If you have music available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, then it’s obvious that you need to get more streams as quickly as possible if you want to get discovered, see success, and make real money from your music career.
But getting more streams is a lot easier said than done.
Luckily for you, we have an easy-to-follow guide on how to get more streams and build a loyal fanbase in 4 easy steps. Let’s get into it!
Why You Need a Fanbase To Get More Streams on Spotify
A loyal fanbase is non-negotiable if you want to see real success in the music industry.
Whether you’re signed to a label or an independent artist, a loyal fanbase is truly essential if you want to get more streams on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Here’s why.
Consistent Listeners
When you establish a loyal fanbase, you gain consistent listeners. That means you’re guaranteed to get more streams on music that you’ve already released—and music that hasn’t dropped yet.
Knowing your new music has guaranteed streams feels good. And having a successful music career with a loyal fanbase feels even better.
And you know what your loyal fans are likely to do? They’ll share your music with friends and followers, add your songs to playlists, and generate clout around your work.
Algorithm Recommendations
When your music becomes popular on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, it’s easy to get more streams from the algorithm.
Think of the algorithm like a genius AI working in the background to curate playlists and recommend music to listeners. Once the algorithm notices you, you’re in a good spot—and you need a loyal fanbase to become a part of that algorithm.
Playlist Placement
Playlists may be the most important tool at a music artist’s disposal. Sure, you can (and should) make your own playlists, but it’s much better when the algorithm and your loyal fans add your songs to playlists.
Playlist placement increases your exposure and boosts your music. It’s a no-brainer that you want this tool to help you get more streams.
And if you want a head start getting your new music on hot playlists, promote your music through Musicvertising’s Playlist Placement Program.
Step 1: Identify Your Audience
The ground rule for any business, brand, or artist (and, yes, that absolutely includes musicians) is intentionally choosing a niche audience. You simply can’t appeal to everyone—and that’s okay.
But you need to know who it is you’re making music for.
Who are you talking to?
So, ask yourself this question. The people you speak to in your music are the same people you’ll speak to on social media, and if you want either endeavor to be successful, you need to know who they are.
Resources for learning about your audience
Each streaming platform offers different resources, usually called analytics, for artists to understand their audience. You can gain insights directly from your streaming platforms.
For example, Spotify for Artists offers real-time data on new release performance, popular playlists you’re featured on, and how most fans discover you.
On Apple Music for Artists, you gain access to Artist Analytics, where you can see information like how many plays you have, your number of average daily listeners, where in the world your listeners are, and insights about your music’s trends.
Don’t limit yourself to analytics on your streaming platforms. You can also gain insights about your followers (aka your listeners) on your professional social media pages. Check out:
- Instagram’s Account Insights
- Facebook’s Audience Insights
- TikTok’s Creator Tools and Analytics
- Twitter’s Analytics
Step 2: Engage in Social Media
Next, you need to engage with your listeners on social media. Some musicians think you can get more streams by posting once a month to a single social media page—those same musicians will release new music and receive silence in return.
Social media engagement is more complex than you think. And, if you want to do it right, you’ll need to invest your time into researching, developing a marketing strategy, and creating content.
Here are some basic tips to improve your social media game and gain a loyal fanbase:
- Post on a regular basis (ideally, twice a week or more)
- Offer value to your followers (posts should entertain, inform, or inspire)
- Post engaging content (short videos perform really well)
- Use multiple platforms
- Cross-promote your pages (share your Instagram posts on Facebook or encourage people to watch the full video on YouTube from your TikTok)
- Fill out your profiles with pictures, bios, and relevant information
Step 3: Grow Awareness of Your Music
In addition to posting about your music and sharing links on social media, you should consider investing in real advertising to grow a general awareness of your music.
Consider trying:
If you have money to invest in your music’s future, then you should also consider paid promotion through Musicvertising, a trusted music promotion platform.
Musicvertising offers a variety of services to meet your specific needs as an artist. You can get more streams with targeted YouTube promotion or Spotify playlist placement.
Step 4: Build Your Community
Finally, you need to build your community. Networking is an important skill in any industry, but in the music industry, it is everything.
Musicians often think of connecting with producers and labels when they network, but you should focus on the small names as much as you do on the big ones.
Network with people in your niche, like:
- music bloggers
- audio engineers
- small producers
- beatmakers
- songwriters
- singers
- musicians
- booking agents
- audiophiles
- casual listeners and fans
Build your community online and in-person by reaching out to connections as much as possible. You’d be surprised how knowing the right people will put you in the right place to build a loyal fanbase and get more streams.
When you build a community around you, you’ll gain these opportunities:
- a feature on a music blog
- shoutouts on social media
- free promotion from fans and friends
- collaborations with other artists
- a segment on a podcast
- and much, much more
Final Thoughts: Get More Streams and See Your Music Blow Up
Becoming a successful artist is hard work, but it is possible for anyone. With these four steps and a solid understanding of your action plan, you’ll gain a loyal fanbase that helps you get more streams in no time.
Remember, you need to:
- Identify Your Audience
- Engage on Social Media
- Grow Awareness of Your Music
- Build Your Community
With these four steps, you’ll be able to get more streams with a loyal fanbase that knows all your lyrics at live shows. Isn’t that the dream?
If you need some help boosting your music, Musicvertising is here to help. With music promotion tools for YouTube and Spotify, Musicvertising’s packages are sure to get you more streams on all your music.
