fbpx
Posted on December 29, 2022

New Year’s Resolutions For Musicians

By Barbara Drews
Share on Twitter Pin it Pin it

Setting an intention for the new year should be your first step. Why do you want to practice more if you already do? What does it entail to "become a better musician" if you wish to do so? Whatever it is, let's pretend that your basic New Year's resolutions this year is to take greater pleasure in creating music.

There is no wrong answer, however here are some pointers: Being a better musician can involve improving your technique to play more closely to what's in your ears, honing your ear to hear more complexity and precision, being a better collaborator or listener, and many other skills.

To increase your appreciation of music, try the following New Year’s Resolutions!

New Year’s Resolution #1: Improvise

By improvising, you can tap into your inherent creativity and let go of the need to "get it right." Make it a point to set out some of your practice time for improv, and enjoy it! Choose a key and a steady rhythm, then continue. If you have experience improvising, challenge yourself by experimenting with other rhythms and genres.

New Year’s Resolution #2: Practice With A Metronome

Whatever your theoretical beliefs about Truth, it's very obvious that proper intonation, rhythm, and timing are essential components of effective musicianship. It's never too late to start using certain "truth-seeking" techniques in your practice if you don't already do so regularly.

Here are some steps on how to level up your metronome practice:

  • Take off the beats to increase accuracy.
  • Tap tempo can be used to determine rhythms for practice.
  • Practice gradually.
  • Make changes to your subdivisions to reduce the click's frequency.
  • Use drum loops to practice.

New Year’s Resolution #3: Expand Your Musical Horizons

Now and again, change the focus of your practice. The aim is to experiment with different maneuvers that your muscles aren't accustomed to making and noises that your ears aren't familiar with hearing.

New Year’s Resolution #4: Explore New Genres

Producing sound is only one aspect of being a musician. Simply by listening, you can learn a lot and get inspiration. Your New Year's resolution can be to double the number of artists you found this year and to completely redesign your 2022 Spotify Wrapped from your 2021 version.

New Year’s Resolution #5: Exercise

We frequently overlook the physical nature of music production. Be aware of any potential physical stresses that your profession can cause. Learn which exercises can help you build essential muscular strength and include those in your workout regimen. Of course, warm up your body before playing, and remember to stretch frequently.

New Year’s Resolution #6: Collaborate

By exchanging ideas, you not only improve as a listener and creator, but you may also create magic. 

Here are multiple different ways to collaborate: 

  • Casual jam
  • Co-write a song
  • Remix a track together
  • Swap gigs
  • Share a tour

New Year’s Resolution #7: Find An Accountability Partner

Having an accountability partner is beneficial for giving your objectives guidance and assistance. Establish certain milestones you want to reach by a specific date with a buddy who shares your aims. Their goals don't have to be the same as yours.  Put it on your calendars, remind one another, and encourage one another.

New Year’s Resolution #8: Experiment With DAWs

In 2022, if you're not familiar with digital music creation, you should begin exploring the world of DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations). There is undoubtedly a learning curve, but computer music offers a wealth of opportunities that are all worth investigating.  Set it a mission to produce your tracks regularly, and you'll acquire the knowledge and sounds as you go.

Here are the best DAWs for producing music in 2023:

Key Takeaway

We hope that these musical New Year's Resolutions have energized and inspired you for 2023! MusicPromoToday is a marketing agency that is committed to assisting musicians in maintaining their attention on what is most important: their music. Follow us on Instagram for relevant information on music marketing, and check our blog frequently for insights on other services that can help you advance your musical career.


Join our weekly newsletter

Music related articles every week in your inbox

    Click To Try

    We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Posted on December 14, 2022

    How To Master A Christmas Marketing Campaign: Part 2

    By Shawn Spence
    Share on Twitter Pin it Pin it

    If you’re coming from “How To Master A Christmas Marketing Campaign: Part 1,” welcome back! If you still haven’t checked part 1 out, head to our blog to check it out!

    Below, we will offer insightful guidance from marketing professionals in this guide to assist you in developing a successful Christmas marketing campaign for 2022. 

    Excited? Let's begin.

    5 Tips For Planning Your Next Christmas Marketing Campaign

    Personalized Emails

    You should take advantage of the eager chances presented by your fans and followers of your content. Segment your current audience and mailings promoting your holiday merch to each segment. Never forget to customize them and add a dash of warmth.

