Six Steps for Music Streaming Success (2023)

Introduction to Music Streaming

Music streaming websites have become the go-to platforms for artists and music lovers alike. With over 450 million paid subscribers worldwide, music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal have fundamentally changed the way people consume and discover music. This has also led to a significant shift in the music industry, where streaming has become the primary source of revenue for many artists.

However, succeeding on music streaming websites is not easy. With millions of songs available on these platforms, it can be challenging for new and independent artists to stand out and attract listeners. In this article, we will discuss some of the strategies that artists can use to succeed on music streaming websites.

Six Steps for Success

1. Focus on Creating Quality Music

The first step in finding music streaming success as an artist is to focus on creating high-quality music.

Creating quality music is crucial for achieving success on music streaming platforms. In a saturated and competitive industry, having high-quality music sets an artist apart from the crowd and increases the chances of attracting and retaining listeners on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. In this article, we will delve into the reasons why focusing on creating quality music is essential for music streaming success.

First and foremost, quality music is the foundation of an artist’s brand and reputation. Music streaming platforms are flooded with a vast amount of content, ranging from amateur recordings to professional productions. In this saturated landscape, it is essential for artists to create music that stands out and captures the attention of listeners.

Quality music not only showcases an artist’s talent and creativity, but it also reflects their dedication to their craft and professionalism. By consistently delivering high-quality music, artists can build a positive reputation among listeners, fellow musicians, and industry professionals, which can open doors to opportunities such as collaborations, endorsements, and media coverage.

Secondly, quality music is more likely to resonate with listeners and elicit an emotional response. Music is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, create connections, and leave a lasting impact on listeners. High-quality music that is well-crafted, well-produced, and well-performed has the potential to move and captivate listeners, resulting in a deeper connection and engagement with the music.

When listeners are emotionally connected to an artist’s music, they are more likely to become loyal fans, share the music with others, and support the artist by streaming, purchasing, and attending live shows. In contrast, low-quality music that lacks artistic integrity or fails to connect with listeners is likely to be quickly overlooked or dismissed, hindering an artist’s chances of success on music streaming platforms.

Thirdly, quality music is essential for gaining and maintaining traction on music streaming platforms. On streaming platforms, algorithms play a significant role in recommending music to users, determining playlists, and influencing listener behavior. These algorithms take into account various factors, including the quality and popularity of music, when deciding what content to promote.

Higher-quality music that resonates with listeners is more likely to receive positive reviews, generate more streams, and gain traction in playlists and recommendations. As a result, quality music has a higher likelihood of being discovered by new listeners and gaining momentum, leading to increased exposure and potential success on music streaming platforms.

Furthermore, quality music is crucial for building a loyal and engaged fanbase. Today’s music consumers have access to an overwhelming amount of content, and their attention spans are often short. To capture and retain the attention of listeners, artists need to create music that is compelling, memorable, and distinctive.

Quality music that showcases an artist’s unique style, talent, and creativity is more likely to stand out and capture the interest of listeners. When listeners connect with an artist’s music on an emotional level, they are more likely to become loyal fans who actively support the artist’s career by streaming their music, following them on social media, attending their live shows, and purchasing their merchandise. Building a loyal and engaged fanbase is crucial for sustaining a successful music career, and quality music serves as the foundation for cultivating such a fanbase.

Moreover, quality music is essential for garnering critical acclaim and industry recognition. In the music industry, critical acclaim and industry recognition can have a significant impact on an artist’s career. Music critics, award shows, and industry professionals often evaluate the quality and artistic merit of music when deciding on nominations, awards, and partnerships.

High-quality music that showcases an artist’s artistic integrity, creativity, and skill is more likely to receive positive reviews, awards, and recognition, which can boost an artist’s credibility, visibility, and industry connections. Recognition from industry insiders can open doors to new opportunities, such as collaborations with established artists, record deals, and sync licensing deals, which can further propel an artist’s career and increase their success on music streaming platforms.

In addition, quality music contributes to a positive user experience on music streaming platforms. User experience plays a crucial role in the success of any digital platform, including music streaming platforms. When listeners have a positive experience while listening to an artist’s music, they are more likely to engage with the platform, spend more time exploring different artists and genres, and continue using the platform regularly.

