5 Reasons Why You Should be Releasing New Music Every Week
Independent artists' share of the music market is at an all-time high of 43.1%- worth $9.8 billion globally, according to MIDiA Research[1]. This indie music revolution is due, by and large, to the rise of social media giants TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, & YouTube, which are bringing artists closer than ever before to their listeners. Today, indie artists are connecting directly with their fans on social platforms and delivering exactly what they want.
What do fans want? More music.
"If you're an upcoming, independent artist, you cannot let bigger, labeled artists outwork you. You're supposed to be outworking them. Whatever amount of songs they drop, you've gotta drop double that. Be persistent & consistent. Who the f*ck said you've gotta choose between quality and quantity? You can have quantity and quality if you work hard enough! Now is the time to stop making excuses. Now is the time to go Unlimited."
Papoose
1. Keep Your Fans Frequently Engaged
It used to be about vying for fans' dollars, now it's about vying for fans' time. Users spend an average of 52 minutes on TikTok[2], 29 minutes on Instagram[3], 18 minutes on YouTube[4], and 148 minutes on Spotify[5], per day. If you can get users to spend time with your content on social platforms, they will seek out your release on digital stores.
TuneCore Artist NEFFEX released 100 new, original songs over the course of 100 weeks, and saw their Spotify blow up to over 5,000,000+ active monthly listeners.
"I grew up loving bands like Taking Back Sunday & Blink 182, and I know if they were dropping a song a week, 15 year old me would be tuning in every f*cking day to hear what they're coming out with next. Your fans want more music- platforms like TikTok prove it- and practice always makes perfect. The more you release, the more you'll attract an audience. It worked for me." -NEFFEX
2. Go Viral on TikTok
Video killed the radio star. The video sharing app redefined how fans discover new music-tearing down previously insurmountable barriers between DIY artists and their listeners. TikTok transformed music listening from being a one-way relationship where fans only absorbed content, to an experience that they can actively and recurrently participate in.
Creating a TikTok trend to go along with your release can spark a significant surge in UGC (user-generated content) and keep your release trending across social platforms & digital stores. Songs that trend on TikTok often end up charting the most prominent global playlists like Billboard 100 or Spotify Viral 50.
Your goal is to keep fans engaged for as long as possible, so keep in mind that TikTok trends typically last for 5-7 days. Uploading and teasing new versions of your release every week is sure to keep your fans engaged while evolving your sound.
3. Experiment with Your Sound
Independent music is no longer a genre. Mass fanbases used to be concentrated within specific genres, but, increasingly, listeners are falling into niches. Today, independent music is all about sharing your content and seeing what sticks. The more raw and less-polished a song is on TikTok and other social platforms, the better.
You may not even know who your entire fanbase is yet, so test it. Invite listeners along in the process with you. Experimenting with your sound is all about finding your core fanbase-the fans who will truly engage with, listen to, and buy your content-so that you can make meaningful and long-lasting income from your music.
"What's new? It's all about what's next these days, man. Get up off your a** & get to work. We don't wanna hear no excuses! New material, new material, don't you get it yet, LISTEN!" -Papoose
The more you release, the better you will know your authentic sound. Your fans will hear it, too.
4. Pitching Makes Perfect
Getting your release on a prominent playlist is key to keeping its performance strong over time.
Spotify recommends submitting songs at least 7 days in advance for playlist consideration. Keep in mind that the song must already be in Spotify's system in order to pitch it. TuneCore recommends uploading songs at least 14 days before the release date through your distributor in order to give curators enough time to review your music.
The more you pitch to Spotify & other top playlists, the higher your chances are of placing. Once your first track gets picked up, subsequent releases have an increased likelihood of being placed as well.
5. Unlimited Ways to Waterfall
The album rollout method of the past typically consisted of releasing one single in the months leading up to an album, and a second to coincide with the LP's release. With the continued rise of social media, we know that the age old album-rollout approach is dead.
A waterfall strategy is when an EP/album is released gradually-one track at a time-until the full EP/album is distributed when the final track is released.
Before TuneCore went Unlimited, artists had to pay $9.99 per single and $29.99 per album, making the waterfall strategy cost-prohibitive. With Unlimited distribution, you no longer have to choose.
When you waterfall your album or EP, you'll keep fans engaged, optimize your music's performance across TikTok & other social platforms, experiment with your sound as you track fan feedback, and perfect your playlist strategy across digital stores.
So What?
"While you were sitting there swiping up on your d*mn phone, I wrote six songs. Now get up and go write some music. Oh, you're gonna do it tomorrow, right? Bullsh*t! Tomorrow is not promised. Today is the time. Matter of fact, yesterday was the time. Why are you still here?"
Papoose
Your fans are out there right now finding new music online. What are you waiting for?
[1] Midia Research study [2] TikTok user information [3] Instagram user information [4] YouTube user information [5] Spotify listener data