    Measure Your KPIs

    You must specify the important marketing KPIs in terms of reaching a specific percentage increase in audience. To provide exceptional holiday content, you must decide the customer engagement tools and procedures you need to communicate with your fans instantaneously across their preferred channels.

    Decorate Your Online Store On Your Website

    Your website is one of the primary platforms via which the audience engages with you directly. Thus, you must establish a theme or include "holiday spirit" components on your website where your audience can engage with your brand.

    What to do…? What to do...?

    • Modify the website's components.
    • Create landing pages for certain content components.
    • Create trigger pop-up windows for different pages.
    • Include a cover photo with a Christmas theme that promotes deals and sales on your website.

    Why Decorate Your Landing Page?

    Content, design, and landing page setup are all you need.

    The audience can get the information they were seeking with the aid of appealing landing pages. If your messaging is consistent throughout the consumer journey, it will enhance the convenience of the purchase process.

    Another strategy for encouraging the customer to buy is to use trigger pop-ups. Introduce time-limited deals, larger discounts, and bundled items while your fan is conducting research. This helps your fan make a decision right away rather than putting it off. 

    Spread The Christmas Cheer Across Social Media

    Fans, followers, and brand ambassadors are some of your biggest allies and elves because they can spread the word about you like wildfire. They are familiar with your brand, your music, and the target market you serve, or one that closely resembles it.

    How To Spread The Christmas Cheer Across Social Media

    • Locate your superfans and get in touch with them.
    • Request their assistance in spreading the word.
    • Thank them for their support.
    • Collaborate with them to create social media content.
    • Start a #hashtag thread.
    • Employ Christmas marketing catchphrases.
    • Develop a trend to increase audience engagement.

    Speaking of social media marketing…

    Run A Christmas-Themed Giveaway

    Giveaways are a fairly affordable way to interact with your followers, gain new ones, and generate excitement for a forthcoming event. Typically, encouraging followers to share, like, and comment is an excellent approach to increase interaction on your giveaway.

    Why? Well, giveaways have been used by brands in the hopes of increasing interest in and sales of their goods and services. You can simply get your target audience enthusiastic about the approaching holidays and your brand by employing merch freebies and promotional events.

    Takeaway On Acing A Christmas Marketing Campaign

    After reading this article, you should have identified some Christmas marketing strategies that you are already utilizing, some that are in the works, and others that require replacing in order to support your holiday goal of increasing sales.

    Your plan for developing a killer Christmas marketing campaign is clearly laid out. Even if it is the last day, last week, or last second, don't stress.

    Having MPT Agency's support allows well-known musicians from all over the world to concentrate on their work each day while we generate traffic to their accounts. To learn about more services that can assist promote your musical career, be sure to constantly check our blog and follow us on Instagram for more information on music marketing.


    Join our weekly newsletter

    Music related articles every week in your inbox

      Click To Try

      We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

      Posted on December 12, 2022

      How To Master A Christmas Marketing Campaign: Part 1

      By Shawn Spence
      Share on Twitter Pin it Pin it

      Is it December already? The trees were still shedding when you last checked. You thought that you still had to go through Halloween, but Black Friday has already passed, leaving you with little time to prepare a Christmas marketing campaign. But for you, it's still not too late. Read this article, then get started on implementing your holiday-themed Christmas marketing campaign into action.

      If, however, the calendar shows that Christmas is still far off, don't just do nothing since your audience won't… Our team at MusicPromoToday has put together a variety of easy tips, methods, and professional advice for managing a prosperous Christmas marketing campaign.

      Let’s dive into it:

      5 Tips For Planning Your Next Christmas Marketing Campaign

      Analyze Last Year’s Christmas Campaign

      Early in the year, while campaigns are still fresh in your mind, is the optimum time to analyze Christmas campaigns. It's still not too late to estimate the efficiency of this year's campaign though. Set aside some time today to review your prior Christmas accomplishments and see what worked, what didn't, and why. The sooner, the better, so you can move on to the next important steps in organizing your Christmas marketing...

      Create A Timeline Including All Crucial Elements

      Christmas is only one aspect of the holiday season. You should schedule your marketing around a few other occasions as well. Your campaign's chronology will be informed by the timeline you create.

