Used Chat GPT to write, but the experience is mine

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Introduction

One of my music friends asked me how I ended up having constant streaming on Spotify. And what I have is monthly 4–5k, which is not much as a royalty stream, but good enough to feel good and appreciated as an indie musician.

Hi, I’m Arman Ayva, an instrumental music creator based in Montreal. My music is an exploration of jazz, funk, and folk, with rich bass, lively drums, and captivating beats. I have no formal musical education and don’t work from traditional scores, so I wouldn’t call myself a ‘musician’ in the conventional sense. But I hope my music connects with people, especially those who can play it and bring it to life in new ways.

Starting out as an indie artist can be both exciting and challenging. Since my debut in August 2023, I’ve released over 44 songs, navigated the streaming world, and discovered how to build a digital presence that drives growth. With platforms like Spotify, TuneCore, and collaborative tools such as BandLab, I’ve expanded my reach, gained listeners, and now enjoy a growing stream count of over 4,000 on Spotify alone.

The Biggest Challenge for an Artist: Getting Your Music Heard

As an independent artist, getting your music listened to by others can be one of the most daunting challenges you’ll face. Despite creating what you believe to be great music, the digital music space is crowded, and breaking through the noise can feel nearly impossible. In a world where millions of tracks are uploaded daily to platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music, standing out is harder than ever.

Here’s why this challenge exists:

Saturation of Content: The internet is flooded with content. Every day, new songs, videos, and albums are uploaded by artists worldwide. With so much new material, it’s tough to make your work stand out and even harder to build an audience from scratch.

Algorithm Control: Streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube use complex algorithms to determine which content gets promoted. These algorithms often favor established artists with large followings, which makes it challenging for new indie artists to get discovered. Without the right strategies, your music may remain buried under a sea of other tracks, never reaching the ears of potential listeners.

Lack of Industry Connections: Big-name artists often have industry connections, managers, labels, and publicists who help promote their music, book gigs, and get it on radio stations or major playlists. Independent artists, however, must navigate this alone, making it harder to get their music in front of the right people.

Time and Effort: Even after you’ve recorded your song, the real work begins — promoting it. You can have the best song in the world, but without the right promotion, nobody will hear it. Building a fanbase, creating engaging content, and utilizing tools like social media ads, Spotify promotion, or YouTube content all require time, effort, and financial investment.

How to Overcome This Challenge

So, how do you overcome the challenge of getting your music heard?

Build Your Digital Presence: The first step is to create a strong digital presence. Platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and social media are essential tools to connect with listeners. By constantly updating your content, engaging with fans, and collaborating with other artists, you gradually increase your visibility.

Use Paid Ads Strategically: To cut through the noise, paid ads on platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram can give you a visibility boost. Ads allow you to target the exact audience who is most likely to enjoy your music, bringing more listeners to your tracks.

Collaborate with Other Artists: Not my forte, I am struggling with an introvert part of me, and have an excuse, like I am too busy. Yet Collaboration is one of the most effective ways to reach new audiences. Working with other artists on platforms like BandLab or through joint releases can help you tap into each other’s fanbase. Cross-promotion is a win-win situation for both parties, and it’s often easier to get traction together than alone.

Leverage Playlisting and Radio: Getting your music placed on playlists or even getting some radio spins is one of the most powerful ways to get your music heard. Services like Groover.co allow you to submit your tracks to playlist curators, radio stations, and music blogs. If selected, these opportunities can drastically increase your exposure and streams.

1. Distributing Your Music: Using TuneCore

When it comes to getting your music on streaming platforms, distribution services like TuneCore are essential. TuneCore is a digital distribution platform that enables artists to upload and distribute their music on major streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

Key Functions of TuneCore:

Wide Reach: TuneCore distributes your music across multiple global streaming platforms.

TuneCore Accelerator: If your music ends up in the list, which will take time and may need your song certain algorithmic thresholds, you will get a Spotify spin uplift.

