Many musicians and producers hope their tracks will go viral without much promotion, but relying on luck alone isn’t the best strategy. For most of us, music needs a push to gain traction, especially if you’re aiming for success in music licensing. In this guide, I’ll share some effective strategies I’ve used to market and license my music to help you achieve the same.
Step 1: Build a Website
Your first step is to build a professional-looking website. While this may seem intimidating, it’s now easier than ever. Websites like Webstarts, Blogger, and WordPress make it simple to set up a site, even if you have little to no coding experience. Each of these platforms offers its pros:
- Webstarts: Free basic memberships, point-and-click design similar to PowerPoint, and customizable audio players.
- Blogger: Great for beginners, with plenty of built-in tools.
- WordPress: Ideal for those with some technical skill. It offers more customization and allows you to build a site that looks professional.
Your site can be the hub where people discover your music and purchase licenses.
Step 2: Decide How You’ll License Your Music
You have two main options when it comes to licensing your music:
License Directly from Your Website: This allows you to control the process entirely. You can use services like LicenseQuote, YouLicense, or SourceAudio to help facilitate direct licensing from your site.
Affiliate Links to Stock Libraries: This option allows you to direct users to stock music libraries where they can purchase licenses. The benefit of using music libraries is their built-in traffic. Some of the best libraries with affiliate programs are Pond5, Audiosparx, and Audiojungle. They also offer embed codes to integrate their music players directly onto your website.
- Useful resource: Music Library Report is a great website that offers reviews and insights into the best music libraries for licensing.
Step 3: Develop a Marketing and Promotion Strategy
Once your music is available for licensing, the real challenge is promotion. Marketing and promoting your music is crucial to gaining traction and ensuring your tracks reach the right audience. You should aim to spend 25-30% of your time promoting your music, which may include:
- Networking: Attend industry events, meet other musicians, and establish relationships with music supervisors.
- Advertising: Consider placing targeted ads on social media platforms or Google to attract the right audience.
- Cold Calling: Contact potential clients such as advertising agencies, video creators, and production companies who may be looking for music.
You can also use virtual promotional methods:
- YouTube: Upload high-quality videos of your music with relevant keywords for SEO.
- SoundCloud: Regularly post tracks, engage with listeners, and drive traffic to your website.
- Social Media: Promote your music across platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
- Blogging: Write content related to your music, behind-the-scenes stories, and updates about your releases.
- Email Lists: Build a strong email list using platforms like MailChimp to keep your audience updated.
Additional Marketing Resources
Marketing music can seem overwhelming at first, but there are excellent resources available to help guide you:
- The [DIY] Musician: Offers tips on how to market your music if you only have a limited budget.
- Music Industry How To: Provides comprehensive guides on mastering music marketing.
- Music Think Tank: A great blog for learning about promoting music.
Consider Hiring Help
If marketing isn’t your strong suit, you don’t have to do it alone. Fiverr is a low-cost option where you can find professionals to help with various aspects of your promotion strategy, from social media management to PR campaigns.
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