Congratulations, you’ve just finished recording a brand new single! Your music is polished, your production is top-notch, and you’re excited to share it with the world. But wait, there’s a problem – you don’t have any fans yet. It’s like the old philosophical question – if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Well, the same question could be asked for releasing a single with no fans.
You’ve poured your heart and soul into creating something amazing, but without anyone to listen, it might as well not exist. So, what can you do to get your music heard by the masses? That’s what we’re here to help with. In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps you need to take for releasing your single with no fans and building a fanbase.
Get a First Fan
You’ve been working hard on your music, pouring your heart and soul into every song. But there’s problem – no one has heard any of it.
It’s easy to get discouraged when you’re starting out as a musician, overwhelmed by the emptiness of the beginning. With zero feedback, it’s easy to wonder if your music is even good enough. But how to break the ice!!!
That’s when it hits you – an idea that seems both ridiculous and brilliant at the same time – gather a bunch of people in your living room and force them to listen to your music. What the internet people call a ‘listening party’.
You can’t believe you’re even considering it, but desperation makes people do crazy things. So you start planning your event.
The Invitation
You invite everyone you know, from your mom to your distant cousin twice removed. You even create flyers to hang up around town, featuring your best photo and a catchy tagline – “Come for the music, stay for the snacks!”
As the day of the event approaches, you start to get nervous. What if no one shows up? What if they do show up, but hate your music?
You push those thoughts aside and focus on the task at hand.
When the day of the listening party arrives, you put out your best snacks and nervously wait for the guests to arrive. To your relief, a few people show up – some friends, a neighbor or two, and even a couple of strangers who saw your flyer around town.
The Listening Party
You welcome them in and lead them to the living room, where you’ve set up your stereo system and a cozy seating area. You take a deep breath and hit play.
As your music fills the room, you watch your guests’ reactions – some are tapping their feet, others are nodding their heads in time with the beat. You feel a sense of pride and accomplishment wash over you.
Before the last song fades out, you set up a table near the door. You thank everyone for coming and as the last one leaves, you look down at the paper on the table. There, in large print on the top, it reads ‘SIGN UP SHEET FOR MY FIRST FAN,’ followed by a single entry space which now, to your immediate abundance of joy, is occupied by the name and email of your very first fan.
But Really Though
While our previous section may have had a lighthearted tone, it was not without purpose. In fact, there is an important takeaway from the idea of hosting a listening party to find your first fan.
One thing that many successful musicians will tell you is that momentum is key. It’s important to build up some buzz and excitement around your music in order to get it noticed. A listening party is a great way to do this. A listening party gives you the chance to share your music with a captive audience. It also allows you to source feedback from people who are hearing it for the first time.
And who knows? You might even be able to recruit some early supporters to act as an advisory committee of sorts. These are the people who can help you refine your sound. They can provide constructive criticism, and give you the boost you need to keep going.
Hosting a Listening Party
But how do you go about hosting a successful listening party? It starts with planning – think about the logistics of your space, the equipment you’ll need, and the guest list. You don’t want to invite too many people. It can be difficult to get a good sense of the crowd’s reaction if the room is too crowded.
Once you’ve got everything in order, it’s time to hit play and let your music do the talking. Try to read the room and gauge people’s reactions – do they seem engaged? Are they tapping their feet or nodding along? Take notes on what seems to work and what doesn’t, as this will be invaluable feedback for you as you continue to refine your sound.
Don’t Forget The Fun
And don’t forget to have fun! A listening party should be a celebration of your hard work and creativity. Enjoy the moment, and use it as fuel to keep pushing forward on your musical journey.
In short, a listening party can be a great way to find your first fan, as well as a valuable source of feedback and support. Don’t be afraid to try it out – you never know where it might lead!
9 Ways To Widen Your Reach
After hosting your listening party and gathering feedback from your guests, you may be wondering what the next step is to gain more exposure for your music. Fortunately, there are many ways to make a big introduction to others about your music, and with the help of your new advisory committee, you can explore some of these options together.
Some of the ways you can gain more exposure for your music are:
- Creating a website or landing page to promote your music and collect email addresses. Here is link to a guide discussing the pages your website should include. Check it out!
- Building an email list to keep your fans updated and directly connected
- Offering exclusive content or merchandise to incentivize people to follow and support your music
- Participating in music communities and forums to connect with other musicians and potential fans
- Hosting more listening parties or virtual events to promote your music and engage new fans
- Collaborating with brands or other artists for increased exposure
- Focusing on building awareness and creating a buzz around your music
- Using social media to target specific audiences who may be interested in your genre or style of music
- Not underestimating the value of playing live local shows
Make no mistake that the first point on the list is a great starting point. Setting up a website is pivotal to start earning directly and promoting. Here is a great guide all about that. Have a look!
