Getting discovered as a musician can be challenging these days, not because of a lack of resources but because there are so many available tools for everyone to utilize that the market has become much more competitive. Between sites like Soundcloud and platforms like Patreon, there are many more outlets for musicians to connect to listeners than there used to be.
The good news is those outlets can be extremely beneficial if you know how to use them. Making the most of social media sites such as TikTok and learning how to promote yourself as a business-minded individual can help you get noticed by the right people. While it can be difficult to think of your music as a business, iCadenza notes that’s exactly what it takes to get discovered.
Save the Date Music outlines a few more steps you’ll need to take in order to get your music discovered.
Become an entrepreneur with an LLC
Forming an LLC is a great way to get started with your music career since it offers protection for your personal assets while also providing tax advantages. As an entrepreneur, you’ll have control over your career journey as well as peace of mind that your business will be easy to run without a ton of time-consuming paperwork. Every state has its own rules about forming an LLC, and there are several steps to the process. Read reviews of formation services that can file for you, which will ensure that it’s done correctly while saving you money on attorney’s fees.
Manage your web presence
Once you’ve created your LLC with the right formation company, it’s time to work on your web presence. Setting up a website is a major step, and you’ll need to create an engaging site. It’s also important to do a little research on the best social media platforms for your needs. How do musicians in your genre typically connect with fans? Setting up a YouTube channel is a common method, but you can also share shorter snippets of your music on TikTok and Instagram. Think about your fanbase and where they usually spend their time online. Read up on statistics that will tell you where to focus your energy, as it may not be helpful to saturate every social media platform.
Promote your music alongside other passions
Many musicians have other creative talents, such as visual art or acting. As you start setting up social media accounts and promoting your music, consider merging those promotions to widen your audience, especially if you can find a way to make them cohesive for your brand. For instance, if you enjoy painting, set up a social media account for your art that shares videos and time-lapse content set to your music, and include a link on your profile that sends viewers to your music site. You can also consider creating artwork to promote your music. Cross-promotional opportunities are great budget-friendly ways to widen your audience.
Don’t rely on digital promotion only
Social media and online resources are invaluable to musicians these days, but it’s important not to rely solely on these methods for gaining new listeners. LiveAbout points out that you also want to make sure you’re playing live shows whenever possible, as well as supporting and
teaming up with other bands.
The music community is a wide space and goes far beyond your city, and the more networking you can do with other musicians, the better. Live events are perfect for this, so get involved in festivals and play smaller gigs when you can. This leads to using other, more traditional forms of marketing including using business cards to hand out to fans, promoters and other musicians.This doesn’t need to be a time-consuming or costly affair when you know how to make a business card for free online. Simply personalize it using your choice of template and including your own content and graphics.
Getting discovered as a musician doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right steps, you can grow your career exponentially. Thinking of your music as a business and forming an LLC and designing a business card as part of your marketing will help you stay focused even when the process is challenging.
Save the Date Music has provides customized services for more than hundreds of weddings and events a year. Contact us today to learn more! (919) 942-7882
