The music industry has come a long way from traditional record stores and albums. Today, artists are leveraging digital platforms to carve their own paths in music distribution, sidelining the traditional gatekeepers of the industry. The challenge, however, lies in discovering where the music lovers reside among the vast online audience and finding the best strategies to reach them.
The era of physical album sales has given way to streaming and digital sales, with a significantly broader audience reachable through digital distribution. The explosive growth of platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal has made online music distribution a powerful force in the industry, allowing even independent artists to access vast markets.
A wide variety of platforms, such as Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Spotify, Airbit, BeatStars, YouTube, and personal websites, allows artists to share their music and reach target audiences. Each platform has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, so it is crucial to research and choose the one that best aligns with your goals.
While platforms like Spotify or Bandcamp can expose your music to millions of potential listeners, utilizing a personal website can provide increased control over your content and income. A hybrid approach could be the most effective, starting on popular platforms to build a fan base and gradually transitioning to a personal website to solidify your brand.
Creating an online presence for your music is vital, utilizing digital platforms to engage with fans and showcase your work. Landing pages and email communication are integral to connecting with your audience, converting casual listeners into dedicated supporters.
Automation tools, such as the ‘auto newsletter’ feature in AWeber, can streamline your outreach and help you manage your online presence. Laying down these systems enables you to self-manage your distribution and sales without the need for a record company contract.
In conclusion, establishing a successful online music sales system is indeed a daunting task. However, with the right strategies, consistency, and hard work, it is possible to make money from your music without relying on traditional record contracts. The key is to experiment with various platforms and approaches to find the one that aligns with your goals, maximizing your reach and building a sustainable career in the digital age. Keep connecting with your audience, and remember that your fans will remain central to your success in the ever-evolving world of music distribution.
Up until working with Casey, we had only had poor to mediocre experiences outsourcing work to agencies. Casey & the team at CJ&CO are the exception to the rule.
Communication was beyond great, his understanding of our vision was phenomenal, and instead of needing babysitting like the other agencies we worked with, he was not only completely dependable but also gave us sound suggestions on how to get better results, at the risk of us not needing him for the initial job we requested (absolute gem).
This has truly been the first time we worked with someone outside of our business that quickly grasped our vision, and that I could completely forget about and would still deliver above expectations.
I honestly can't wait to work in many more projects together!
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