Spotify is well and truly here to stay!

From house parties to road trips, this platform follows us on every step of our daily lives.

It can be inspiring, saddening, encouraging, nostalgic and so much more!

As such, it's no surprise to learn that Spotify remains one of the leading streaming services across the world.

If you make music you need to thrive here!

Ever since its launch in 2008. The music giant has become a cultural hub for a variety of artists.

From mainstream names to independent music producers around the world.

With the simple press of a button, users can access some 70 million tracks across every genre.  

So, just how many songs are uploaded to Spotify every day?

It's reported that 40 thousand new tracks are added to Spotify every 24-hours. That's 14.6 million tracks each year!!

These are daunting numbers, to be sure.

Especially if you're an independent musician hoping to make a name for yourself without the help of a record label.

Fortunately, there are more than a few ways to ensure you stand out amongst the crowd — without breaking the bank. 

Here are some pro tips to get you started:    

Focus on The Sound 

Whilst promotion is always an essential aspect of being successful on Spotify. Your hard work could go to waste if you don't have high-quality audio to back it up.

After all, when's the last time you listened to a bad quality song and decided to add it to your favourite playlist?

Probably never. 

Your song's quality is critical when it comes to establishing yourself as an independent musician. Make a bad first impression and you could risk losing a listener forever.

Make a great first impression and you could earn yourself a lifelong fan!

Furthermore, Spotify is far more likely to promote well-made tracks on its own curated playlists.

If you fall over at this hurdle you may also be on the wrong side of their algorithm!

You want to do all you can to increase your exposure opportunities.

So, where do you start with this? The first thing you want to find is a qualified producer or sound engineer who can help with your mixing and audio mastering.

At Indiy, we've made it easy to browse through dozens of freelance producers who can turn your vocals and instrumentals into a song worth replaying time and time again.

What to look for in an Audio Engineer/Producer

We recommend looking out for these qualities during your search: 

• Communication Skills: Whether you plan to work with your producer or engineer on one track or a full album.
  
  It's imperative that they can communicate regularly and efficiently.
  
  After all, they'll be a determining factor for how well your song is received at the ears of your fans.
  
  You want to make sure they convey exactly how you feel! 
  
  
  
  
• Versatility: While you might've hired your producer for one aspect of the creation of your songs like audio mastering.
  
  Make sure they're knowledgeable in other areas of music production as well.
  
  This way, they'll take a holistic view of your track's sound and quality rather than a simplified approach. 
  
  
  
  
• Experience and Knowledge: As an independent musician, it can be challenging to find experienced producers who don't charge overly expensive fees, and can manage to deliver on time.
  
  Even if you select a producer who only had one or two clients in the past.
  
  They should still know what they're doing!
  
  You can always ask to hear a sample before committing to a deal.
   

Cover Art Is Just as Important 

Ever since the days of physical vinyl and CDs.

Album covers have always been an essential aspect of music promotion — sometimes, the most critical!

We touched on this previously with our article here "The Importance of a Good CD Cover"

In this new music industry, artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Weyes Blood have skyrocketed!

From only drawing small audiences to earning international stardom thanks to their striking artwork.

Mainstream artists use this to their advantage as well. Music labels pour millions of dollars into videos, artwork, and other visuals each year. 

This means as an independent musician, your cover art is crucial to your success on Spotify.

If your visuals are eye-catching and exciting, they could convince listeners to click on your tracks when they pop up on playlists or in their "recommended" section.    

Indiy hosts some amazing artists you can choose to work with, from CD covers to music videos.

As always, social media is a useful alternative for discovering a visuals producer. 

What to look for in a visual artist for your CD artwork.

• Individuality: Concept albums benefit most from this style, with artwork that differentiates its self. 
  
  
  
• Artistic Direction: Like any artistic piece, CD covers need to have a clear direction. Without this, they risk becoming confusing and unpleasant to look at. 
  
  
  
• Font Choice: Custom fonts are a great way to make covers look unique. Help your listeners know it is one of your songs. When working with a designer, let them know the font they should use.
  
  

Budget Correctly 

If you're not keeping track of your spending as an independent musician, it can be easy to suddenly find yourself shelling out thousands of dollars and seein nothing in return!

You don't need to hire a financial advisor to track your costs; something as simple as an online spreadsheet can be used to note your expenses.

This doesn't only help you budget for groceries and other needs, but also leave a few extra dollars in your wallet that you can use on traditional promotion. 

Some practical budgeting tips include: 

• Plan your expected expenses. 
  
• Try to make more than what you need. 
  
• Remove extra expenses (i.e., 'nice to haves'). 
  
• Simplify your life with a low-cost lifestyle. 
  
• Always leave a little extra in the bank for savings. 

Conclusion 

Blowing up on Spotify can seem like a challenge.

Still, by staying consistent and following proven methods, you could soon make a living for yourself! Even as an independent musician.

DO YOU MAKE MUSIC?

Indiy exists to help people create great music!

We want to hear about what you do, what makes you special and share it with the world!

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If you are working on new material, we have partnered with Audio Mastering to offer mastering on your next release from just £2 per song (approx $2.75 USD) ????

Check the offer out here