Tuesday, October 1st, 2024. 

Hey, it’s TJ Miller, “You want some game?” Let's #tipundathehat! 

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This week's feature is Victor VC Caldwell.

Spotify For Artists, worth it or not? - Let’s Geaux -

Let me put you up on some game: back in the day, it wasn’t easy for independent artists to get their music in front of people. You had to hustle—press vinyl, push CDs, grind for radio play, and hope to sell out shows to fund your next project. Then came Limewire, Napster, and ultimately Spotify, which many say killed the CD. Some would argue it even hurt the music industry itself, but that’s another blog post. Now, it’s a whole new world, and for indie artists, platforms like Spotify for Artists might be an opportunity worth considering.

But what exactly does Spotify for Artists offer? In today’s digital landscape, just dropping a song and hoping it blows up isn’t enough. You need to understand who’s listening, where they’re from, and which tracks are connecting. That’s where Spotify for Artists could come in handy. It offers data, insights, and tools that help artists track their progress and make informed decisions about their music career. If having access to that kind of information sounds useful, this platform might be worth exploring.

Back in my day, we had to guess a lot. You’d drop a single, and maybe it would hit, maybe it wouldn’t—and you wouldn’t always know why. Today, though, there’s real-time data that can show you who’s engaging with your music and where they’re located. If you’re the type of artist who likes to dig into the numbers, this kind of data can be powerful. But, of course, some artists prefer to focus on the music and let the chips fall where they may. It’s really up to you to decide how much that data would help shape your strategy.

First things first, if you do decide to use Spotify for Artists, you’d want to ensure your profile is on point. Your profile is like your digital stage, so it needs to reflect your brand consistently—artwork, social media links, bio, everything. And don’t sleep on the importance of telling your story in the “About” section. Fans today want to connect with you as a person, not just your music.

Another key aspect to think about is playlists. In today’s streaming world, playlists are the new radio. Getting your song placed on the right ones could boost your visibility and grow your streams. Now, sure, landing on big Spotify-curated playlists like RapCaviar is a win, but it’s not the only way. There are also tons of smaller curators and tastemakers who could help get your music heard. Building those relationships could be a game-changer, but again, it depends on how much effort you want to put into that.

If you’re into the idea of pre-saving campaigns, Spotify for Artists offers tools to help with that too. Back in the day, we’d work hard to get people lining up at record stores on release day. Now, you can create the same kind of buzz by getting fans to pre-save your track before it drops. It helps maximize those first-day streams, which can be critical if you’re aiming to trigger the algorithm to recommend your music to more people.

Speaking of the algorithm, let me share a bit of game on release strategies. Dropping a single and then disappearing isn’t the best move if you want to stay on Spotify’s radar. Consistency is key. If you release regularly and keep your audience engaged, the algorithm could start working in your favor by putting your tracks on playlists like Discover Weekly. But again, it all depends on whether you want to play that game or not.

Lastly, there’s Spotify Canvas—those short looping visuals that play alongside your tracks. Videos usta be the big thing now it’s all about YouTube. Canvas helps, but it ain’t YouTube. 

At the end of the day, it’s up to you. Spotify for Artists has its perks, but it’s one of many tools out there. Some artists swear by it, others take a different route. Either way, the key is finding what works for you.

This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is - Victor VC Caldwell.  Yes, VC’s back again this week, but trust me, this new track is worth the encore, and this time we want to feature the video for I’m Not The Same. It’s more than just a song; it's a soulful journey, like the transformative one of Saul to Paul, from lost to found. Click on the name link, scroll down to the picture, then click, and support. For more information on this or to hire Unda The Hat as your brand or label consultant send a message via undathehat.com. If you are an Indie artist and want to be featured, hit me up. See you next week!!