Finding new fans can feel like one of the most arduous tasks emerging musicians face. Faced with an innate desire to make music that resonates and reaches their ideal audience, it’s easy to feel discouraged when you miss the mark. However, there are so many unique ways to expand your reach and connect with your audience. There are new fans all around you, just waiting to discover your new song. Here’s are a few innovative ways to catch their attention:
Build a community around your brand
To really stand out in today’s music industry, your musical talent isn’t enough – it has to be backed by a music brand that’s true to your sound.
One way to achieve that is to be clear on what you stand for and what your music is all about. Then, you can truly start to build a community around your brand vision. Perhaps your songs empathize on the coming-of-age years and navigating life as a young adult? Are they feel-good party anthems, or do they speak to larger political topics that you’re passionate about?
Find what’s at the heart of your music and build your brand from that to create communities that your fans (and future fans) can rally around. A few ideas include running a Discord server, or commenting on subreddits and Facebook groups – wherever your audience is.
Run a press campaign
Press is one of the fastest ways to earn the trust of new fans. Whether you hire an agency or do your own PR, drumming up a bit of press is a great way to spread the message of your brand. It gets you in front of a totally new audience, and it shows people who you are by sharing your personality and what you believe in. That helps people connect with you quicker, which in turn, means they’ll likely connect with your music.
Partner with influencers
Influencer marketing is one of the fastest ways to attract new fans. There are a few ways to do this, but the easiest way is to find a micro influencer (under 10k-15k followers) and pitch them a few video ideas that align with your brand or song’s message. Then, they’ll feature your music in their content.
By doing this, you’ll get a whole new avenue to build new relationships and get in front of a new set of fans. Through the influencer’s content, you’d have a group of fans who were organically introduced to your music. To start, make a list of 10-20 influencers that align with your brand and song’s message and reach out to them. They are usually accommodating to such partnerships, and it’s a great way for your music to take off.
Go local
Don’t underestimate the power of building a strong relationship with your local community. While it’s easy to dream of breaking out of your hometown and playing in bigger cities, building a strong following in your existing community is important. Not only does it teach you how to best serve other communities once you expand, it also builds strong relationships that can help you expand to the next level.
Think of the regular show you play. The fans you meet weekly are people who may eventually bring their friends to see the show, share your music online, or open doors for you. Since they’ve gotten to know beyond just an artist, it’s natural that they’ll want to help you succeed.
Run a contest
One fun way to engage current fans while getting in front of new ones is to run a contest. It can be anything from free merchandise, tickets to a show, or an attractive prize unrelated to your music. Look to online software that can help you run a social media contest, to encourage extra entries for sharing and tagging. This social approach can spread the word about your music much further than it might otherwise!
Share your ways
Ultimately, these are just five ways you can get in front of new fans – there are countless ways depending on your music goals. Start with these and see what else comes to mind. If something sparks your interest, go for it and don’t be afraid to get creative!
Angela Tyler is the founder of MP Co. (formerly Muddy Paw PR) and has secured placements on Forbes, Business Insider, American Songwriter, Lead Singer Syndrome, & more. She loves dessert, her rescue dog Sawyer, and new ideas.