Why Nobody Listens to Your Songs and How to Get Your Music to Their Ears…
You spend time and sweat writing your song.
You edit your song, crafting it and reworking it.
You practice until it’s memorized and sounds great.
You record it.
You post your song…
And… you get a couple listens, a few comments, but barely a ripple before it’s buried under the social media layers of “Check out my new track!” and “Listen to my song!”….
You’d get a better reaction by singing your song on a street corner…
It’s not about the quality of your music!
Nobody is listening because no one knows who you are… you haven’t built an audience.
There are three preliminary steps to take, or questions to answer so you properly get your music out there:
- WIIFM?
- Who is your target audience?
- Where can you find them?
WIIFM?
What’s In It For Me? Why should anyone care?
From the perspective of your listeners: Why should they click your link?
You have 3 seconds to explain it to them… go!
Think about your own browsing habits….
How long do you take to decide whether to click on a post / article / song?
I usually decide to click before I finish reading the headline or I click because of the image.
More than 5 seconds to load and I bounce… I don’t waste time waiting.
It’s easier to click on something familiar… if you recognize an artist or a song it’s safe to spend a little time.
Most people would rather hear something they already know than listen to something new. They already like it and won’t have to spend the energy or the time to figure out something new.
So you need to interest newcomers to your music to create an audience that knows and likes you (unless they randomly hear your song… knowing and liking your music usually comes after they get to know something about who you are)
Who is Your Target Audience?
You can’t please everyone, don’t even try.
Instead, figure out who is your target demographic.
Start with your ideal fan, then consider your present listeners and think about your own songwriting and how to match it up with your ideal and present audience.
Who is your ideal audience?
(Get as specific as possible)
Age range
Gender
Other musical interests?
Other interests?
What do they like to do?
Where do they like to go?
What do they love?
What else do you know about them
What else can you learn about them
Who are your present fans?
Who is listening to you?
How do they hear you?
Who else do they listen to?
Does your songwriting align with your audience?
Be specific describing your own songwriting:
What’s your songwriting niche?
What’s your musical style / genre?
Who do you sound like?
Who do you want to sound like?
Do you write about topics your ideal audience is interested in?
Now that you’ve considered your ideal and present fans and if you are writing what they are interested in.
Figure out where to find them!
Where do they
- Hang out online?
- Gather (in person or on the internet)?
- Hear new music?
Who else are they listening to?
Now, go there!
Stop dropping random links to your music, nobody listens to them!
Instead, Engage your Audience
Build it one fan at a time, by showing them who you are as a:
- songwriter
- performer
- person
Be Real, and keep writing epic songs!
Leave a comment to help other songwriters…
Who is your target audience? Where can you connect with them?
