Many independent artists depend entirely on revenue generated from Spotify and other streaming services like Pandora and Apple Music for their livelihood. So getting your songs on these music streaming platforms should be the first step of your marketing strategy. However, the availability of your music online doesn’t guarantee traction. 

7 Proven Practices For Successful Music Promotion On Streaming Platforms

Some excellent ideas can help you achieve your music promotion goals on streaming platforms if you have terrific content. The practices below are a good start for your marketing campaigns on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, and other streaming services.

Claim your account on the streaming platforms

Artist interfaces on most of the streaming services allow you to access the analytics of your music. You can also customize your profiles via the interfaces and use marketing tools available on the platform. These features are:

Apple Connect and Apple Music for Artists

Spotify for Artists. You can get instant verification if you are a CD Baby artist, giving you immediate access to your artist account.

• Next Big Sound and Pandora AMP
• Daily trending reports for Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes are available in your CD Baby dashboard.

Beware of paid streams and playlist placement services

Spotify warns against the legitimacy of services that offer “guaranteed” playlist placements and streams for a payment. According to Spotify, any user who tries to artificially boost stream counts risks having the individual’s music removed from the platform. Artists risk their careers if they engage any of these bad actors in music streaming services.

Services that guarantee streams rely on unscrupulous practices like click farms to generate activity. Likewise, “guaranteed” playlist placements services usually pay for placement (payola). They artificially inflate the number of their playlists followers with listeners who never listened to the featured songs.

Avoid streaming your music on repeat

It is unethical to drive streaming revenue or boost play counts by repeatedly streaming your songs. Though you can occasionally listen to your music, streaming platforms will notice if you leave your latest track on loop. Consequently, they will remove your songs from their service.

Ask your fans to become your followers on the streaming platforms

People who are likely to listen to your latest releases and add your music to their playlists are your followers. They can also engage your back catalog. Inform your fans that they are likely to listen to your remix or new releases on Spotify. They can also create stations from your tracks on Pandora.

Promote your music off-platform

Market your music on social media channels, your website, and email newsletter. These off-platform promos and live concerts can drive listeners to your music on streaming platforms.

Use smart links and embed music players on your website

The embedded players allow your fans to listen to your music from your website. In addition, a smart link will direct them to streaming platforms where shared music is available.

Frequent new releases

You won’t lose traction if you release new music content often. You can engage your followers with any of the following while you work on your next LP or EP:

• new singles 
• remixes
• live recordings
• cover songs
• demos
• alternate takes or bonus tracks
• audio commentary of behind-the-scenes
• one-off collaborations

Besides, you can release a track and continue to work on it. Your followers will anticipate more of your music if you engage and entertain the audience with worthy content.