Remember, building a career in music takes time and dedication, but with the help of your advisory committee and these additional ways to gain exposure, you can take important steps towards making your music dreams a reality. We recently published a guide with strategies for building your fan base. If that’s helpful to you; You should read it!
GETTING READY FOR THE RELEASE:
It’s important to remember that building a fanbase is a slow and steady process. It’s unlikely that you’ll go from zero to a hundred overnight, but with persistence and consistency, you can steadily build your following.
One important step is to create a presence on various platforms, such as YouTube and Spotify, and to sign up with a distribution company. This will ensure that your music is available on all major streaming services, giving your fans easy access to your music.
As you prepare for releasing a single with no fans, it’s important to set reasonable goals and milestones for your long-term campaign. Remember that success doesn’t happen overnight, and that consistent effort and a clear strategy are key to building a lasting career in music. With dedication and persistence, you can achieve your goals.
Building a fanbase is a journey, not a destination. It requires consistent effort and a clear strategy, as well as the support of your advisory committee and fans. With persistence and patience, you can build a loyal and dedicated fanbase that will support you throughout your career.
Dig in for the Long Haul
The most important thing you can do now is to prepare for the long haul. Don’t be discouraged by slow growth or setbacks. Set reasonable goals and milestones for yourself, and celebrate each small victory along the way. Remember that every fan you gain is a victory, and every song you release is an opportunity to connect with even more listeners.
It won’t be easy, but if you stay committed and keep putting in the work, success will come. So go ahead and get to releasing that single with no fans, but do it with the knowledge that you’re building something bigger than yourself. You’re building the foundation for a community of fans who will go with you on your journey and be there through thick and thin.
So like always its you against the world. But to be honest we both know you like that way. Here is a link to an article about how to start your music career with no money and no help. Go get to it!
Single Release Checklist
After you’ve settled on your realistic long-term goals, it’s time to prepare for the releasing your first single with no fans. Here’s a checklist of 10 things to do before you release your single:
- Have your music professionally mixed and mastered. Here is a guide about 8 steps for mixing music. Read it now!
- Create a visually appealing single cover art that accurately represents your music.
- Write an engaging artist bio and press release.
- Create a plan for distributing your music to all major streaming platforms.
- Build your social media presence on all relevant platforms.
- Engage with your fans and followers by regularly posting updates and interactions.
- Reach out to music blogs and influencers to review and promote your music.
- Consider creating a music video to accompany your single release.
- Plan a release party or live stream to celebrate your single release with your fans.
- Consider running social media and/or online advertising campaigns.
Here is a link to a great guide about choosing a release date. It will be helpful with solidifying your plans. Good luck!
By completing these steps, you’ll be well on your way to successfully releasing a single with no fans and beginning to build a dedicated fanbase. Remember to stay focused, stay motivated, and always keep your long-term goals in mind. Good luck!
For a detailed look at whether to release a single or an album, we have great article you can save and bookmark for later. Check it out!
In Conclusion
After your single release and promotion, here is one final checklist of actions to target:
- Music Festivals: Look for local music festivals or events in your area and see if there are any opportunities for up-and-coming artists to perform. This can be a great way to get in front of a larger audience and gain exposure.
- Expand Social Media Efforts: Use social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to share your music and connect with potential fans. Create engaging content, collaborate with other creators, and use hashtags to get your music in front of new audiences.
- Create a Content Calendar: Creating a content calendar is the best way to maintain focus on a consistent posting schedule for all of your social media channels.
- Local Radio: Reach out to local radio stations and see if they have any opportunities for local artists to perform or be featured on air. This can be a great way to gain exposure and connect with your local community.
- House Concerts: Host a house concert for your friends and fans at their houses. This can be a great way to connect with your community on a personal level and gain more exposure for your music.
- Music Contests: Look for music contests or competitions in your area and submit your music for consideration. This can be a great way to get noticed by industry professionals and gain exposure for your music.
Circle Back
Lastly, don’t forget to circle back to the people who have helped you along the way. Host an after-party to thank your advisory committee, which is now growing into a fan club, and celebrate the progress you’ve made. And who knows, maybe someone at that after-party will introduce you to someone else who can take your music to the next level. Come for the snacks, stay for the music, but most importantly, enjoy the newfound confidence. Remember, building a fan base takes time, but with perseverance and the support of your community, you can make it happen. Along the way, should you ever feel down, just look up at the paper framed on the wall that reads “SIGN-UP SHEET FOR MY FIRST FAN,” take a deep breath, and remember just how far you’ve come! And one last thing congratulations on releasing a single with no fans.