Have you ever had that nightmare where you’re on stage in front of a large audience ready to perform and have completely forgotten your music?
That might describe the feeling I had when I “woke up” and saw the almighty Spotify in the audience rolling its eyes in disbelief. Oh yes, I had been found out – found clueless, that is, when it comes to music promotion in today’s world.
However, here’s good news! With research and a few enlightened souls willing to offer direction, I’ve seen the light. Today I’m sharing with you what I believe are key takeaways for setting up and utilizing Spotify’s tool for creators, Spotify for Artists.
Before I continue, let me introduce myself.
I’m Julie Chapman, Chicago-area based pianist & composer. Having studied classical piano since the age of four, it was in high school when I discovered a lifelong passion for composing. Over the past few years, I’ve had the good fortune to experience the natural beauty of the northwoods of Michigan. My response resulted in an album’s worth of music, Homage to the Northwoods, that has now been recorded and released. Unexpected? Yes. Piece of cake? No. Rewarding? VERY!
Back to launching your Spotify for Artist profile. There are many details, and while having the pre-release items complete by your release date is ideal, don’t fret if you have some straggling post-release housework to do. In other words, your release is not contingent on having everything populated on your Spotify profile. It’s simply to your advantage to do so.
Here we go!
Pre-release Checklist
Ideally, here’s what you should have finalized prior to release.
- Mixed and mastered project complete.
- Digital files ready to upload.
- Digital distributor vetted and chosen, account established, tracks uploaded. Spotify provides a directory of their preferred distributors.
- Spotify for Artist profile completed. Take advantage of every element offered here: bio, pictures, artist pick, and more (spelled out below).
- An absolute must-do! Submit (pitch) your one allotted unreleased song to Spotify for Artists for their editorial playlists consideration.
IMPORTANT!
Pitch your track at least one week before your release date. I recommend at least two weeks. Give time and thoughtful consideration regarding your pitch for this track. Spotify’s curators want to know about you and the song – the story behind.
Recommended To-Dos
Here are nitty-gritty, impactful to-dos.
- Craft an intriguing Artist Bio for your Spotify for Artist profile. You have 1,500 characters to introduce yourself to the world. What sets you apart from similar artists? What inspires your music? Don’t forget to add links to your social media accounts and artist website.
- Upload multiple Artist Images to your Spotify for Artist profile. Use high quality, brand consistent images for your avatar (image for search results and Spotify mobile app), header image, and image gallery.
- Add a unique Canvas to each of your tracks. A canvas is an 8-second vertical visual that appears as your song is streaming, replacing your album artwork. You are able to add a canvas to your released and unreleased tracks.
- Add an Artist Pick song, album, playlist, concert, etc. to your Spotify for Artist profile. Consider using your Artist Pick to promote a playlist that you’ve curated that includes several of your released tracks alongside similar artists’ tracks, e.g., Neoclassical Piano. You will need to update your Artist Pick every 14 days.
- Check out Spotify’s Promo Cards. These customizable cards can be useful assets for your social media promos.
- Under the Campaigns tab on your Spotify for Artist page, explore Spotify’s Marquee tool. You’re able to create a campaign for eligible new releases: more than 5k streams over the last 28 days, more than 1k followers.
- Also under the Campaigns tab is Spotify’s tool, Discovery Mode. I’ve had first-hand experience with positive results. Discovery Mode is in a beta phase and isn’t available to all artists yet. A quick check-in, here and there, on your Campaigns tab will keep you informed.
- Yet another cool feature Spotify for Artists offers is your ability to promote and sell your Merch directly to fans on Spotify. You’ll need to set-up an account with Shopify to utilize this feature.
- Familiarize yourself with the gory details, updated daily, on your Spotify for Artists dashboard. The stats Spotify provides are extremely valuable, yet can take time to decipher. If I can use this metaphor – the “data fog” will dissipate over time. This is precisely why I recommend checking-in on your Spotify for Artists page daily. Not only will you begin to understand the movement of numbers and info provided, you can utilize this information as a guide for your promotional decisions.
- NEWEST feature from Spotify for Artists: Clips are 30-second or less vertical videos that can be attached to your profile, songs, and albums. Clips provides a means for video story-telling, offering personal insight to your work. This tool is not yet available to all artists. Therefore, keep an eye out for its availability for your use.
- More Artist Profile recommendations available.
There are no promises that heeding the above advice will eliminate those dreadful performance nightmares.
However, as you navigate your wide-awake musician’s dream, taking full advantage of your Spotify for Artists page will help make your dream a reality. I’m right there alongside you.
Always for you ‘
– Julie Chapman
