Apple Music is one of the largest streaming platforms in the world with millions of listeners whom artists can access. To artists, it is important to learn how to use Apple Music to earn more streams, more fans, and more money.
This guide covers essential advice for artists to use Apple Music to their advantage, from setting up their profile to marketing their music and buying plays for more visibility.
Setting Up Your Apple Music for Artists Profile
To begin with, artists need to claim their Apple Music for Artists profile. This is a free tool that offers access to valuable information and customization options.
Steps to Get Started
- Visit the Apple Music for Artists webpage.
- Sign in using your Apple ID.
- Look up your artist’s name and verify your profile.
- Verify your identity and await approval.
When approved, artists can update their profile picture and bio and review data about streams and listeners.
Apple Music Analytics
Apple Music provides artists with a deep feature set of analytics that allows them to track their music’s performance. They can use it to guide marketing and understand their fans.
Metrics to Look For
- Plays and Streams: Total number of times a song is played.
- Shazam: Shows how many users have used Shazam to identify the song.
- Listener Demographics: Age, location, and gender data of listeners.
- Playlist Adds: The number of times a song has been added to a playlist.
Artists can track which songs are best sellers from this data and adjust their marketing efforts appropriately.
Getting Music on Apple Music
To get songs onto Apple Music, artists must use a music distributor. Music distributors handle licensing, royalties, and getting delivered to streaming platforms.
Best Music Distributors
- TuneCore
- DistroKid
- CD Baby
- UnitedMasters
After music is distributed through a distributor, it takes about a few days to go live on Apple Music.
Monetizing Your Streams on Apple Music
Apple Music pays artists per stream, yet earnings must be increased with a well-thought-out plan.
Release Music Regularly
Releasing new music constantly keeps listeners engaged and increases streaming. A regular release pattern will keep artists current in an industry where attention is short-lived.
Encourage Repeat Plays
The greater the play, the greater the payout. Interactive music, fan challenges, and remixes can reward listeners to play songs over and over.
Grow to International Listeners
Apple Music has a presence in many countries, and promoting international markets can grow streams. Promoting music internationally through localized content and marketing can build a large fan base.
Sell Merchandise Through Music Promotion
Artists can cross-promote Apple Music along with merch sales. Placing streaming links on merch websites or coupling music with physical products can earn more plays while increasing revenue.
Other artists looking for acceleration of growth also buy plays as a way of initial traction. Buying plays is capable of boosting songs to a level where they get more organic listeners in the long term.
Marketing Your Music on Apple Music
It is not enough to upload music. Artists need to promote their songs to reach more listeners.
Invite Fans to Follow You
Followers of an artist on Apple Music are notified when there is new music. The more followers an artist has, the more visibility the music gets. Requesting fans to follow ensures that new music reaches them directly.
Submit Tracks to Apple Playlists
Playlists are huge when it comes to driving streams. Artists must submit their music to curated playlists through their music distributors. Getting placed on a popular playlist can seriously drive reach and listener engagement.
Utilize Social Media to Drive Streams
Social media is a good channel for music promotion. Sharing Apple Music links on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and other platforms can direct followers to new songs. Engaging content, such as short video clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and interactive posts, can draw in more streams.
Embed Apple Music Links on Websites
A website can be utilized to create a brand for an artist. By embedding Apple Music links on the site, their music becomes readily available for visitors to search and stream. A well-placed link can attract more play and exposure.
Some artists even buy plays to get exposure and reach more organic listeners. It helps new releases by providing them with some push in the early phase.
Final Thoughts
Apple Music is a powerful platform for artists wanting to grow their base and make more money. By utilizing their artist page to the fullest, using analytics, promoting music, and experimenting with monetization methods, artists can maximize their use of Apple Music visibility.
For the extra oomph, combining organic promotion with buy plays can help build momentum and attract more real fans. With proper strategy, any artist can find success on Apple Music.
