In today’s digital age, social media has become an indispensable tool for artists and musicians looking to promote their work and connect with fans. With the right strategies, techniques and platforms, artists can effectively reach a global audience and cultivate a loyal community. Let’s take a look at how to master the world of social media marketing for artists in 2024.
1) How to Promote Your Music on Social Media
Promoting your music on social media requires a strategic approach tailored to each platform’s unique features and audience demographics. Here are some key tips to consider:
- Create the content your audience wants to see: Share high-quality photos, videos, and audio clips that showcase your music and more importantly, personality. Authentic, quality content is more likely to engage users and encourage them to explore you and your music further.
- Engage with your audience: Respond to comments, messages, and mentions to foster a sense of community and connection with your fans. Building genuine relationships with your audience can lead to increased loyalty and support for your music. Have an influx of new followers? Spend some time sending them a personalised direct message thanking them for their support. These small actions can go a really long way.
- Utilise hashtags and trends: Incorporate relevant hashtags and participate in trending challenges to increase your visibility and reach on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. By leveraging popular trends, you can tap into larger conversations and attract new followers to your profile. Don’t feel the need to jump on every single new trend that’s out there. If it feels authentic and relevant to you as a brand, participate!
- Collaborate with other artists: Partner with fellow musicians, influencers, and brands to expand your reach and tap into new audiences. Collaborative efforts can help you cross-promote your music and gain exposure to different fan bases.
- Consistency really is key: Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and interested in your music journey. Whether you’re sharing behind-the-scenes content, live performances, or updates about upcoming releases, consistency helps build anticipation and momentum for your music. This doesn’t mean you need to post every single day, if that doesn’t work for you, just be sure to follow an ongoing posting schedule that works with you and what you’re campaigning for.
2) Best Social Media Tools to Promote Music
Several tools and platforms can streamline your social media marketing efforts and help you effectively promote your music. From scheduling posts to analysing performance metrics, these tools can enhance your online presence and maximise your reach. Some popular options include Buffer, Canva, Later, and social media analytics tools offered by platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
3) Leveraging TikTok’s Artist Account
TikTok has introduced the Artist Account, a toolbox of features and promotional tools designed to boost discoverability for musicians. Upon activation, artists gain access to a suite of resources, including:
- Artist Tag: Identifies you as an artist on TikTok, signifying to the community and potential fans that you are a musician.
- New Release Highlight: Amplifies the reach of new music releases, allowing artists to highlight tracks before and after release to drive discovery.
- Music Tab: Curates your music catalogue for fans to easily access and discover your music on TikTok.
- Behind the Song: Enables artists to share stories and inspirations behind their songs, fostering a deeper connection with fans.
4) Artists Excelling in Social Media Marketing
Beth McCarthy (TikTok)
Former ACC student, Beth McCarthy has effectively utilised TikTok to connect with fans on a personal level, consistently marketing her music in authentic and unique ways and this work has paid off massively with a follower rate of 820k! By leveraging trending challenges and authentic content, Beth has grown her fanbase and amplified her music reach on the platform.
Charlie Puth (Instagram)
Charlie Puth’s Instagram account showcases behind-the-scenes glimpses, music teasers, and interactive Q&A sessions, engaging his audience and showing the ‘irl side’ to his musicianship.
FKA Twigs (Instagram)
FKA Twigs has built a strong presence on Instagram by curating visually stunning content coupled with authentic, behind-the-scenes style posts that reflects her artistic style and music aesthetic. Her posting style comes across as relatable to her fanbase which in turn builds a strong community, subtly selling her music and brand.
At Access Creative College (ACC), aspiring musicians can hone their craft and learn how to navigate the complexities of social media promotion. Through courses like Artist Development, students receive expert guidance and hands-on experience to succeed in the competitive music industry.
Social media remains a powerful tool for musicians seeking to promote their music and engage with fans. By mastering social media promotion techniques and leveraging platforms like TikTok, artists can build a strong online presence and generate a solid following / community.
And remember, setting up and running a social media account is FREE to use! Of course, there are tools and resources out there that you can pay for to leverage the work, but ultimately it’s all about being creative with your content and most importantly, authentic! Use other artists as inspiration, but always put your own unique stamp on your content.