TopicRelease StrategyPre-save strategy, launch planning, post-release promotion, and campaign planning for new music.
GuideMar 14, 2022How to Do a Waterfall Release Strategy with DistroKidMany artists have seen their favorite artists using a relatively new release strategy called the waterfall release. However it's not initially clear what the benefits of this strategy are and how you could even do it with your music distributor. In this...
TopicMusic Marketing StrategyRelease strategy, fan growth, promotion systems, and practical artist marketing for building demand around your music.
VideoNov 7, 2025How To Test UNRELEASED Music With Meta AdsDiscover how to strategically test unreleased music using Meta ads to identify your strongest tracks and optimize your release strategy with real audience data.
GuideNov 20, 2022How To Release Cover Songs with DistroKidDistroKid makes it very easy for you to release cover songs on music distribution platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and the rest. In the past, this could be difficult because you'd have to go and secure the cover license yourself and ensure you kept up to...
GuideJul 30, 2022How To Release Music as an Independent ArtistThe first step to getting people to listen to your music is to release it on all major platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and more. Whether you're a new artist and you want to release your first song, or you've been making music for a while but...
GuideSep 10, 2022How Often Should Artists Release New Music?Releasing high quality music on a consistent basis is one of the most important aspects of any music marketing strategy. The rate you release music will not only determine how well you hold your audiences attention, but also how you time your social media,...
GuideMar 4, 2022How Does Spotify Release Radar Work?Spotify's Release Radar is an algorithmic playlist updated every Friday that only includes music released in the past 28 days. Fans that follow you will get your music in their Release Radar, but if your song gets enough traction in the first 28 days Spotify...
GuideFeb 26, 2022How Do I Access Spotify for Artists Before My First Release?Last week I was launching the debut single for a new band, and I really wanted to be able to setup our profile and pitch our first song to Spotify editorial playlists before our first release came out. However most music distributors don't allow you to make...
NewsletterNov 3, 2025Testing Unreleased Songs In AdsUse multi-song test campaigns to gather real data on unreleased tracks by running ads with different creatives. This helps decide release order, content creation priorities, and budget allocation based on actual performance metrics.
NewsletterMay 20, 2024How 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.
GuideNov 2, 2024What is Spotify Release Radar?What Is Release Radar? Release Radar is an algorithmic playlist on the music DSP Spotify designed to show you new music from artists you follow alongside some new songs the algorithmic thinks you'll like. The official description on Spotify is “Catch all the...
TopicSpotify GrowthSpotify growth, playlists, followers, streaming data, royalty math, and platform changes for artists and labels.
VideoApr 24, 2026The ULTIMATE Music Marketing RoadmapMaster your music marketing with a comprehensive roadmap that integrates release timing, social media tactics, and strategic advertising to grow your fanbase effectively.
ToolJun 23, 2026Spotify Lookup ToolPaste a Spotify song link to view track metadata, artwork, popularity, album details, and artist context.
VideoJan 10, 2026BEFORE You Run Meta Ads for Music Marketing, Watch This VideoMaster the essentials of Meta Ads Manager to confidently launch and optimize your music marketing campaigns with clear navigation, data insights, and practical tools.
VideoApr 3, 2026How To Launch A Music Marketing Ad Campaign in 3 Clicks (Aura Music Review)Discover how Aura Music’s automated ad platform can launch a targeted music marketing campaign in just a few clicks, perfect for artists with modest budgets seeking effortless...
NewsletterNov 17, 2025How to get 1 million streams in 1 yearCombine paid and organic marketing with a $5,000 budget to release 9 singles in 2026, supported by 20 social posts and 2 YouTube videos per song. This approach builds on proven real-world data to help you reach 1 million streams.
NewsletterJan 23, 2024How to grow to 1,000 Spotify monthly listeners for freeGrowing 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.
NewsletterSep 25, 2023How to trigger Spotify algorithmic playlistsLearn how to trigger Spotify’s most valuable algorithmic playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly by hitting specific engagement thresholds and using high-quality sources such as Facebook ads or organic promotion to drive streams, listeners, and saves.
NewsletterAug 7, 2023How to do Instant Grat tracks on Apple Music & iTunesApple Music’s Instant Gratification tracks let fans stream select songs from your upcoming album before release day and get instant access when purchasing on iTunes. This feature helps build anticipation and enables flexible pre-release promotion.
GuideOct 30, 2024Spotify Intent Rate: How to Calculate It and What It MeansSpotify Intent Rate measures listener engagement by combining Playlist Adds and Saves relative to total listeners. It helps compare the effectiveness of different marketing strategies for songs, albums, or artist profiles over various time periods.
GuideMay 9, 2023DistroKid Launched a Mobile AppDistroKid launched an app for iPhone that lets you distribute your music, see streaming data and check royalties right from your phone! DistroKid App Highlights DistroKid, a DIY distributor, has launched a new mobile app that allows artists signed up to the...