      Below are some of the other holidays included in the month of December:

      • Winter Solstice — Thursday 22nd December 2022
      • Christmas Eve — Saturday 24th December 2022
      • Christmas Day — Sunday 25th December 2022
      • Boxing Day — Monday 26th December 2022
      • New Year’s Eve — Saturday 31st December 2022
      • New Year’s Day — Sunday 1st January 2022

      Consider Your Social Media Platforms

      Review the social media platforms you'll be utilizing to market your Christmas campaign next.  The continuous delivery of your campaign across all pertinent social media platforms is crucial. This aids in the development of a new fan base and a seamless audience.

      Plan Your Christmas Marketing Message

      Make a plan for your holiday marketing messaging.

      Planning your Christmas marketing message is very critical. To hone your message, take into account:

      • What your audience wants
      • Your objective
      • How you stand out from other musicians
      • How you give value to your audience
      • What do you want your audience to believe, feel, and act

      It is your responsibility to develop a unified message that conveys these components and encourages your audience and potential fans.

      Create Your Campaign’s Content

      You've now established the foundation for your campaign, so it's time to start creating content.  Determine the materials you need to develop by mapping out every campaign touchpoint across each platform. Make sure your language and design convey your message consistently throughout each item, reflecting your theme.

      Final Thoughts On Mastering A Christmas Marketing Campaign In 2022

      Christmas 2022 will be distinct from previous years owing to Covid-19's long-lasting effects, just like the previous two Christmas seasons. People still enjoy holidays, though, so that is one thing that hasn't changed. 

      Take a cue from the advice we've provided above as you develop your Christmas marketing strategy this year to determine what will perform best for your brand. Furthermore, don't limit yourself to only the Christmas season; you can use this guide to advance all of your seasonal marketing initiatives and enhance your future success.

      Well-known artists from all around the world can concentrate on their work every day because MPT Agency drives traffic to their accounts. For more information about music marketing and to find out about more services that can help you progress your musical career, be sure to check out our blog often and follow us on Instagram.


      Join our weekly newsletter

      Music related articles every week in your inbox

        Click To Try

        We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

        Posted on November 18, 2022

        The Best Way To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads

        By Yvonne Martin
        Share on Twitter Pin it Pin it

        Many people who have never used Facebook ads shudder at the thought because they believe it to be an outdated platform for boomers. However, you can grow your Spotify via Facebook Ads! How? Well, Facebook has more than 2 billion monthly users, and utilizing Facebook ads means running ads on:

        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • Even Messenger!

        Thus, Ads will appear on Facebook:

        • News articles
        • Marketplace items
        • Feeds
        • Stories
        • Websites
        • Applications

        Do’s & Don’ts

        This sort of campaign's fundamental premise is that you can use a conversion target that utilizes the advantage of the Facebook Pixel

        Do’s:

        Use conversions to:

        • Exclude bots
          • Create retargeting audiences
        • Utilize a Facebook Business Manager account and a verified domain to track the conversions.

        Don’ts:

        • Do not launch a traffic campaign and direct people to Spotify. 

        Evidently, due to the lack of tracking, you can wind up with a lot of pointless bot clicks that result in no Spotify streams. 

        As a result, this will allow you to run ads for other objectives to those who converted in the past. Consequently, we require a website on which we can set up our pixel code and launch "events" whenever a user clicks the Spotify button on the landing page.

        Deep Dive Into Campaign Structures And Ads

        What Is A Facebook Campaign? How Can You Use A Facebook Campaign To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads?

        A Facebook campaign has three levels:

        • The campaign → Establish your campaign's goal, start, and finish dates.
        • The ad set →  Specify your target audience, market interest, and origin of your audience.
        • The ad →  Select which Facebook and Instagram page the ad appears on.

        Myth: Facebook Ads do Not Provide A Return On Investment For Spotify

        The truth is that a typical return on investment will not ever be as high as $3 in Spotify royalties for every $1 spent on Facebook ads.

        Undeniably, you can observe a rise in your:

        • Following, a new fanbase
        • Trustworthiness due to successful releases
        • The number of data sources for future marketing campaigns

        Certainly, the majority of independent musicians will make a modest living by:

        • Gradually expanding their back catalog of songs
        • Increasing the number of streams they receive through algorithmic or editorial playlists

        Why Are Facebook Ads So Great? The Reason To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads.

