: Maximizing Your Music Promotion

Use Data Analytics: Utilize tools like Spotify for Artists and YouTube Analytics to understand your audience better. Track engagement metrics to see what content resonates most and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Experiment with Content Formats: Don’t be afraid to try different content formats to see what works best. This could include live sessions, Q&A videos, or behind-the-scenes footage.
Engage with Your Fans: Respond to comments, messages, and DMs to build a strong connection with your audience. Engaging with fans makes them feel valued and more likely to support your music.
Leverage Influencer Marketing: Partner with influencers who align with your brand. Their endorsement can introduce your music to a wider audience and provide social proof.
Stay Updated on Trends: The music industry is constantly evolving. Stay informed about new trends and technologies to keep your promotion strategies current and effective.
Collaborate Strategically: Choose collaborations that make sense for your brand and fanbase. Collaborating with artists in similar genres can help you reach new listeners who are likely to enjoy your music.
Focus on Quality Content: High-quality visuals, well-produced music, and engaging content are essential. Invest time and resources into producing the best content you can.
Use Paid Advertising Wisely: While organic growth is ideal, paid advertising can help boost your visibility. Use targeted ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to reach potential fans.
Build a Mailing List: Email marketing remains a powerful tool. Collect emails at shows, through your website, or social media to keep fans updated about new releases and events.
Be Consistent: Consistency is key in building a fanbase. Regularly release content, engage with your audience, and stay active on social media to keep your fans interested and engaged.

Final Thoughts

Breaking through in the music industry requires a combination of creativity, strategy, and persistence. By understanding and utilizing the tools and platforms available, engaging authentically with your audience, and staying dedicated to your craft, you can build a loyal fanbase and achieve long-term success. Dive into the resources provided, experiment with different strategies, and most importantly, keep creating and sharing your music with the world.

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