GuideMay 3, 20231 Million Monthly Listeners on Spotify Featuring Smart Music BusinessManafest (Chris Greenwood) has about 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, has been signed to multiple record labels and has sold tens of thousands of albums. In this interview we talk about how he did it and how you can too! Listen on your favorite Podcast...
GuideMar 9, 2023A New Era For Spotify for Artists, Spotify's Biggest UpdateSpotify is once again introducing a new suite of tools that will have massive positive impacts for artists. Including short form Clips, release Countdowns, a new marketing tool called Showcase and more visibility to shows and merch. Let's take a look at it...
GuideMar 9, 2023DistroKid Pricing: Plans & ExtrasDistroKid offers annual plans from $22.99 to $1,349.99, with unlimited uploads and distribution to over 100 stores. The Musician Plus plan at $39.99 provides key features like release date scheduling and synced lyrics, essential for marketing your music...
GuideFeb 19, 2023How Much Did Spotify Pay Me For 1,556,335 StreamsMy song Chains has generated 1,556,335 streams, but how much money did this actually generate? In this post i'll walk you through where these streams came from, what countries and calculate the average payment per stream. Background & Streaming Services We...
GuideDec 27, 2022Is Spotify Marquee 10X BETTER than Facebook Ads?Spotify recently released a study they ran claiming Spotify Marquee delivers 10x more listeners per dollar than social ads on average. Is it true? Spotify Marquee Study Here's how Spotify structured their study. They worked with eight labels and distributors...
GuideMar 1, 2022Spotify Marquee ReviewSpotify Marquee is a native advertising format inside of Spotify to premium users and free users. You can show a pop-up message inside the Spotify app showcasing your latest release to people who have engaged with your music, and you only pay for the people...
GuideDec 22, 2021Record Labels, Merch & Brand Development with The AnixIn this episode I talk to The Anix (Brandon Smith) about his music career spanning 8 albums and multiple record labels such as Universal Records, Cleopatra Records and currently FiXT, his approach to merchandise and art creation, as well as his DIY attitude....
GuideJul 15, 2021YouTuber to Touring Artist feat. Anup Sastry from Intervals, Jeff Loomis, SkyharborAnup Sastry started doing drum videos on YouTube which got him a gig with Jeff Loomis on tour. Since then he's released music / recorded with Intervals, Skyharbor, Marty Friedman, Monuments and many more. He used his YouTube channel like a resume to attract...
GuideMay 7, 2021287k TikTok Followers, DIY Attitude & Hard Work feat. BattzBattz grew to 287k TikTok followers, 1,100 YouTube subscribers, 6,100 Instagram followers and 1,400 Spotify followers 100% DIY in the past year (and only really taking it seriously for half that). On top of that he's cranking out 1 single per week going...
NewsletterMay 19, 2026Should you promote your music before it comes out?Promoting your music before release often wastes budget and effort, as pre-save ads cost 3x more and organic hype rarely converts without an existing fanbase. Focus most marketing efforts on release day and after for better results.
NewsletterMay 4, 2026300+ social media posts per month?!To boost exposure for their debut album, Andrew’s band launched an aggressive social posting strategy across YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram, totaling about 300 posts monthly. This approach targets new audiences through multiple niche TikTok accounts and...
NewsletterMar 2, 2026Your music will flop sometimes (and that's okay)Not every song will succeed in marketing, even if it's well made. Understanding a song’s marketability and adjusting your promotion budget based on real performance can help you maximize your marketing dollars over multiple releases.
NewsletterJan 5, 2026Should you send fans to a Spotify song, playlist or profile?Deciding whether to send fans to a Spotify song, playlist, album, or profile depends on your goals. Each option offers different engagement patterns and algorithmic benefits, so choosing the right destination can impact your streaming and fan growth strategy.
NewsletterOct 27, 2025Stop living song to songBatch creating music and content builds a release buffer that enables consistent scheduling and focused marketing. This approach helps artists plan creatively and avoid disruptions caused by life events or last-minute rushes.
NewsletterMay 12, 2025Meta Ads For Music - $3k Album CampaignThis Meta ad campaign promoted an album across all DSPs with a $3,000 budget, achieving a $0.21 cost per conversion and strong Spotify engagement. Testing multiple ad sets and creatives helped identify a clear winner driving the best results.
NewsletterJan 6, 2025Preparing for a new year of releasing musicBatch creating music and content before your release cycle gives you a buffer to focus on marketing and growth. Planning your releases and marketing strategy ahead reduces stress and improves execution throughout the year.
NewsletterJul 22, 2024Spotify Showcase: 31 streams per listener?A Spotify Showcase campaign promoting a 16-song relaxing piano album generated 31 streams per listener at a cost of $1.11 per listener, resulting in 2,837 total streams for $100. This analysis covers setup, key stats, and campaign value.
