Work with Andrew

Blog

Music marketing articles, tools, and analysis. Deep-dive guides on music marketing, streaming growth, Meta ads, YouTube, distribution, and the systems behind sustainable artist growth.

guides: 148; guides
videos: 78; videos
newsletter issues: 105; newsletter issues
tools: 8; tools

Find the right resource

Try Spotify, Meta ads, royalties, or YouTube.

Showing 339 resources

Latest posts

Newest resources

Showing 169-192 of 339

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jul 8, 2024

Email vs SMS Marketing for Music Artists

Social media is useful for finding new fans but unreliable for retaining them due to changing algorithms and platform risks. Email and SMS marketing let you own your audience contact list and communicate directly on your terms.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jul 1, 2024

Are you stuck at X0,000 monthly listeners?

Many artists hit a plateau around 20,000 to 30,000 monthly listeners where growth stalls despite regular releases and promotion. Understanding why this happens and exploring new marketing strategies can help break through this common barrier.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jun 17, 2024

Avoiding Facebook, Instagram and Meta scams

Protect your Facebook and Instagram accounts from phishing scams that impersonate Meta. Learn how hackers target music marketers with fake emails and messages designed to steal login info and run fraudulent ads.

CleanShot-2024-06-08-at-0229502x

Jun 8, 2024Analytics

Spotify Royalty Study: Premium vs Free User Pay Per Stream

Spotify has premium plans and free ad-supported plans. Did you know that the amount of money you get paid per stream on Spotify varies depending on if the user listening is a premium user vs a free user? That's right, not only does the exact value of a stream vary each month, and by country,...

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jun 3, 2024

The best source of listeners on Spotify

Discover which Spotify listener category offers the most sustainable streams for long-term growth. Understanding the difference between active and programmed sources can help you build a more reliable fanbase.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

May 27, 2024

Promoting on DSPs other than Spotify

Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music together have nearly 300 million paying subscribers, surpassing Spotify’s 239 million. Learn how to access these platforms, customize your profiles, and adjust ad campaigns to diversify your music promotion effectively.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

May 20, 2024

How often should you release music?

Releasing a new single every 4-8 weeks balances quality, promotion time, and audience engagement for most artists. Faster release schedules work only under specific conditions, while slower releases suit complex genres or album-focused strategies.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

May 6, 2024

1.6 billion streams in the past year

An artist with over 1.6 billion Spotify streams in the past year shows that the majority of streams come from fans’ own playlists and libraries, not editorial playlists. Only 13% of listeners are active but they generate over 80% of monthly streams.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Apr 22, 2024

What is a good cost per Spotify conversion?

Understanding cost per Spotify conversion helps optimize Meta ad campaigns by setting realistic benchmarks based on country tiers and music quality. Adjust budgets dynamically to focus on high-performing songs and improve overall campaign efficiency.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Apr 8, 2024

Spotify per stream payments are going up

Spotify’s new 1,000 stream per year rule demonetizes 60% of songs, redistributing payouts to higher-performing tracks. Combined with recent price increases, this should raise the average payment per stream by about 6-7%.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Apr 1, 2024

UMG vs TikTok - who wins?

Universal Music Group has pulled its entire catalog from TikTok, blocking artists from posting their music, citing low payments and AI concerns. TikTok argues it offers valuable exposure, but the dispute leaves artists caught in the middle with limited options.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Mar 25, 2024

50% of artists never hit 100 lifetime streams on Spotify

In 2023, indie artists and labels earned $4.5B on Spotify, representing half of the platform’s total payouts. Despite 10 million artists uploading music, 50% have fewer than 100 lifetime streams, highlighting the vast competition and challenges for visibility.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Mar 11, 2024

Which music marketing smart link service should you use?

ToneDen’s smart link service has suffered from unresolved bugs and broken links, risking wasted ad spend. Explore reliable free and paid alternatives that offer better support, faster loading, and improved analytics for your music marketing campaigns.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Mar 4, 2024

Whats the deal with Spotify's Campaign Kit?

Spotify’s Campaign Kit bundles Marquee, Showcase, and Discovery Mode with minor updates and expanded availability. These tools offer integrated marketing options within Spotify but vary in reach, cost, and effectiveness compared to paid social ads.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Feb 26, 2024

This Spotify bot scam keeps getting worse

A growing Spotify bot scam adds thousands of songs daily to playlists, generating fake streams that mislead artists into paying for worthless promotion. Spotify’s current crackdown punishes artists unfairly, while the root problem remains unresolved.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Feb 19, 2024

Mistakes artists make with their ad campaigns

Many artists limit their ad campaigns by testing too little, tweaking too often, or letting emotions override data. Avoid common pitfalls like equal budgeting for all songs and skipping conversion objectives to improve your marketing results.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Feb 12, 2024

How much do artists get paid per stream?

Artist payments per stream vary widely depending on the streaming platform, listener country, subscription type, and distributor. Spotify dominates streams but pays less per stream, while platforms like Amazon Music and Napster offer higher rates with smaller audiences.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Feb 5, 2024

How to build and promote your own Spotify playlists

Learn how to build Spotify playlists that rank organically with specific themes, attractive artwork, and popular tracks. Discover practical ways to promote your playlists using Facebook ads, social media, and strategic curation to reach your target audience effectively.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jan 30, 2024

The 2024 NAMM show

The 2024 NAMM Show brings together music gear makers, artists, and marketers with educational talks and new product showcases. It’s increasingly accessible for anyone in the music industry looking to learn and connect.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jan 23, 2024

How to grow to 1,000 Spotify monthly listeners for free

Growing to 1,000 monthly Spotify listeners without a budget requires consistent, quality releases every 4-6 weeks and a strong social media presence with daily engaging content and genuine fan interactions.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jan 15, 2024

What most music marketers agree with

After 10 hours of interviews with music marketing experts, clear consensus emerges on key strategies: quality music matters, consistent releases every 4-8 weeks work best, and social media presence tailored to your audience is essential for growth.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jan 8, 2024

The importance of tracking and setting goals

Tracking your growth across social media and DSPs is essential to understand what’s working and to set realistic goals. Use analytics and spreadsheets to monitor progress and adjust your strategies over time for steady improvement.

Music Marketing Monday newsletter by Andrew Southworth

Jan 2, 2024

2024: The year your music takes off

Plan your 2024 music releases with a clear cadence and back them with a strong content strategy. Combine multiple marketing channels like social media, ads, and collaborations to grow your fanbase effectively.

AZ Studio Workstations Elite

Jan 2, 2024Review

Review: AZ Studio Workstations – Elite Sit-Stand Studio Desk

The AZ Studio Workstations Elite Sit-Stand Studio Desk failed quickly with a broken frame and incorrect finish. Poor customer service and outdated product images made the experience frustrating and difficult to resolve.