Join 18,000+ music artists, managers and labels receiving actionable music marketing advice every Monday. Written by Andrew Southworth.
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104 issues in the archive: 1 featured issue and 103 more issues below.
DistroKid is removing tracks rapidly due to copyright claims from Universal Music Group, sometimes without verifying artist clearance. This has caused original music and properly licensed songs to be taken down, creating uncertainty for many users.
Read articleUniversal 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.
Read articleIn 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.
Read articleToneDen’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.
Read articleSpotify’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.
Read articleA 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.
Read articleMany 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.
Read articleArtist 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.
Read articleLearn 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.
Read articleThe 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.
Read articleGrowing 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.
Read articleAfter 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.
Read articleTracking 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.
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