Performance Analytics: With detailed analytics, TuneCore helps track where your music is being listened to and how well it’s performing on each platform.

Royalty Collection: TuneCore ensures you retain 100% of the royalties, so all revenue generated from streams goes directly to the artist.

Publishing and Licensing: The platform offers publishing and licensing support, which is helpful if you’re interested in sync opportunities (like getting your music featured in TV shows or films).

With TuneCore, I was able to reach listeners across multiple platforms, boosting visibility and access to my music. Having consistent access to royalty payments and insights into my music’s reach has been invaluable in tracking growth and setting goals.

2. Building and Engaging an Audience on Spotify

For many artists, Spotify is the primary platform for streaming and growing an audience. With Spotify for Artists, I’ve been able to closely monitor my growth and tailor my marketing efforts based on the platform’s data.

Key Functions of Spotify for Artists:

Audience Insights: View listener demographics, including age, location, and engagement trends.

Playlisting: Submitting songs to editorial playlists increases chances of reaching a wider audience.

Fan-Driven Marketing: Data on saves, playlist adds, and streaming trends gives a clear sense of which songs resonate with listeners.

Real-Time Stats: I can see live stats on who’s listening, which helps plan releases and promotional strategies.

Release Radar and Discovery Weekly: Spotify’s algorithmic playlists can drive substantial traffic to your music when the tracks perform well.

Focusing on Spotify as my main streaming platform has enabled me to increase my monthly listeners to around 200–300. Through consistent releases and strategic promotion, my streams have grown steadily, and my music has been added to playlists, which helps bring in new listeners and create recurring fans.

3. Collaboration and Co-Creation with BandLab

Collaborating with other musicians is not only creatively fulfilling but can also broaden your audience reach. BandLab is a digital audio workstation (DAW) that allows artists to collaborate in real-time from anywhere in the world, making it easy to create with others remotely.

Key Functions of BandLab:

Real-Time Collaboration: BandLab’s cloud-based setup lets musicians work on projects together in real-time.

Cross-Platform Integration: BandLab works on both mobile and desktop, so you can capture ideas on the go or at home.

Social Network for Musicians: BandLab has a social component where you can share music, connect with other artists, and get feedback.

Multi-Track Recording: The DAW supports multi-track recording, making it ideal for complex projects with multiple instruments or collaborators.

Instrumentals and Loops: With an extensive library of loops and virtual instruments, BandLab provides everything from drum kits to synths to enhance your recordings.

Working with BandLab has introduced me to new audiences through collaborative projects and has expanded my creative horizons. Every time I collaborate with a new artist, I notice a slight increase in followers and listeners, showing how valuable co-creation can be for mutual growth.

4. Getting Expert Feedback and Exposure with Groover.co

One of the most valuable tools I’ve used is Groover.co, a platform that connects artists directly with industry professionals for real feedback, playlist placement opportunities, and potential exposure.

Key Functions of Groover.co:

Direct Feedback: Groover allows you to submit your music to music experts, including playlist curators, radio DJs, and music bloggers. You’ll receive detailed feedback from industry professionals who know what works and what doesn’t.

Playlisting and Radio Spins: If your music is selected, Groover can help you get placed on curated playlists and even get radio spins. These placements are key for boosting streams and reaching new audiences.

Artist Promotion: The platform helps artists promote their music to industry professionals who are in a position to support and share it with their own audiences.

Guaranteed Submissions: Artists can submit their music for a guaranteed response, meaning no matter what, you’ll get feedback.

By using Groover, I’ve been able to submit my music to a network of professionals who offer constructive advice and sometimes even promote my tracks to their listeners, helping me reach new heights in my audience growth.

5. Creating Visual Content with Poe.ai and CapCut

In today’s digital world, it’s not just about the music; visuals play a huge role in catching a potential listener’s attention. For each release, I use Poe.ai for generating unique artwork and CapCut for creating engaging video content.

