Here's why many don't become famous in music: mistakes made by 90% of emerging artists

Dec 16, 2024

How many times have you heard someone say, "I have talent, but I can't break through"? The truth is, in today's world, talent alone isn't enough.

Breaking into the music industry requires strategy, planning, and avoiding certain mistakes that can sabotage your career. Here are the main reasons many artists struggle to gain visibility, with a focus on the process of releasing a song.

1. Waiting too long to share your music

A common mistake is waiting until a track is perfect or fully produced before starting to talk about it. This leads to missed opportunities:

  • No anticipation: Fans love being part of the creative process and feeling connected to your journey.
  • Missed feedback: Sharing snippets or previews on social media allows you to gauge which parts of the track resonate most.
  • Outdated content: If your music and image align with current trends, don't wait too long to showcase them.
  • Losing audience interest: Fans may lose patience and shift their attention elsewhere.

Solution:

  • Share snippets: Offer glimpses of your music during the creative process. Artists like Kenya Grace have built anticipation for unreleased tracks this way.
  • Collaborate strategically: Work with artists who take social media promotion seriously and have a similar audience.
  • Test your track: Use social media to gauge audience reactions, just as DJs test tracks in clubs.

2. Ignoring release day

It may sound obvious, but many artists drop a track and disappear on release day! Some even leave their Spotify profile blank, making it impossible for potential fans to engage.

Common mistakes include:

  • Lack of supporting content: Without promotion, your release risks going unnoticed.
  • No push for audio trends: Failing to make your audio popular on social platforms limits its reach.
  • Ignoring fans: Neglecting your audience means missing out on building a stronger connection.

Solution:

  • Post consistently: Only a fraction of your followers see each post, so don't hesitate to promote your track multiple times.
  • Leverage your audio: Create videos using your track and encourage fans to do the same. More usage increases the chance of going viral.
  • Engage fans: Host live streams, share their posts featuring your track, and respond to comments to foster a sense of community.

3. Releasing and disappearing

After releasing a song, many artists stop promoting it, letting the initial buzz fade. This is a major mistake because:

  • Your song gets lost: Without proper promotion, Spotify won’t push your track, leaving it among the 150,000 songs uploaded daily.
  • No performance analysis: Ignoring data means you risk repeating the same mistakes in your next release.

Solution:

  • Create fresh content: Remixes, acoustic versions, or creative clips can keep interest alive.
  • Analyze results: Study how your posts and campaigns performed to refine future strategies.
  • Capitalize on momentum: Use your track’s success to spark new trends, forge new connections, and boost your visibility on social media.

Promoting without a huge budget?

Many artists shy away from promoting their tracks because of the costs. However, there are affordable ways to promote your music online. One such option is Matchfy, a music promotion community where you can submit your track to countless playlists, connect with industry contacts, interact with influencers, and more.

The best part? The more you engage, the more credits you earn—a virtual currency you can use within the platform. This makes it possible to secure an annual subscription for less than the cost of most streaming services!

Music as a career

Remember, music is an art and deserves respect. However, if your goal is to elevate your art and turn it into a career, you must treat it like a business. Without dedication and effort, even the most promising venture is destined to fail.

Discover Matchfy and see how it can transform your career today!