On the other hand, if listeners encounter low-quality music with poor production value, weak performances, or unappealing content, it can result in a negative user experience, leading to decreased engagement and potentially causing them to switch to other platforms or abandon streaming altogether. Therefore, by focusing on creating quality music, artists can contribute to a positive user experience on music streaming platforms, which can lead to increased listener retention, engagement, and ultimately, success.

Furthermore, quality music has a better chance of receiving media coverage and generating buzz. In today’s music landscape, media coverage plays a significant role in promoting an artist’s music and generating buzz. Music journalists, bloggers, influencers, and other media outlets are more likely to cover an artist’s music if it is of high quality, unique, and noteworthy. Media coverage can provide valuable exposure, increase an artist’s visibility, and attract new listeners to their music on streaming platforms.

Moreover, media coverage can lead to interviews, features, and reviews that further amplify an artist’s music and increase their chances of success on music streaming platforms. However, if an artist’s music is of low quality or lacks originality, it is less likely to attract media attention, resulting in limited exposure and hindered success on streaming platforms.

In addition to media coverage, quality music also has a better chance of getting placed on popular playlists on music streaming platforms. Playlists are an essential feature of music streaming platforms, and getting a song featured on a popular playlist can significantly impact an artist’s success. Curated playlists, algorithmic playlists, and user-generated playlists are influential in driving streams, discoverability, and listener engagement.

Playlist curators and algorithms typically prioritize high-quality music that is well-produced, well-performed, and resonates with listeners. Getting a song featured on a popular playlist can lead to increased streams, followers, and exposure, which can contribute to an artist’s success on music streaming platforms. However, playlist curators are selective about the music they feature, and low-quality music is less likely to make the cut, reducing an artist’s chances of playlist placements and success on streaming platforms.

Another crucial aspect of creating quality music is the potential for generating revenue on music streaming platforms. While the revenue generated from streaming services may not be as substantial as other income streams for artists, such as live shows and merchandise sales, it still plays a significant role in an artist’s overall revenue stream. High-quality music that resonates with listeners and attracts a significant number of streams can generate a substantial income from streaming royalties.

Moreover, streaming platforms also offer opportunities for artists to monetize their music through features such as fan subscriptions, direct artist payouts, and merchandise integration. These revenue streams can provide additional income for artists, and quality music is more likely to attract and retain paying listeners, leading to increased revenue generation and financial success on music streaming platforms.

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, focusing on creating quality music is also essential for an artist’s long-term career sustainability. The music industry is highly competitive and constantly evolving, and artists need to adapt and evolve with it to sustain a successful career. In an era where music streaming has become the dominant form of music consumption, it is crucial for artists to create music that resonates with listeners and stands the test of time.

High-quality music has a better chance of standing out in the oversaturated music streaming landscape, attracting new listeners, and retaining existing ones. It can create a strong and loyal fan base that continues to support an artist’s music, leading to long-term sustainability and success.

Moreover, creating quality music showcases an artist’s professionalism, dedication, and commitment to their craft. It reflects their artistic integrity and sets them apart from other artists who may prioritize quantity over quality. Artists who consistently create high-quality music are more likely to be taken seriously by industry professionals, including record labels, music supervisors, and other decision-makers in the music industry. This can open doors to more opportunities, collaborations, and partnerships that can further an artist’s career and success on music streaming platforms.

Although publishing high quality music is an important step, don’t let your current level impede your progress as a musician. Over time you will get better, as long as you keep at it.

2. Choose the Right Distributor

Choosing the right distributor is crucial for music streaming success. A distributor is responsible for getting your music on different platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Look for a distributor that has experience working with independent artists and provides good customer support.

There are several distribution companies available in the market, including Distrokid, CD Baby, TuneCore, and Amuse. Each of these companies has its advantages and disadvantages, so take the time to research and compare them before making a decision. You’ll also want to consider the pricing as well.

