Independent artists frequently encounter obstacles in promoting their music because of the array of platforms and the competitive landscape of the music business industry. Yet there’s this artist called “Strumrex,” who gains on investment through TikTok music promotion endeavors.
Strumrex is a musician hailing from São Paulo, in Brazil, who just put out a new song called “Feel the Heat.”
The musician kicked off a TikTok music promotion campaign, using a platform known as One Submit.
One Submit offers a range of indie music promotion services across platforms, like TikTok, Spotify promotion to playlists, music submissions to YouTube channels, record labels, music blogs, online radio stations, and music magazine publications to help artists spread the word about their next single.
It provides four submission tiers for promoting content on TikTok that cater to TikTok accounts, with follower counts ranging from 500k to 4 million followers.One thing that distinguishes One Submit from music promotion services is that their TikTok music promotion plan is obligated to place your music on a TikTok video, or money-back guarantee. A move that reduces risks and boosts the chances of gaining substantial visibility via TikTok views.
The artist spent $180 on the platform’s TikTok music promotion plan, which resulted in his electronic track being selected by a TikTok account with 1.9 million followers.
The content creator made a simple dance video using the artist’s track.
The video quickly reached 108,000 views on TikTok, introduced the artist’s song to a fresh audience, and earned a substantial amount of royalties for the artist.
Understanding Music Promotion
Promoting music plays a role in an artist's journey since it boosts their exposure to an audience and contributes to driving sales and income growth over time. To promote music effectively entails utilizing a mix of offline tactics like social media campaigns, email outreach, advertisement placements, and public relations efforts. Having a grasp of music promotion is key for up-and-coming artists aiming for success in the music realm.
Being an artist and trying to promote your music can feel overwhelming, with many options available nowadays; however, taking a comprehensive approach can really make a difference in your journey as an artist. Utilizing methods like using social media platforms for promotion purposes and running email marketing campaigns alongside targeted advertising can truly help boost your visibility and reach as an artist. Moreover, engaging in activities such as performing shows and attending networking events also plays a crucial role in connecting with your audience and building a strong fan base. By honing these skills and strategies, independent artists can carve their path in the music industry successfully.
TikTok Streaming Royalties
Why is this such a big deal then? It’s not every day that an artist manages to strike gold with their music in terms of success and widespread recognition in such a timeframe.
This is truly impressive because TikTok compensates artists, with $0.00402 for each view for streaming royalties. To put that into perspective, an artist’s song that garnered 108,000 views would potentially yield around $430.14 in royalties, nearly doubling their $180 investment. This translates to a return of 2-3 times the amount. As the views keep increasing, the opportunity for earnings continues to expand over time.
For artists there—especially those going it alone—earning a living and getting their name out there can sometimes seem like completely different objectives to chase after. Simply put, it’s not about getting seen—it’s about turning that visibility into measurable earnings.
This tale of triumph showcases how strategic marketing and the use of platforms such as TikTok have the ability to yield outcomes with investments when executed effectively. By leveraging online music promotion services, the artist achieved a significant return on investment, opening up a fresh source of income and boosting their presence to a wide audience of potential supporters.
Can Independent Artists Really Achieve This
“That’s a question!”
Using TikTok could be incredibly beneficial for artists looking to connect with Gen Z and Millennial crowds on their turf and promote their music efficiently there, making it a fantastic avenue for growing a fan base and joining a community passionate about exploring fresh music easily accessible to them.
You can opt for a music promotion service to send your music to TikTok influencers or choose an approach by directly contacting TikTok creators to showcase your song instead; the latter may require greater dedication and time investment but could yield rewarding opportunities in return. Additionally, music video promotion using YouTube music promotion can help enhance visibility and expand your audience.
Music Marketing and Genre on TikTok
Some genres of music may not gain traction on TikTok as others do. If you're trying to promote alternative music or ambient music, for example, you might discover that TikTok isn’t the place to showcase your music and progress in your career.
On TikTok, you often see songs that have choruses or hooks that stick in your head. Usually pop or hip-hop tunes that grab your attention away.
Here are some popular indie songs that gained popularity on TikTok:
“Stunnin”, by Curtis Waters, featuring Harm Franklin
“Supalonely”, by BENEE featuring Gus Dapperton is a tune!
