There are no magical tips that make your track blow up on Spotify, but there are some basic things you can do to increase the likelihood your track will do well.
My band Maple St. is putting out our fourth single this month. We are an independent band doing everything DIY (as I suspect you are too if you're reading this!) and I've picked up some helpful tips while navigating our recent releases, as well as the releases of clients.
Ideally, every marketing effort will lead back to better streams on your tracks, but here are some things specific to Spotify that might be helpful!
Let's jump in:
1. Release Singles - I know there is controversy around albums going extinct, but if your main goal is to get your music heard, this tactic is something to seriously consider. Given how the Spotify algorithm works, opting to release singles every month has become a go to strategy. And here's my case:
If you were to release a project, Spotify would only pick one track to push out to listeners via algorithmic playlists and your other songs would fall on deaf ears (or no ears at all...).
We all wish albums were celebrated now like in the old days, but going against the way music is consumed in 2020 will only hurt you. Most of the new music I find comes from my Discover Weekly, and singles are your best shot to get on algorithmic playlists as a new artist. *note - our song had to hit about 12k streams before it was picked up by Discover Weekly.
As your listeners grow overtime, it will be easy to exceed that 1k mark, and you can ideally release in ways that are more appealing to you if you wish.
2. Focus on independent playlists! - Chances are, if you’re worried about "<1000", you aren’t big enough to be landing on editorial playlists just yet...but here’s some good news;
Spotify’s algorithm pays attention to how many playlists you’re on, not just how big they are.
You can get some great traction landing on several small playlists that are cohesive with your sound. There are a lot of ways to go about this, you can find playlists on Spotify then try to track down the Instagram or Facebook of the creator. You can also use sites like Sound Plate and Submit Hub (SH costs money but I've heard great things).
If you have a pre-existing fan base, encourage them to add your song to playlists (and to follow you on Spotify!)
3. Push pre-saves and follows BEFORE the song comes out - everybody that follows you on Spotify will see your new track in their Release Radar and that can make a big difference, plus good pre-saves make it easier to get on algorithmic playlists.
If you're using Distrokid, which I would recommend, they have a function called Hyperfollow that allows you to share a pre-save link with fans.
Keep in mind, there isn't really a benefit for fans to pre-save a song, so make it a better deal for them.
Run a giveaway (it could be something easy like a $25 amazon gift card) and require they pre-save the song and follow you on Spotify to enter.
4. Make Really Really Good Music - Your music should be high quality in terms of songwriting AND recording. A professional recording of a bad song won't do well, and neither will a bad recording of a great song.
Obviously there are exceptions to this rule, but if you're serious about your music, put in the time, love, and effort to make it the best it can be.
The internet is full of great advice and tips on marketing, so get out there and see what works for you or your band. I wish you the best of luck with your releases, and know you can always send me any questions on Facebook or Instagram!
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