Key Functions of Poe.ai and CapCut:

Poe.ai for Artwork: This AI-based tool helps create album covers and promotional images quickly, allowing for a consistent visual brand.

CapCut for Video Creation: CapCut provides easy-to-use templates, effects, and editing tools that make video production straightforward, even without prior editing experience.

Social Media Optimization: CapCut allows you to format videos specifically for platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where vertical content performs well.

High-quality visuals and videos have been instrumental in boosting engagement on social media. Posts with striking artwork and video clips have drawn significantly more views, helping to drive traffic to my Spotify page and increase streams by approximately 15–20% after each release.

6. Promoting Your Music Through Ads on Spotify, YouTube, and Social Media

To reach new listeners and increase engagement, I’ve invested in ads on Spotify, YouTube, and other social media channels. Ads are crucial for indie artists looking to scale their reach and convert new listeners into fans.

Key Functions of Ads on Various Platforms:

Spotify Marque and Showcase Ads : Those two are basically my go-to options. It is not cheap, but 100% real. For 140 $ you will have you music presented to over 10K listeners. If you are good you may get up your music to ove 100 playlists and personal saves, plus new followers as super fans. This of course my numbers, I am sure yours will be better .

YouTube Ads: Running video ads on YouTube helps visually promote releases and direct viewers to my Spotify page or music videos.

Social Media Ads: On Instagram and Facebook, targeted ads increase visibility among potential fans based on age, location, and interests.

I usually see a 15–20% increase in streams after each ad campaign, with each new release bringing in 200–400 new listeners. Investing in ads has been one of the most effective ways to grow my fanbase and establish myself as a consistent presence in the music streaming space.

7. Growing Revenue Potential with Royalties through BMI

Since the beginning of my journey, I’ve taken steps to ensure that I receive royalties from my music. Registering as a BMI artist enables me to collect royalties whenever my songs are streamed, played in public, or synced with visual media.

Key Functions of BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.):

Royalty Collection: BMI collects performance royalties from streaming, radio, and live performances.

Publishing Support: If my music is used commercially, BMI helps ensure I’m paid fairly.

Global Reach: BMI collects royalties internationally, so I can monetize listeners from anywhere in the world.

With my catalog of 44 songs now registered, I’m setting myself up for long-term revenue potential as streams and playlist adds increase. While I’m still in the early stages, BMI allows me to capture revenue that will grow with my audience.

8. Avoiding Cheap and Unreliable Music Promoters

As tempting as it may be to save money on music promotion, I’ve learned that working with promoters offering services at shockingly low prices (such as those found on platforms like Fiverr or similar) can often do more harm than good. While these services promise exposure, they rarely deliver meaningful results.

Here’s why you should be cautious when considering low-cost music promotion:

Quality vs. Quantity

Many promoters on budget-friendly platforms offer a high number of fake or inactive plays, low-quality playlist placements, or bot-generated streams that inflate numbers but don’t translate to real engagement. The promise of “hundreds of thousands of streams” for a small fee can seem appealing, but in most cases, these streams will not lead to genuine listeners or long-term growth.

Negative Impact on Algorithms

Platforms like Spotify and YouTube rely on algorithms to recommend music to listeners. They look for engagement patterns such as playlist adds, saves, and shares, which indicate genuine listener interest. If you’re using a cheap promoter who generates fake streams or playlist adds, it can damage your reputation on these platforms and hurt your chances of being featured in more legitimate playlists or recommendations.

Lack of Authentic Industry Connections

Legitimate music promoters, especially those who work with independent artists, build their reputation through actual relationships with curators, influencers, and industry professionals. Cheap promoters usually lack these real connections, so any exposure they provide tends to be superficial and not targeted toward people who would genuinely enjoy your music.

Wasted Money

Ultimately, investing in these low-cost services can be a waste of time and money. Instead of focusing on these unreliable shortcuts, it’s better to invest in long-term strategies, such as using platforms like Groover.co or running targeted ads on Spotify and YouTube, which offer more transparency, better engagement opportunities, and a higher likelihood of attracting real fans.

