Promote Your Music Online

Create a Website That’s Built for Fans

A well-made website gives you a place to send people that isn’t controlled by algorithms. It's your official home base — one that works for you 24/7. Unlike social media, which comes with constant distractions, your website focuses entirely on you and your music.

Essentials to think about: A short & clear BIO, high quality images, embedded music players (samples), upcoming shows and events, and links to social media and streaming platforms. Keep the web pages simple, mobile-friendly and easy to navigate!

Send Emails That Actually Get Read By Your Audience

If you're trying to grow an audience that actually cares, email is worth your time. Start simple: add a signup form to your website. From there, link it in your bio using tools like Linktree or Koji — wherever people already follow you. Give them a reason to join.

Maybe it’s early access to your next track, a rough demo you’re proud of, or a small merch giveaway for a few lucky subscribers. And once people are on the list, keep in touch in a way that feels human. Don’t just blast out links. Talk about what inspired a lyric. Share a voice memo from your phone. Let people in on the process — or just check in with a quick update from the road. The point isn’t to sell something every time. It’s to stay connected in a way that doesn’t rely on algorithms or feeds.

Use Smart Distribution (and Get on All the Platforms)

You should be on distribution platforms like CD Baby or TuneCore, they send your tracks to streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, etc... You should also consider Bandcamp, SoundCloud, Audius, BeatStars. If you're asking “where do I promote my music” — start by making sure it’s available wherever fans might discover it.

Use Smart Links to Share Your Songs

When you're sharing your music, it helps to make things easy for people. Instead of sending them straight to one platform like Spotify, use a single link that gives them options — wherever they like to listen. There are tools that do this for free or cheap. Songwhip is a simple one. Others like Koji, ToneDen, or Hypeddit give you a bit more control. Some even show you which platforms your listeners are using most. It’s not a flashy trick, just a smart way to make your music more accessible — and to make sure the effort you put into promoting it doesn’t get lost in a dead link or a platform someone doesn’t use.

Customize Your Artist Profiles

Once your music’s out there, don’t forget to actually clean up your profiles. Like, go in and make sure your artist pages are claimed — Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, Deezer, all of them. It takes a few minutes, but it matters. Upload a decent photo (or at least something that isn’t blurry), write a short bio that actually says something about you, and link your socials so people can find you in other places. It might seem like a boring chore, and honestly, it kind of is — but it’s one of those small things that can make a big difference in how people see you, especially when someone’s checking you out for the first time. Don’t skip it.

Pitch to Spotify Playlists (and Others)

Playlists are still one of the best ways to get your music in front of new ears. Everyone’s chasing the big editorial lists on Spotify, but the smaller, user-made ones? Don’t sleep on those — they add up. If you’re releasing through Spotify, make sure to submit your track through the “Upcoming” tab in your Spotify for Artists dashboard — ideally at least a week before your release drops. Take your time choosing the genre tags; that stuff actually matters.

And write a quick, thoughtful pitch about what makes the song stand out — no pressure, just keep it real. Outside of Spotify, you can try sites like SubmitHub or Daily Playlists, or even something like Groover if you’re okay with a little paid outreach. IndieMono’s good too. And yeah, most of these placements won’t blow your numbers up overnight, but a bunch of small playlists working together can still move the needle.

Don't Just Post Links!

Nobody wants to be spammed with “new song out now!” posts all over Facebook, and especially on 'Artist Groups'. If you're using social media to promote your music, think of it more in terms of a conversation, not a billboard. Share what’s behind the song — a moment that inspired it, a line you almost cut, something that went wrong while recording. People love that kind of stuff. Show your world, not just your product. You’re not a brand — you’re a person making something honest. And that’s what makes people stick around.

Short Videos Are Great To Get Discovered!

Short-form video is wild right now — TikTok, Reels, Shorts — all of it. And yeah, it can be cringey, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to do a dance or chase every trend. Just record little moments: maybe you hum a melody you’re working on, or you show the five takes it took to get a verse right. People like seeing the messy, real parts of the process. Sometimes that’s way more interesting than the polished final cut. And that’s the kind of stuff that gets shared.