        Facebook offers:

        • Comprehensive targeting choices
        • Flexible budgeting
        • An algorithm that can be self-optimized to get the best results at the lowest cost

        Let us examine the advantages of Facebook advertisements in further detail:

        1. In-depth targeting choices are available
        2. Basic demographic choices are available for a very broad range of interests, including brands, genres, performers, goods, and more
        3. The ads can be "scaled," and you can manage your spending; the more you spend, the better the results you receive, but you can still spend as little as $1 per day.
        4. With Facebook's learning algorithm, you can receive the most results for the least amount of money.
        5. People that interact with you can be added to "Custom Audiences" so that you can display your ads later on for less money than it cost to first reach them.
        6. There are also "Lookalike Audiences" which are “Custom Audiences” that contain 1+ million or more people that are similar to your fans.

        Thus, you are able to…

        Apply The Following Strategies To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads

        • Direct listeners who are specifically interested in your Spotify profile
        • Utilize Facebook's tools and algorithm to get more of those fans at a lower cost
        • Boost your chances of fooling the Spotify algorithm into giving you free access to even more of your followers

        Strategies To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads

        Every time you put out a new song, you have the opportunity to:

        • Pitch it to the Spotify editors
        • Have it added to the Release Radar playlist of your listeners
        • Have it included in the Release Radar playlist of Spotify users who have similar listening habits to yours

        Release one song each month, this way you will increase the:

        • Amount of pitches you obtain
        • Length of time your song is on Release Radar
        • Monthly growth of your stream and followers

        Final Thoughts

        Do not anticipate a return on your initial investment from your first campaign. However, fans who follow your profile will be informed of any upcoming releases, which might expand your fan base and increase the number of plays you receive. 

        Keep in mind that it is not a race, it is a marathon!

        For further information, keep an eye on our blog and Instagram to make the procedure as simple as possible.


        Join our weekly newsletter

        Music related articles every week in your inbox

          Click To Try

          We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

          Posted on November 11, 2022

          Are Apple Music’s Subscription Fees Rising For Good?

          By John Reynolds
          Share on Twitter Pin it Pin it

          The recent price rise for Apple Music's subscription and a foreseeable price increase for Spotify would enhance music sales in the United States and throughout the world and have an influence on library values.

          Increased rates for Apple Music and Spotify's individual plans can result in hundreds of millions of dollars more in subscription income each year in the United States.

          What Is The Expected Revenue?

          The expected incremental earnings from these pricing hikes for streaming services is around $650 million per year. That is predicated on a 7% increase in subscriber growth in 2023, no further churn, a whole year of price increases, and higher costs including both self-paid and promotional subscription plans.

          Will Every Aspect Be Affected?

          A tiny amount of churning is anticipated, though, and Spotify is not expected to increase its prices at the start of the new year. Not all subscription plans are liable to price increases, too. (For instance, Apple is not raising the cost of Apple Music Voice.) As a result, the actual impact is probably going to be less next year and during the years to come.

          Let us Get Into Specifics

          • Individual subscriptions for Apple Music now cost $10.99 per month instead of $9.99. 
          • The cost of the family plan went up $2 from $14.99 to $16.99. 
          • The price of Apple One, a package that includes services like Apple Music, Apple TV+
          • Others increased by $2 for the solo plan and by $3 for the family (which includes Apple Arcade and iCloud+) and premier plans (which adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+).

          How Will Apple Music’s Subscription Affect Spotify?

          • In the United States, Spotify could follow with a $1 per individual membership price rise. 
          • It is prohibited from raising the cost of the family plan by more than the $1 it added in April, to $15.99. 
          • Student rates on Spotify are available for $4.99 per month. 
          • Billboard anticipates that the reduced plans will remain unchanged for these intents.

          How Will Apple Music’s Subscription Affect Musicians?

          A price rise essentially results in a pay hike for creators and copyright owners. The same portion of streaming services' earnings would go to labels and publishers as royalties. 

          Although some churn is likely, higher costs wouldn't affect listeners' habits, thus the arithmetic would be in favor of musicians and rights holders: a bigger royalty pool would be split by the same number of streams to determine the per-stream fee owing to each track.

          Songs and recordings would also be worth more if the two biggest subscription services in the US charged higher charges. 

          • A catalog's current royalty income will rise with increased prices
          • Streaming growth has a positive correlation with greater catalog values. 

          According to a recent study by Professor Larry Miller of New York University, streaming accounted for 62% of the typical multiple paid-for composition portfolios in 2021, Billboard reported this week.

