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Summer may be hottest season for weather – but it's also the hottest season for concerts, album releases, and more. With the heat waves moving on in over the next couple of weeks, music promotion also has to hit a high. It's time to get in all of the projects, shows, and songs that you planned for summer season. Check out our experts' advice to make it happen.
1. Tease your fans when you have upcoming projects
"Music videos are always fun, both for you and the fans.... Share teasers, short videos, and more from the set of the video you’re filming, both as a source of content and as an exciting way to let everyone know that the project is nearing completion and will be out soon." – Hugh McIntyre, pop music journalist
From: 6 Easy Opportunities to Get Fresh, Engaging Content for Your Band's Social Media
2. Shoot for two months of lead time for show promotion
"You won't always have this much lead time; sometimes bands can't be too choosy when booking gigs. Whenever possible, though, get a date at least two months out. (Three is even better!)" – Jhoni Jackson, venue owner and music journalist
From: The 10-Step Guide to Perfect Show Promotion
3. Vary your social media posts and content
"Avoid monotony in your social media content by alternating between photos, links, and videos. Use new features offered by platforms, like Facebook Live." – Jhoni Jackson, venue owner and music journalist
From: How to Promote Your Music: A Beginner's Guide to Best Practices
4. Start giving out USB drives
"You can add all manner of media to them, so if people do end up plugging one into their computer, they can read a press release, your bio, and look through photos as they play your tunes, effectively getting an idea of who you are as an artist in one step." – Hugh McIntyre, pop music journalist
From: Musicians, Please Stop Giving Out CDs (And What to Do Instead)
5. Contact internet and college radio stations
"Every internet radio station, college radio station, and blog – no matter how big or small – is worth your time. Always follow up with those internet stations that are playing your music and offer to do an interview or a tagline for the station. It's a friendly gesture to send them tickets whenever you play in their area, or even merchandise for giveaways." – Vinnie Longhi, guitarist and vocalist for the Semi-Supervillains
From: How to Get Creative With Your Music Promotion: Advice From the Semi-Supervillains
6. Encourage engagement on your social media pages
"Ask your fans what they think of the new single. Poll for setlist picks. Single out a superfan, thanking him or her for the support. The more action you get, be it comments or likes, the higher your post engagement soars – on Facebook, more traffic means more people will see your post." – Jhoni Jackson, venue owner and music journalist
From: How to Promote Your Music: A Beginner's Guide to Best Practices
7. Stop thinking of people as "contacts"
"Instead of getting sucked into the idea of dehumanizing our interactions by constantly pushing a marketing agenda, focus on cultivating friendships first and pushing your agenda second. Seeing your interactions in the industry this way actually helps to take a lot of the fear and doubt out of self-promotion." – Casey van Wensem, freelance composer
From: The Introverted Musician's Guide to Self-Promotion