Advertising Music

Running ads doesn’t mean dropping hundreds of dollars. You can start small — like five or ten bucks a day — and test what actually works. Promote a single, a lyric video, or even your email sign-up. Aim for people who like artists similar to you, and don’t just “boost a post.” That usually doesn’t do much. Set it up properly through Meta’s ad manager or YouTube’s backend. It takes a bit of learning, but once you figure it out, it’s a powerful tool — especially if you're doing everything else yourself.

Get Featured — Even on Smaller Blogs and Podcasts

Not everything has to be Rolling Stone. Smaller blogs, music YouTubers, and indie podcasts are way more approachable — and often more supportive. Look for bloggers, youtube content creators and podcasters who cover your genre and vibe, and when you reach out, be a person, not a press release. Tell them what the song means, how it came together, or why you think it might resonate with their audience. Keep it short. Be real. These kinds of features help people connect the dots between you and your music.

Collaborate (Even if You Never Meet in Person)

Working with other artists is hands down one of the best ways to reach new people. Doesn’t have to be huge — maybe they remix your track, or you guest on theirs. Maybe you do a split video or co-write a hook. You don’t even have to be in the same city. Just trade ideas online and build something cool together. Plus, it’s more fun than doing everything solo all the time. When it clicks, both audiences benefit.

Host a Listening Party — Just Hit “Go Live”

You don’t need a big stage or fancy setup. Open your laptop, go live on YouTube, Twitch, or Instagram, and play through your new release. Talk about the tracks as you go — what went into them, what almost didn’t make it. Fans love being brought into those moments. It turns a release into an event, even if it’s just you in your room with a guitar and a cheap mic. Real connection beats slick presentation every time.

Ask for Shares (People Will Help You)

You might feel weird asking, but people don’t mind being invited to help. In fact, most fans like it — especially if they already support you. At the end of your posts, just say something like, “If this hit you, send it to a friend.” Or, “Add this to your playlists if you’re feeling it.” Doesn’t have to be a big ask. Just a small nudge. And if someone shares it, take a second to thank them. That kind of interaction builds long-term fans.

Be Part of the Music Community (Not Just the Feed)

There are so many places online where artists and fans talk shop — Reddit threads, Discord servers, Facebook groups, even niche forums. You don’t have to promote yourself every time you show up. Just join the conversations. Give feedback. Ask questions. Share what you’re working on if it feels right. Over time, people notice who’s real and who’s just there to spam links. Be the first one. It goes a long way.

Reuse What You’ve Already Made

One of the biggest myths about promoting music is that you always need to be creating something new all the time, every day. That mindset burns people out fast. The truth is, you probably already have more content than you realize — it just needs to be repurposed. That music video you spent weeks editing? Break it into clips: one for the hook, one with behind-the-scenes footage, one with captions added. Got a cool press photo? Overlay a lyric or a quote from a review and turn it into a visual post. Even something as simple as a screenshot from a fan who sent a kind message — that’s worth sharing (with permission, obviously). It shows that people are listening and that it means something.

Think of it this way: not everyone sees every post you make. What you shared once last month can absolutely be shared again in a new format. A full performance video can be chopped into vertical clips for Reels or TikTok. An Instagram Story from your last gig? Save it, subtitle it, and drop it on YouTube Shorts. One solid piece of content might give you ten smaller ones — and that’s not cutting corners. That’s working smarter.

Repurposing doesn’t mean being repetitive — it’s about getting more life out of the work you already poured yourself into. Most fans won’t mind seeing the same moment twice, especially if it’s framed in a slightly new way. If anything, repetition helps them remember who you are. And if you're promoting your music without a team, without a budget, and without endless hours to spare, finding ways to stretch your effort is a skill worth mastering.

Make Your Live Shows Work Harder

Playing live is powerful, but most artists forget to use that moment for follow-up. At the merch table or even between songs, invite people to follow you or sign up for your mailing list. Use a QR code that links to your music and socials. Bring cards or stickers with your info on them. Better yet, bring something worth keeping — not just a business card that’ll get tossed. You already have their attention. Make it count.

Find a Routine You Can Actually Keep Up

Promoting your music doesn’t need to be a full-time hustle. What matters most is that you keep showing up. Build a rhythm that fits your life. Maybe Mondays are for drafting an email, Tuesdays for posting a short clip, Fridays for fan shoutouts. Doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to be doable. The more sustainable your routine, the less likely you are to burn out. And that consistency? That’s what builds real momentum.