          While Spotify's CEO Daniel Ek claimed the firm will likely follow Apple Music's path when chatting to investors on Spotify's Oct. 25 earnings call, the company has not yet announced a general price rise on its individual and family plan subscriptions. 

          Ek told investors that raising the price in the United States is "one of the things we would like to do" and that Spotify will speak with labels "in light of these recent events with our label partners."

          Expect prices to rise as a matter of course. In May, Amazon Music Unlimited increased its pricing. In its biggest market, France, Deezer increased subscription rates in January. Rate increases are also scheduled for December in Germany and the United States. According to Deezer CEO Jeronimo Folgueira, the price hike by Apple Music "opens the door for further price increases down the line."

          Final Thoughts

          Numerous factors will influence just how much additional funds these price increases will bring in. In any scenario, musicians and owners of the associated rights can anticipate higher subscription payments through 2023.

          To find out what services can enhance your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.


          Join our weekly newsletter

          Music related articles every week in your inbox

            Click To Try

            We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

            Posted on November 10, 2022

            How To Utilize Spotify Wrapped 2022 As A Musician?

            By Yvonne Martin
            Share on Twitter Pin it Pin it

            The time has come! Spotify Wrapped will now let you see a "snapshot" of your entire year! We all eagerly await the announcement of the music we've been listening to during the previous year.

            As Spotify Wrapped summarizes your musical year, it shares your favorite musicians, tracks, genres, artists to explore, and even your moods.

            Thousands of people share their "Wrapped" every year in what started as a viral marketing campaign in 2016 and has since grown into a significant event for music lovers and social media users.

            When Will Spotify Wrapped 2022 Be Released?

            Launching a website promoting the feature and making a data-sharing hint: 

            “Wrapped is a deep dive into the music and podcasts that defined your 2022. Keep listening to what you love, and we’ll shout when it’s ready.”

            Spotify discontinued the function in recent years at the beginning of December; in 2021 it was done so on December 1 and 2020 on December 2. Consequently, it won't be long before you may hear how your music is summarized in 2022.

            How To Access Spotify Wrapped 2022

            Your Spotify Wrapped 2022 can be accessed here. Additionally, it will be shown on your homepage, and you'll probably get a notification when it's prepared for viewing.

            Why The Last Two Months Of The Year Are Not Included In Spotify Wrapped 2022 Results?

            The last two months of the year are not tracked for Wrapped, as Spotify previously said on Twitter, saying:

            “We’re afraid that listening to a bunch of stuff right now will not make any difference to this year’s or next year’s Spotify Wrapped. This is because it only covers from January 1 to October 31. Hope this clears things up.”

            Although they have not yet provided a concrete explanation, many believe it is because it is the holiday season and people begin to play Christmas music nonstop as soon as Halloween is over. 

            Others believe it is simply because the company wants to give themselves enough time to get the app and your results ready for the end of the year.

            A Complete Checklist Of Actions You Should Take Now

            With Spotify Wrapped 2022, hundreds of millions of listeners from all over the world get together to discuss the songs that helped shape their year. Spotify is bringing Wrapped the biggest one yet in 2022 and giving fans new ways to interact with the musicians they most frequently listened to.

            Upload A Video For Your Top Listeners

            Personalize your message with a video. Thank your best listeners for making this year's celebration possible. Make a 30-second clip to share with your audience what their support means to you in 2022. 

            • Express gratitude to your audience.
            • Hint at upcoming projects.
            • Share a memorable moment from the last year.

            Before November 18th, upload your video through Spotify for Artists for a chance to be included in your fans' 2022 Wrapped experience on Spotify.

            How To Accomplish This:

            • Use a smartphone device to record a vertical, under-30-second "thank you" video.
            • Ensure that your video is free of music, singing, or lyrics; explicit material; brand or logos; and additional text, graphics, or filters.
            • Upload using the desktop web or Spotify for Artists app.

            Advertise Your Merch

            Make your newest merch the spotlight at Wrapped in 2022. This year, Spotify will use its Wrapped experience to advertise your merchandise to your most devoted followers via email, Spotify, and other channels. 

            How To Accomplish This:

            • Connect Spotify for Artists to your Shopify store.
            • Use Shopify to publish new or exclusive merch to the Spotify Sales Channel.

            For further details, link your store here.

            Highlight Your Upcoming Concerts

            Are there any upcoming tour dates? Let your followers know when and where they can join you in toasting a fantastic year. This year, Spotify will be presenting tailored concert recommendations to your most devoted listeners in this year's Wrapped. Encourage your audience to switch from streaming to front-row screams.