“Coffee”, by beabadoobee
“Deathbed (Coffee, for Your Head)”, by Powfu featuring beabadoobee
“Sophia”, by Clairo
“Space Girl”, by Frances Forever
“Heather”, by Conan Gray
“Dancing in my bedroom.” 347Aidan
“F2020” by Avenue Beat
“I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend"—Girl in Red
“Sunflower”— Rex Orange County
“Take Me Out” – Franz Ferdinand
“Lost Cause”—Billie Eilish
“Fell In Love With A Girl”—The White Stripes
“Blueberry Faygo” by Lil Mosey (Indie crossover)
“Violet”—Hippo Campus
“Space Song” – Beach House
“The Adults Are Talking”—The Strokes
“Dog Days Are Over” – Florence + The Machine
“Sweater Weather”—The” Neighborhood
“Rhiannon” – Fleetwood Mac
These songs gained traction because they either matched TikTok’s vibe or were creatively used in trends, challenges, or emotional storytelling. The platform has become a key place for indie music to go viral, as it allows songs to be discovered in creative ways.
Most of these musicians were widely known at first; however, they gained popularity on TikTok due to the hooks and upbeat sound of their songs that connect with the platform’s users. Different methods for promoting music. Personalized tactics and offering free services as well as radio promotion. Greatly contributed to increasing their exposure and building a following on TikTok.
What can you do to help your TikTok video go viral?
When you start working on a track, remember to be innovative and daring in order to deliver a unique experience to your audience. Don't be afraid to push the boundaries and explore new ideas for inspiration. A perfect inspiration could be
Makeba by Jain.
The track appeared in over one million clips. Amassed a substantial number of views on the platform, reaching into the hundreds of millions mark.
Edit your snippet audio before uploading it to TikTok
When you're about to share your short audio clip on TikTok for the world to see, make sure to give it an attention-grabbing touch from the start! Remember that TikTok users scroll through content quickly, so you need to captivate them with your audio intro being catchy and interesting without any beginnings or prolonged setups—just dive straight into the most thrilling or unforgettable part of your song, like the hook or chorus. When using a music distribution platform or service for sharing your music, they may provide features that assist you in crafting a snippet tailored for TikTok videos; however, you can also opt to perform this task manually using simple audio editing software.
Make sure to adjust the length of your audio to fit within the time constraints of TikTok (15 to 60 seconds). It's important to ensure that the audio quality is crisp and clear for a user experience on the platform. Additionally, once you've polished up your snippet to perfection, upload it. Share it on TikTok and your other social media channels to maximize engagement!
When it comes to songs, hitting their peak moments in the chorus section is crucial for success! Since TikTok thrives on catchy content, starting with your hook or chorus is the way to go for impact on the platform. By diving into the captivating part of your song from the start, it not only increases user engagement but also enhances shareability and broadens your tracks reach among a wider audience.
Ensuring you get paid for your content on TikTok
You can choose between two ways to share your music on TikTok. An option that gets your song there quickly or a more thoughtful approach that helps you make money from the views your track gets.
A quick way is to upload a video, along with your audio clip, onto the TikTok platform; this enables you to easily share the audio link with creators within a short span of time. However, a downside to this approach is that you won't receive any royalties when others incorporate your music into their videos.
Consider choosing a music distribution platform that allows you to send your snippet music to TikTok; not all of the companies are offering that. These companies manage the process of collecting royalties from these platforms and distribute payments to artists every quarter. Find out more about the best music distribution services available today. Planning ahead is key since it typically takes one to two weeks for your music to be available on Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok.
Use social media to promote your video
Give your TikTok videos a boost by sharing them everywhere you can on social media. Get your fans hyped and encourage them to check out your video on TikTok. Pro tip: make your own TikTok account, and when someone uses your music, don’t be shy about reposting their videos to your profile (just make sure to ask first and give them credit by tagging them). Most creators are totally cool with this since it helps them get more exposure too!
The cool thing about this approach is that it creates this snowball effect—the more places your music shows up, the more chances people have to discover it. Plus, when you combine TikTok with other platforms, it helps build your presence across the whole music scene.
Collaborate with Other Artists
Working together with artists is a method to showcase your music and connect with a broader audience base; it allows for the introduction of your music to fresh listeners and contributes towards establishing your standing and credibility within the music scene industry. To engage in collaborations with artists, one could opt for outreach or leverage online platforms and social media channels to establish connections with potential partners.
