The 5 Biggest Mistakes in Music Promotion
I don’t usually like to write in this kind of format, but someone asked me the other day, “What are the biggest mistakes that indie artists make in promo?” and my head immediately started creating this listicle. I wrote it down, so here you go. In my estimation, the biggest mistakes indie artists make in promo are: 1. […]
Why You Should Test Your Music Before You Release It
I hate TikTok. But I recently found an artist using it in a way I think is really interesting / effective. Will Paquin got kind of famous on the platform (~260K followers) for posting videos of himself impressively finger picking an electric guitar in weird places. Like, he plays “Smoke on the Water” while smoking a pipe on […]
How to Get Streams and Followers on Spotify
Last week, I asked you two questions: What is the best way to grow your streams on Spotify? What is the best way to get more followers on Spotify? Thanks to all who responded! Your answers were very relatable and sometimes slightly sad. Here’s a sampling of what you said: “My opinion is the same […]
Why You Should Track Your Music Marketing
This week, I want to talk about something utterly mind-blowing that will dramatically upgrade how you promote your music. Hold onto your socks because they’re about to be blown off… You should track what you’re doing. Crazy, right? As some business guy famously said, “What’s measured gets improved.” It’s totally true. But I haven’t met […]
How to Build a Website for a Musician
Last week, I gave two quick tips for converting social followers into email subscribers. (As always, you can read that post here.) And I kind of went off on why you should build your conversion page on your own website vs. using something like Linktree. Looking back, I was weirdly passionate about that. Anyway, potential […]
Tips to Build an Artist Email List
Last week, I outlined my three keys to building a following on a social channel: Get in front of groups that already exist. Pay for growth (ads) if you can. Nothing works if you’re not consistent. (And again, you can check that out here.) This week, I want to move a step down the marketing […]
How to Get Your Music in Front of People
A few weeks ago, I showed you my version of the marketing funnel: Today, I want to talk about the top of the funnel: awareness building. In other words, the stuff you need to do to get your music in front of people. Importantly, you do not need to do everything. Really, you can’t do everything – you are […]
4 Years of Music Blog Traffic
I’m gonna show you something real quick. That’s the Google Analytics data for Two Story Melody since January of 2017 (shortly after the site launched). You can click here to blow it up a little bit. Here’s what I think is crazy (in a sad kind of way): For most of the first year, virtually nobody read anything that I wrote. […]
How to Create Fans of Your Music (Not Just Followers)
This week’s music marketing thought: If you don’t have an exclusive community for fans of your music, you’re missing out. The bad news is that, if there isn’t a way that your fans can self-identify as your fans, then a) you don’t really have fans – probably just followers – and b) you won’t be able […]
How to Build a Music Marketing Funnel
Last week, I gave you my pitch that you should make music and build your audience simultaneously. Practically, here’s how I think that works: by creating a marketing funnel. I’ve heard other people call this a “fan journey” or “fan experience”; I’m in the marketing world, so “funnel” is the terminology I’m most familiar with. Anyway, […]