            How To Accomplish This:

            • Add your concerts to one of Spotify's affiliate sites. 
            • Make sure the dates in the “On Tour” part of your artist profile are accurate by checking your artist profile.
            • During Wrapped, Spotify will let your best listeners know about your upcoming concerts.

            To get your shows and concerts listen, click here

            Encourage Your Fans To A Cause

            The edition of Wrapped is ideal for rallying followers around a fundraising objective. Use Fan Support to raise money for a worthy cause you support or to gather end-of-year tips during a season known for generosity and demonstrating affection.

            How To Accomplish This:

            • Create a fan support link on your profile using Spotify for Artists' fan support feature.
            • Obtain money through one of Spotify’s fundraising partners.

            Start your fundraising journey by clicking here.

            Final Thoughts On Spotify Wrapped

            You cannot argue against technical advancement, as MPT Agency has seen throughout history in all industries. If simply for fan convenience or visibility, all artists need to be available on all platforms.

            MPT Agency helps you automate and optimize your music listening experience. Check out our blog to learn more about the latest industry news and make sure to follow us on Instagram for additional music marketing-related updates.


            Join our weekly newsletter

            Music related articles every week in your inbox

              Click To Try

              We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

              Posted on October 6, 2022

              How Playlist Promotions work and Calculating The Results

              By John Reynolds
              Share on Twitter Pin it Pin it

              You get a lot of insights from social platforms but how to calculate playlist promo and results is still tricky.

              A performing, recording, or independent musician has a 5% chance to live solely off their music. This includes musicians who live with their family unit. Those who are a part of a large music label, and finally the ones who spend at least 30% of their working hours performing in venues, bars, and everything in between.

              The stereotype of the starving artist has seldom changed over the last century. However, the hope digital outlets generate has given musicians of this generation a leg up on their senior counterparts.

              CD sales and demo tapes dominated the revenue stream only 30 years ago. Today the individual track, the stream, the view, and finally the live show, are inescapable reaching one's fans and monetizing a career.

              In light of this new form of digital dominion, the industry of playlist curators exploded and is the main gateway for artists to get their music out.

              Riddled with bot accounts the market is difficult to navigate. Yet, there is hope if you find the right agency to rummage through the fraudulent accounts.

              Playlist marketplaces are important to engage in Playlist Promotion

              Playlist marketplaces are a jungle of questions for most artists. Will the streams count, will they lead to more, and is it really worth it? Usually composed of a shadowy SEO-jammed website with user-friendly buy buttons, playlist marketplaces are in the grey zone of the music promotions tool kit.

              As buying views is pretty controversial on account of bot accounts and automation, the proper way of addressing playlist curators is the classic pitch, which an artist can do via submission portals or directly by finding the owner of the playlist in question. 

              Not always the simplest method, nor does it usually garner a lot of response, but if your music is fly, your pitch is clean and your timing on when you sent the message was properly throughout, you should expect at least a 15% positive response rate. Which is not bad, considering it's a question of numbers. The more playlists you are on, the more views or streams you get. 

              The Reality of Streaming Royalties

              Despite streaming making up over 60% of all redistributed revenue in the music industry, the average artist will be making under 1000$ a year from streaming. In the case of Spotify, arguably the largest streaming platform in the world, a recent study by Forbes demonstrated that from their 7 billion dollars of royalty payouts, 28% of the artists received over 10 000$.

              Now, that might seem like a lot, but consider that the 28% includes label artists, superstars, film scores, and legacy artists that have spent decades making a career. This essentially means that they are most likely equipped with a promotional or marketing team, that monitors, tracks, and adjusts their reach metrics to maintain a steady flow of listeners and onboard new fans. 

              How Playlist Promotions work and Calculating The Results
              How to Calculate Playlist Promo and Results

              Calculating Playlist Promotion Campaigns

              So, let’s do some calculations. At an average market payout of 0.006325 $ / stream, 159 000 streams would gross roughly 1000 USD, which means to reach that 10k revenue milestone an artist would need to generate close to 1,59 million views in the first year of their Spotify career.

              With Spotify advertising starting at 250 USD per ad campaign, and pseudo-view marketplaces selling 10k views for an average of 50 USD, an artist would be able to hit 100k views with roughly 750 USD. Assuming that they would make an extra 30% viewership count due to the ad push, 130k views would have an average cost of 0.005769 $, at a margin of roughly 8% grossing  822.25 USD a profit of 72.25 USD. Following the numbers, the average value of your first batch of streams is 0.000556 $. That's right, dollars, not satoshi’s. 

