How to promote your music, ranked
Start with what's free: short videos of the song for weeks before release, a Spotify editorial pitch at least 7 days ahead, and personal emails to curators and writers. Add ads only once you know a song connects. Skip anything that guarantees streams. Consistency beats any single tactic, so plan a full release cycle before you begin.
The ranking
Our opinion, based on cost and how much you control the result.
- Your time
Short-form clips of the song
Free reach to people who have never heard you.
- Free
Spotify editorial pitch
Puts the song on followers' Release Radar.
- Free to cheap
Email list and fans you already have
Nobody can take this audience from you.
- Your time
Personal pitches to curators and writers
Slow, but the relationships build over time.
- Varies
A release show
Gives people a reason to care this week.
- Your budget
Paid ads
Multiplies what already works, and only that.
- High
Hiring a publicist
Worth it when you have a story to tell.
If you have $0, do this
Pick one song
Stop splitting your attention across a whole project.
Film 10 clips before release day
The same hook, different angles. Post them over several weeks.
Pitch Spotify at least 7 days ahead
It's free in Spotify for Artists. Pitching doesn't guarantee placement, but the 7-day pitch gets you onto followers' Release Radar.
Write 20 real emails
To curators, blogs and local radio that already cover artists like you.
Keep going after release day
Most artists stop posting the moment the song comes out, which is when it needs it most.
With Artistboard: every one of these steps lands on a dated plan built from your release day, and each pitch you send is tracked next to the contact.
When to spend money
Run ads after a song has shown you something: people save it, comment on it, or send it to friends. Test a small amount against fans of artists who sound like you, and watch what those listeners do next.
A big budget behind a song nobody responds to just buys you an expensive answer.
Don't buy these
- Anything that guarantees a number of streams.
- Playlist placements sold as a fixed package.
- Followers, at any price.
- A publicist before you have a release and a reason for anyone to write about it.
Why plans beat tactics
None of this works in one burst. Clips need weeks, pitches need lead time, and Spotify needs the song before release. Work backward from release day and give yourself about 8 weeks.
Artistboard builds that whole plan for you, tracks who you've pitched and shows what the release cost.
Questions people ask
How can I promote my music for free?
Post short clips of one song for weeks before and after release, pitch Spotify's editors at least 7 days ahead, build an email list, and write personal notes to curators.
Does paying for playlist placement work?
Be very careful. Services that guarantee streams or placements can put your music at risk. Pitch real curators for free instead.
How early should I start promoting a song?
About 8 weeks before release, so you have time to make content and pitch people who plan ahead.
What's the most effective way to promote music?
Consistent short-form video of a song that connects. It reaches people who've never heard of you, and it costs only your time.
Plan the release. Then promote it.
The rollout plan, the contacts, the pitches and what it all cost, on one board. Start with the free press kit your pitches will link to.
artistboard.comPress kit free for life, no card. Full management suite from $29 a month, billed yearly.