In the world of music business, it could be very helpful to team up with artists as a way to get your music out there! When you collaborate with others in the industry, you are not only reaching fans but also diversifying your sound, which attracts a wider audience range. You have ways to connect—either reaching out in person or leveraging social media platforms to find partners—all of which bring immense opportunities to elevate your presence and reputation in the music scene!
Important To Know
Let's have a discussion about getting your music there because its more than just putting it on Spotify promotion platforms and hoping for the best outcome. Off you need to understand your style and identify the audience that will truly appreciate your music. There's no use promoting a metal track to fans of pop music. Quality is key here. Even the reputable music promotion platforms won't do you any favors if your track sounds like it was recorded in a tin can.
Consider timing; don't just release your music randomly into the mix! Create some excitement by updating your social media profiles and getting them in shape; connect with music blogs to showcase your work too! It's similar to preparing a meal. You need all the components: a strong social media presence (without being pushy), strategic playlist submissions to curators attention, blogs, and perhaps some targeted advertising when suitable.
When it comes to promoting your music, authenticity is crucial. Share your story, reveal the behind-the-scenes moments, and truly engage with your fans. Success often takes time to unfold. Stay committed to insights from both wins and losses and nurture those authentic relationships. A heartfelt chat with fans can sometimes be more impactful than any priced advertising blitz. Always keep in mind that success isn't about the size of your budget; it's more about being savvy with the resources you have. Staying faithful to your creative vision, along the way.
Going viral on TikTok isn't something you can just force to happen—there's a lot of stuff that's out of your hands. Sure, you can make great content, but at the end of the day, TikTok's algorithm is kind of doing its own thing. It looks at how well a creator's previous videos did and how much people interacted with them before deciding who gets to see their new stuff.
So even if you're putting in all the work and promoting like crazy, there's still this element of luck involved. It's kind of like rolling the dice—you can do everything right and still not know exactly how far your video will reach. The algorithm works in mysterious ways, you know?
Think of it like this: You can make the best recipe in the world, but you can't control who walks into the restaurant. TikTok's the one deciding who gets to smell what's cooking!
Music Magazines and Publications
Music publications and press are essential components of music promotion. Securing press coverage is like getting a stamp of approval from the industry. Boosting your credibility and expanding your reach are benefits of engaging with music blogs and influencers in the industry. Collaborating with music magazines and influencers offers a gateway to possibilities and wider audiences. While enlisting the services of a music PR agency may simplify the procedure, independent musicians have the option to pursue a do it yourself strategy. Crafting captivating press releases and fostering connections with media professionals enables artists to market their music and acquire significant visibility.
Should you use Free music promotion services?
Let's be real—free music promotion sites can help you get started when you're broke. You can share your tracks, get some basic exposure, and maybe catch a few new listeners. It's like dipping your toes in the water before diving in. Plus, you've got nothing to lose except time, right?
The "Yeah, But..." Part
Here's where it gets tricky. Free services are usually pretty limited. It's kind of like trying to build a house with just a hammer—you can do some stuff, but you're missing most of the tools you really need. Most free promotion spots are crowded with thousands of other artists all fighting for attention.
Look, while free music promotion services can give you a little boost, and sure, they're worth using alongside your regular social media posts and blog outreach, here's the real talk: if you want serious results, you're probably going to need to open your wallet. It's kind of like trying to drive cross-country—free gas stations would be nice, but they don't exist!
The truth is, music promotion companies, PR services, and Spotify music promotion services are investing real money to get artists noticed, and that's why they charge for it. You wouldn't expect a store to advertise your product for free, right? Same deal with your music.
Think of it this way: you've got this whole toolkit of promotion options—targeted music blogs, music videos, social media digital marketing, and all that good stuff. But just like any business investment, you need to set aside some cash for your digital marketing if you want to see real movement in your career.
Free stuff can get you started, but if you're serious about getting your music out there, you might want to think about setting aside a proper marketing budget. It's just part of the game in today's music world!
Final Thoughts: Investing in Your Music Career
Strumrex’s story is a good example of how music promotion should work. This approach is an excellent model for independent artists looking to grow and sustain their careers in the competitive music industry. Don't forger; the most important thing is to create a unique song with high-quality production. This would help your promotion efforts significantly. Choosing the best music promotion services is also important to ensure real engagement and results, but, then again, the more important thing is to create great music content that will be easy for you to promote.