              Streamlining your work and pushing with paid advertising is an option. But at an 8% margin, not counting the risk, the time, the constant monitoring, and the artists' scalable popularity, which needs to break through the industry's saturated market, it is not a good business case and does not offer a livable wage for anyone. 

              Creative Time

              Firstly it is important to realize that your chances of reaching monetization amounts with a laissez-faire attitude on streaming platforms like Spotify are slim to none. All streaming platforms are marketing or promo dependent if you want to use them as a source of revenue, rather than just another profile. According to Spotify, 57 000 of its nearly 10 million creators represent over 90% of the streams, and therefore its royalty redistribution

              Marketing Time

              The rule of thumb for most professional artists is 50 / 50, 50% of the time you market and build your brand, and 50% of the time you make your art; fair enough. But this means your learning curve, the trial, and error of target markets, the engagement analysis, and of course the adaptation of your strategy can only be done during 50% of your waking & working hours.

              If algorithms were that simple to adapt to, there wouldn't be a 50 billion $ market cap in music marketing technology. The reality of the situation is that without professional help or some type of technological literacy, you are basically shooting in the dark hoping to hit a fly on the nose. Reliant on fan 2 fan engagement, the artist without a team nor the digital know-how is setting themselves up for failure and is unfortunately caught in the blaze of hopium offered by most platforms. 

              Taking into account that a salary of 10 - 30k USD may be an upper or middle-class income for the developing world, but in all major North American and European cities, where the average rent is between 1000 - 1800 USD, an annual income under 30k means you are spending over 50% of your net on basic housing before taxes and food are even brought into the mix.

              Needless to say, if this is your only income, you are stuck in a literal poverty cycle and will most likely be going through serious financial stress as life is far from being a predictable path.

              To stream or not to stream why it matters when you calculate playlist promo?

              For MPT Agency, all industries throughout history have demonstrated, you cannot challenge technological innovation. All artists should be present on all streaming platforms, be it only for the visibility or convenience factor for fans. The one they ultimately choose to use in their conversion funnel is dependent on the artists' budget, their time metrics, and of course, their understanding of the algorithmic ecosystem that governs the how's and why’s of visibility. 

              Paying for streams can be a part of larger campaigns the artist adopts in their path to success, but in no way, shape or form should it be the be-all and end-all of their exposure strategy.

              Make sure you check our blog about influencers who can be a huge help to your playlist campaign. We regularly post key artist content so make sure to follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.


              Join our weekly newsletter

              Music related articles every week in your inbox

                Click To Try

                We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

                Posted on September 12, 2022

                The Ultimate Guide To Influencer Marketing For Musicians

                By Yvonne Martin
                Share on Twitter Pin it Pin it

                How does one define the ultimate guide to influencer marketing? To level the playing field in the music business today is more of an architectural development than anything. It is simpler than ever to produce an album or a single in your bedroom, submit it to the internet, and encourage interaction on social media. 

                It also enables musicians to use influencer marketing. Not only the internet, but all technology is to blame for this. 

                Naturally, the internet allows influencers to advertise music to millions of prospective followers worldwide through their social media platforms.

                The disadvantage of the simplicity of recording and sharing music is that everyone will be able to do it. How can you make your song stand out from all the others and be heard in the crowd? 

                That is indeed a difficulty, but there are tools available to assist you. For musicians, one such method is Influencer Marketing.

                Does it seem interesting to you? So, consider this your formal invitation to join the influencer marketing renaissance. 

                All aboard!

                What Does Influencer Marketing For Music Look Like?

                One of the largest emerging trends that independent musicians may currently include in their social media marketing plan is influencer marketing. 

                A so-called "influencer" is used to promote a good, service, or brand in influencer marketing, a kind of social media advertising. When employing influencer marketing, it's important to consider the influencer's account's emphasis and how their audience's interests relate to your brand.

                It's not surprising that influencers have a significant effect on what music is popular and, by extension, what isn't in a world where social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are the primary tastemakers for new music.

                Particularly in the music industry, the development of influencer marketing has helped new musicians gain massive fan bases, generate buzz for their songs, and become overnight sensations. 

