Did you know that the most used platform for listening to music is YouTube. Not Spotify, not Apple Music or any of the other big music streaming platforms, but a video streaming platform like YouTube.
You need a YouTube Channel for Your Music
People are way more relaxed and open to new music experiences on YouTube compared to music streaming services.
Instead of going to the same old artists they follow, and playlists they saved, the audience on YouTube get constant new recommendations due to the feed.
And I can personally say that I stumbled upon so much great music and artists on YouTube from simply browsing around.
YouTube is both Music and Videos
If you can do music videos, performance videos, play covers on your instrument, or sing or perform music in any way on video…then you have such a great advantage from the fact that YouTube is both a video platform, and an audio-visual platform.
In some cases it may even be enough with a visually interesting background image with some light animation effects.
Long Playlist Style Music Videos
Another great thing I’ve seen work again and again on YouTube, is to make long mixes and playlists in one single video.
Apparently people, including myself, often want to find a special kind of atmosphere and energy in the music, and use it in the background.
I have done this a lot with “relaxing music”, “ambient music”, “epic music” “80s music” and so on.
Best Platform to Connect with Your Fans
Since YouTube has branched out in the last years, you have so many ways to engage your fans with content, and connect with the community.
- Normal Videos (Music Videos etc.)
- Shorts (quick vertical videos)
- Stories (mini updates and VLOGs)
- Community Tab (news, questions, polls)
- Live Streams (real live connection with your fans)
- Channel Page (About, FAQ, Business Email)
Reach a Lot of New Fans with Clever Content
Since you can do so much more on YouTube to reach new people, you don’t have to rely on your music alone.
Because let’s be honest, the competition on Spotify and other music streaming services is crazy high. Plus, most people don’t really discover that much new music and artists on those platforms.
If you create “clever content” you can reach new people on the home feed of YouTube, or getting your videos suggested…if you can get the love of the famous YouTube algorithm
Some great ideas of content you can try as a musician are:
- Covers of Famous Songs
- Music Videos
- Live Performance Videos
- Live Hangouts and Q&A’s
- Entertaining Videos (within music)
- Comedy Videos (within music)
Of course, it depends on your personality and goals what type of content you feel comfortable making. But you want to make sure you don’t simply use YouTube to post finished music tracks.
You want to use the power of video to reach new people, create more engaging content, and connect on a deeper level with people.
Make Money and Market Your Products
YouTube is one of the only social media platforms that allow you nearly unlimited links in the description for every video: to any website, product, service you want to promote.
This also goes for the comment section where you can even pin your comment, including your links in it.
And of course, YouTube has a partner program where you can monetise your views with ads.