• Distribution to Streaming Platforms: Music distributors are responsible for getting an artist’s music onto various music streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more. The right distributor will have a wide network of partnerships with these platforms, ensuring that an artist’s music reaches a broad audience and is available on popular streaming platforms worldwide. This is essential for an artist’s success on music streaming platforms, as it increases their potential for exposure and engagement with listeners.
• Royalty Collection and Reporting: Music distributors handle the collection of the mechanical royalties from music streaming platforms on behalf of artists. Royalties are the income generated from streams on music streaming platforms, and they are an important source of revenue for artists. The right music distributor will have robust systems in place for accurately collecting and reporting royalties, ensuring that artists receive their fair share of earnings from their music on streaming platforms.
• Flexibility and Control: Different music distributors offer varying levels of flexibility and control to artists. Some distributors may offer exclusive distribution deals, while others may offer non-exclusive deals that allow artists to retain more control over their music and career. Choosing the right distributor that aligns with an artist’s goals, budget, and desired level of control is crucial. It allows artists to make informed decisions about how their music is distributed, promoted, and monetized on streaming platforms, and can impact their overall success.
• Additional Services and Features: Some music distributors offer additional services and features that can enhance an artist’s success on music streaming platforms. For example, some distributors may offer promotional tools, marketing support, or access to playlist pitching services. These additional services can provide artists with valuable resources and opportunities to increase their visibility, attract more streams, and gain an edge in the competitive streaming landscape. Choosing a distributor that offers relevant additional services and features can greatly benefit an artist’s streaming success.
• Reputation and Credibility: The reputation and credibility of a music distributor can also impact an artist’s success on music streaming platforms. Established and reputable distributors may have better relationships with music streaming platforms, leading to better opportunities for promotion, playlist placements, and exposure. They may also have a proven track record of successful distribution and royalty collection, which can give artists peace of mind and confidence in their choice of distributor.

3. Optimize Your Metadata

Metadata is the information associated with your music, including the title, artist name, album name, and release date. Optimizing your metadata can help your music appear in search results when people are looking for new music. Make sure to use relevant keywords in your metadata, and keep it consistent across all platforms.

Metadata is a vital component of music publishing, providing important information about a song that helps to ensure it is properly licensed, distributed, and monetized. Essentially, metadata is the DNA of a song because it provides a detailed profile of its creators, publishers, rights holders, and other important details.

The importance of metadata in music streaming (and music publishing overall) cannot be overstated. Without accurate metadata, it can be difficult for music publishers, labels, and other industry stakeholders to identify and license songs for use in various media (e.g. movies, TV shows, commercials, and video games). This can lead to missed opportunities for revenue, as well as potential legal issues if a song is used without proper permission or attribution.

4. Build a Strong Brand

Building a strong brand is essential for success on music streaming websites. Your brand includes your name, image, and style, and it should be consistent across all platforms. You should also have a strong social media presence, including accounts on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Those platforms allow you to connect with your fans on a personal level, share updates about your music, and interact with them in real-time. By responding to comments and messages, you can create a dialogue with your fans, which can help to strengthen your relationship with them.

5. Collaborate with Other Artists

Collaborating with other artists can help you reach a broader audience and gain new fans. Look for artists who have a similar style or audience and reach out to them to collaborate on a song or project. You can also look for remix opportunities to see what style of music/types of arrangements truly resonate with your audience.

6. Engage with Your Fans

Engagement is key to building a loyal fan base on music streaming websites. Take the time to interact with your fans by responding to comments, answering questions, and creating a sense of community around your music.

Use social media and email lists for music promotion and and engaging with your fans. Offer exclusive content, behind-the-scenes footage, and other perks to reward your most dedicated fans.

Engaging with your fans can also provide valuable insights into what your fans want and expect from your music. By listening to their feedback and analyzing their behavior, you can better understand what resonates with your audience and tailor your music and marketing strategy accordingly. This can help you to build a more loyal following and increase your chances of success in the long term.

Another way to engage with your fans is by performing live shows. Live shows provide a unique opportunity to connect with your fans in person, which can create a lasting impression and build a strong relationship. By performing at local venues and touring nationally, you can reach a wider audience and establish yourself as a respected artist in the industry.

Conclusion

Success in the music industry takes a lot of work. With dedication, hard work, and a little bit of luck, you can achieve success on these platforms and reach a wider audience than ever before.

Additional Reading

Do you publish and/or write music? Read our article about the fundamentals of music theory to learn more about the basics.

You can also read this post to learn where we got the name Breve from.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.