                Influencers may share your music with their audience in several different ways. They could come up to you and want to listen to your music. Influencer marketing, on the other hand, usually emphasizes organized collaborations in which you've had some input. They might:

                • Review or get live feedback on your music
                • Incorporate your music into a video's backdrop.
                • Put a caption about your music.

                How To Use Influencer Marketing As A Musician?

                If done properly, influencer marketing is a terrific tool in a musician's marketing toolbox. It's better to get started by learning how to utilize it to create the greatest campaign you can.

                Do Extensive Research

                The most crucial phase of any marketing plan is research. You need to understand how to locate affiliates and how to recognize the top affiliates for your brand at the start of your influencer marketing journey. 

                For instance:

                • Select your influencers
                • Know the influencer’s content
                • Know their services
                • Know their values
                • And most importantly, know your goals

                Broaden Your Platforms

                Instagram is sometimes referred to be the influencers' social media network, and it is undoubtedly well-liked by some groups of individuals. Influencers are not just present on one site, though!

                Depending on your objectives, you may find that the increasingly popular video influencer platforms Youtube and Tiktok are more suited for artists. For instance, a well-known TikTok creator may include your music in a video to make it a trend, which might be more successful than a silent Instagram post.

                Plan Your Budget

                Influencer marketing often entails payment in exchange for your influencer's services, just like any other marketing campaign.

                Relevance to your niche or genre is more crucial than audience growth. This should be reflected in your budget, which should be based on the influencer's price which is most likely to have an impact rather than their popularity.

                Your team finance strategy must be effective and include a backup plan for extra services that can be useful to you, such as giveaways.

                Stay In Control

                There are occasions when marketing campaigns don't go as expected. This is just the way business works; it doesn't mean your campaign was a failure; it just means you may use it to your advantage moving forward.

                You must determine the cause if your campaign doesn't seem to be benefiting your brand. 

                Regression testing is one method you may use to do that. Define regression testing then. 

                Regression testing allows you to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of particular campaign components without changing the elements of your campaign that are already successful.

                Make sure to have a positive working relationship, and never forget to consult your affiliate partners before making significant changes to your campaign.

                Which Platforms Work Best For Music Influencer Marketing?

                TikTok

                For creators of any size, becoming viral on TikTok is now a feasible goal thanks to the platform's algorithm. The music industry may target a younger audience that favors music influencers over all other types of influencers at this center for Gen Z.

                The great majority of TikTok's viral moments originate from its Commercial Music Library, which is a collection of more than 150,000 pre-cleared, royalty-free tunes gathered from up-and-coming musicians and prestigious record labels. Each track may be used for advertisements and promotions, and the collection is accessible worldwide.

                Instagram

                Instagram offers a decent collection of tracks that users can use for their Stories and Reels, similar to TikTok. This has shown to be an effective strategy for artists to engage audiences and introduce them to fresh talent. In addition, short videos with music might help your content be noticed given Instagram's new focus on Reel content.

                Youtube

                YouTube developed YouTube Shorts in 2021 as its own short-form vertical format to keep pace with TikTok and Instagram Reels. Users may utilize Shorts to be able to produce content that resembles the viral trends on TikTok and Instagram by selecting music snippets from among the millions of videos posted on the platform.

                Although Reels and TikTok videos are more well-known than Shorts, YouTube remains the best option for people who want access to a wider variety of music.

                Twitch 

                Twitch is typically associated with live gaming broadcasts, but it's also a platform where musicians can share their work, grow a fanbase, and interact with their followers.

                As all live performances and events were put on hold due to the pandemic, Twitch's popularity among musicians skyrocketed. To organize virtual shows, conduct Q&As, and showcase their most recent albums, many musicians turned to the streaming site as a consequence.

                However, those who work in the music industry also utilize Twitch as a method to play video games after work. Regular users of the platform, artists like Post Malone and T-Pain have taken advantage of it to reach a larger audience.

                Key Takeaway

                Use music influencer marketing to capitalize on the biggest trends on social media.

                The simplest method to add personality to your content on social media is to include music in your posts. And in the music industry, collaborating with creators might be the secret to expanding your audience and propelling your brand and merchandise to the top of the charts.

                Final Thoughts

                MPT Agency strives to develop your brand's online presence and can help you spread the word about your music and increase your fan base.

                To find out what other services can enhance your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.


                Join our weekly newsletter

                Music related articles every week in your inbox

                  Click To Try

                  We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.