In my experience, the value of organic growth and building a genuine fanbase outweighs the temporary thrill of inflated numbers. Always prioritize services that align with your long-term goals and provide measurable, sustainable results.

By avoiding low-cost promoters and focusing on more reliable and transparent marketing strategies, you’re more likely to build a loyal audience and see tangible success. While the road to growing your fanbase as an indie artist may be challenging, it’s far more rewarding to do it the right way with a solid digital strategy.

9. The Importance of Having a Website and YouTube Channel

As an independent artist, establishing a digital presence across multiple platforms is essential for building your brand and connecting with fans. While streaming platforms like Spotify are crucial for music distribution, there are two other powerful tools you should not overlook: a personal website and a YouTube channel. Here’s why:

A Website: Your Digital Home Base

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, your website serves as the central hub for all your content, branding, and promotional efforts. While social media platforms come and go, and streaming services update their algorithms, your website is always under your control.

Here’s why having a website matters:

Professionalism and Credibility: A website shows your audience that you are serious about your music career. It gives fans a place to learn more about you, your journey, and your music. It also provides a professional image that can help set you apart from others.

Fan Engagement and Email List Building: A website allows you to build an email list — a direct line to your fans. You can share news, releases, tour dates, and exclusive content with your audience without worrying about social media platforms limiting your reach. Building an email list ensures that your fans remain connected with you.

Merchandise and Direct Sales: Your website is also an ideal place to sell merchandise, albums, or other products. While platforms like Spotify take a cut of your earnings, selling directly to fans on your website allows you to keep more of the revenue. This is especially important for indie artists who want to maximize their income.

SEO Benefits: With the right keywords, your website can help you show up in search engine results when people look up your name, music, or related genres. A well-optimized site can drive organic traffic to your music and content, further expanding your reach.

A YouTube Channel: A Visual and Interactive Platform

YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, and it’s one of the most important platforms for music discovery. Beyond just being a place to share music videos, YouTube allows you to connect with fans in a more personal, interactive way. Here’s why it’s indispensable:

Visual Engagement: Music is an auditory experience, but adding visuals to your music can amplify the emotional connection. With a YouTube channel, you can upload official music videos, lyric videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and even live performances. This helps bring your music to life and deepens your relationship with listeners.

Monetization Opportunities: Once your channel reaches a certain level of engagement (like watch hours and subscribers), you can monetize your videos through YouTube ads. This can provide a passive income stream, alongside the royalties from platforms like Spotify.

Viral Potential: YouTube is an incredible platform for content discovery. A well-crafted music video or viral video (like a live performance or a collaboration with other artists) can increase your visibility exponentially. A video that goes viral can lead to more fans, more streams, and increased brand recognition.

Engagement with Fans: YouTube also provides an avenue for fans to interact with you directly through comments, likes, and shares. You can build a community by engaging with your audience, responding to their comments, and even hosting Q&A sessions or live streams.

Make sure to do Youtube right from the get-go. I made a rooky mistake spending a bunch of money advertising my videos but ended up with some irrelevant followers who do not engage with any of my videos.

Conclusion

Building a digital presence as an indie artist requires persistence, strategic promotion, and collaboration with other musicians and industry experts. Through platforms like TuneCore, Spotify, BandLab, Groover.co, and content creation tools like Poe.ai and CapCut, I’ve been able to carve a path to success as an indie artist. Although the road isn’t always easy, by staying consistent, growing your network, and utilizing available tools, you can steadily increase your audience and make your mark on the music scene.

By continuously adapting to the digital landscape and leveraging available tools, I’ve been able to create a meaningful connection with listeners and expand my music’s reach. Remember, every step forward counts, no matter how small, and the key to success is never giving up on your music and your vision.

What’s your digital strategy as an indie artist? Drop your thoughts and questions in the comments!

And before you go make sure to give my music a try and click the follow button on Spotify and connect on Instagram

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