NewsletterJul 1, 2024Are 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.
NewsletterJan 15, 2024What most music marketers agree withAfter 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.
NewsletterJan 2, 20242024: The year your music takes offPlan 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.
NewsletterDec 18, 2023Albums vs SinglesDeciding between albums and singles depends on your goals and genre norms. Singles keep your audience engaged with frequent releases, while albums offer a cohesive artistic statement and stronger press opportunities.
NewsletterDec 11, 2023Is Spotify Showcase worth it?Spotify Showcase lets artists run ads on Spotify’s mobile home page to promote releases directly within Spotify for Artists. Currently available only in the USA, UK, and Canada, it offers a new way to reach listeners alongside other marketing channels.
NewsletterOct 16, 2023Why Spotify saves are better than Spotify followersSpotify saves and playlist adds indicate genuine listener engagement, often leading to repeated streams over months or years. These actions create a stable, long-term audience reservoir, unlike followers who may not consistently hear new releases.
NewsletterJun 26, 2023Treat your music like a BUSINESSTaking your music career seriously means treating it like a business with a clear release plan, marketing budget, and content strategy. Understanding the essentials of business setup, money management, and taxes can save you time and headaches down the road.
GuideJul 8, 2025Music Ad Tips YOU Need (From A Profitable Record Label) feat. spiration musicRecently I had a chat with Alex Bochel, who runs a profitable record label called spiration music by running Meta ads for music marketing. That's right. He releases music through his label, promotes it with Meta ads primarily focused towards Spotify and...
GuideNov 17, 2024What is the difference between a single, EP and album?You may have noticed in your music distributor that you can't typically select ‘single', ‘EP' or ‘album' for your release. The streaming services categorize singles, EPs and albums automatically. But how do they decide? The track counts for singles, EPs and...
GuideNov 11, 2024ToneDen Alternatives: Top 4 Music Marketing Smart Link ServicesThe best ToneDen alternatives are Hypeddit, Smart Noise, FeatureFM and SubmitHub Links. Bam, no clickbait here. If you've been marketing your music for a while now, you may be familiar with ToneDen. ToneDen is a music marketing software where you can create...
GuideMar 5, 2021FireThanks so much for checking out my song Fire! Below you can find links to listen to the song on streaming and stores, the music video on my YouTube music channel, and the lyrics as well. Listen here: https://hd.andrewonspotify.com/link/04ayn6 Fire Lyrics: I...
VideoOct 14, 2025After Mastering 16,000+ Albums, Here's His Advice For Artists feat. Alan DouchesDiscover essential wisdom from Alan Douches, a Grammy-winning mastering engineer, on how artists can build authentic, lasting careers by embracing musicianship and fearless...
GuideMay 24, 2022How To Make CD's for Music ArtistsThe first time I went to order custom CD's for one of my albums I found the process overwhelming, and I made a lot of mistakes. Now that i've gone through the motions several times I thought i'd document it in the hopes of making your life easier. Here's the...
GuideJul 26, 2022Black HoleClick here to listen on your favorite platform: https://streamandrew.com/black-hole.OWE Black Hole Lyrics: Pure heartInnocentTwisted and differentEmotionalI'll take advantage though When I see into your eyesI can feel the dark insideIf I crawl into your...
GuideApr 23, 2022DoublethinkMy 5th studio album Doublethink is officially coming April 29th, 2022! Every release is exciting but albums are extra special to me because to me they feel like landmarks, lines in the sand, and represent the beginning / end of an era. Doublethink includes 19...
GuideFeb 19, 2022OverListen to ‘Over' everywhere here: https://streamandrew.com/over.owe Lyrics: Every time you lie Every time you push and pull me Every time you cry Regret all those things you told me I will not be simplified I cannot be synthesized Digging deeper, digging out...
GuideJan 10, 2022SunriseSunrise Lyrics: A finicky Affinity For Soliloquy In my mind I can't believe You're kidding me We'll never see You again After all this time I thought you Were so alive I always thought you were okay but Surprise You hid it all in your smile To be lost again, I...
GuideApr 30, 2021Life Is ShortWhy do so many of us wait until we retire to pursue our dreams and passions?
GuideJun 5, 2020DreamingLyrics: I will watch as you’re dreamingI will wait as you’re sleepingI will watch as you’re dreamingI will wait as you’re sleeping Coming out as a dreamerComing out as oneHere we find we are doneOpen mind, we are one I will watch as you’re dreamingI will wait...
GuideMay 11, 2025Hypeddit Review: Smart Links, Pre-saves, AI-Powered Ads and MoreWelcome to my Hypeddit review. Hypeddit is a music marketing platform with a host of features including smart links, pre-save links, lifetime pre-saves, download gates, AI-powered music ads and more. I've been using Hypeddit since roughly 2019 for myself and...
