Now that we are in the era of digital content streaming, Spotify is essentially the modern-day radio for audio consumers, the playlist being what GenXers used to call a mixtape. This mega platform is more than just a treasure trove of popular and hard-to-find tracks. It has become increasingly social with its upgraded features that allow more engagement between the artist and follower. Hence, a Spotify playlist promotion is often a practice for newbies and seasoned musicians if they want to get traction and stay relevant in their industry.
With a bit of research and analysis, you can curate your playlists on Spotify that make for more enjoyable listening while enhancing the relationship with your audience, which has proven to be crucial to one’s success.
Here are the reasons you should conduct a Spotify playlist promotion
Establish a Long-Term Connection
You know how you have a song or a playlist that reminds you of a particular feeling or experience? When you play it, it helps you relive moments, whether good or bad. This is what makes songs special. Musicians play music not just as a form of self-expression but also as a means of inspiring others. A playlist plays a big part in establishing a long and meaningful relationship with as many listeners as possible. You want to become a fixture in their lives. Nothing could be better than your audience consuming your playlist all the time.
According to a recent survey conducted by Spotify, users who listen to playlists created by their favorite artists are more likely to feel a deeper connection with them. In fact, 65% of users said that they felt a stronger emotional connection to an artist when they listened to their playlists.
Build Your Niche Audience
It’s not unusual for a song to only appeal to a particular set, especially about personal pain or a unique experience. For instance, a song about unrequited love may resonate with some people, but others would not like a sappy love song. Hence, targeting your specific audience with a thematic playlist is important. This way, you avoid skips affecting algorithmic results, and your listeners will likely play them more than once.
A study by music analytics firm Chartmetric found that artists who created niche playlists had more success in gaining followers and building their brand. By focusing on a specific theme or genre, you can attract listeners who are passionate about that type of music, leading to a loyal and engaged audience.
Make Your Music More Marketable
While it is highly recommended for new artists to debut a single instead of a whole album on Spotify, including it in a playlist makes it more marketable. One that is nicely put together may draw supporters of your featured artists to your track. Let’s face it, even if your music is already out on Spotify, no one will still know about it unless you put in the marketing strategies such as a Spotify playlist promotion. That’s why pooling with songs of other artists who are more established can give your single a much-needed boost.
Fuel Your Creativity
You might think that building a playlist is simple: you throw in a few songs that you like, and everything’s good. There is a method to the madness. It is crucial to curate your playlist because this can impact your potential audience. Creating a playlist isn’t just about throwing together a bunch of songs – it’s about curating a listening experience that tells a story. By selecting tracks that connect with each other and flow seamlessly, you can create a playlist that is greater than the sum of its parts. This requires a creative mindset and an eye for detail, but the end result can be incredibly rewarding.
It’s a numbers game!
According to a recent study by Music Business Worldwide, artists who promote their Spotify playlists experience an average increase of 20% in streams and followers within the first month. A successful Spotify playlist promotion translates to more streams and followers, therefore, more revenues for you. You may not realize it, but marketing your playlist can be done even outside the Spotify platform. You can spread the word easily on your social media pages by providing a Spotify playlist link on your bio and posts. So if your Facebook followers, for instance, have yet to be Spotify users, it can lead them to sign up, which helps raise your figures on Spotify. Positive outcomes can encourage you to experiment with different genres in the future, and help you earn a spot in the editorial playlist organically, a rare but achievable accomplishment nonetheless.
Some tips to promote your Spotify playlist
1) Identify your target beyond the obvious
When you are courting followers, you need to establish your identity. For example, if you are all about jazz music, you should be going for jazz fans, right? But why not also tap those who listen to blues, soul, or jazz-infused R&B? You can create a vibe in specific scenarios that you can envision your playlist will make a great fit, whether they are working out or soaking in a bathtub. Simply put, try to go out of your confines because you might just tap an entirely unexpected fanbase.
2) Study popular playlists
You can easily distinguish such playlists by their number of followers and streams. See what types of songs they have and how they present them. What about their artwork? How frequently do they update their playlist? Filter through your findings and apply them to your playlist strategy accordingly.
3) Choose a catchy name
Make it something that intrigues users who are browsing through playlists. Calling it a “happy pill” as an example may get people interested since music is generally a pick-me-upper, whether you are about to start your day or looking for something uplifting to get through a tough time. See to it, though, that it’s not a deceptive playlist name and attach only appropriate tracks. Moreover, stick to a name that will hold regardless of time. Although you can change your playlist name whenever you wish, it may affect your succeeding search results.
4) Get others to share it
Aside from promoting it on your social media bio, posts and stories, you can also reach out to other artists featured in your playlist. Let them know that you have included them and ask them if they can share it on their social media. Indie artists know the drill and are generally helpful in this practice so this shouldn’t be difficult to accomplish.
Takeaway
Music is life to both artists and avid listeners. As a musician, you don’t only pour your heart and soul into creating beautiful music; you also make sure it reaches as many people as it can. You can achieve that and more with the right Spotify playlist promotion alongside other marketing initiatives.
Check out Songlifty, one of the most effective digital music marketing service providers that can help increase your plays and followers on Spotify, among other streaming platforms. Learn more about their services here.