Recording your music with the intent of releasing it and getting it heard can be quite the journey. Fortunately, independent musicians now have the resources to do this without needing a full-blown production setup and an extensive budget. In fact, indie artists were estimated to have generated more than $20 billion in 2020 alone. It’s important to remember, however, that recording is only half the work done. Bringing all that hard work into fruition means having the right strategies to release and promote your music. There are many ways to do this, but we’ve narrowed it down to the five key ways that you can successfully promote your music in 2021:

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1. Set up a pre-order

Setting up a pre-order is one of the most effective ways to generate buzz early and build anticipation for the music you will release. It also lets you gauge how much attention you’re getting and whether to increase promotional efforts for the actual release. Similar to selling a product idea, there are several advantages to pre-selling your music before launching: it provides validation, gives you greater assurance of success, and helps you create partnerships and gather support. As you gain momentum for your release, your pre-order will also act as a call-to-action during any interviews or press releases you may do. If someone hears you on a podcast, for instance, they can pre-order your album right there and then. It’s important to set up the pre-order on your website so that you can gain access to statistics on how sales are performing.

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2. Create quality promotional materials

Attracting more people to listen to your sound will depend on the quality of your promotional materials, too. Do not underestimate the power of visuals when it comes to publicizing your music. This involves taking professional-quality photos and excellent graphic design. You’ll need promo photos and videos to share with different websites and publications. More than just creative vision, you’ll also need professional cameras to capture detailed, high-resolution images that can be manipulated and edited for your promotional materials. The Sony ZV-1 Compact 4K HD Camera is a great option because it’s sleek and still manages to provide a resolution of 20 megapixels and has 4.35x optical zoom capabilities. Plus, a good set of high-definition photos and videos can be used for different formats, so it’s a good investment.

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3. Develop your presence on social media

There’s no better way to promote your music than on social media. However, it’s not enough to just post and share random snippets of your music. Develop and maintain a consistent and engaging presence on all platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. For instance, if you’re releasing something like a guitar instrumental, try engaging your audience by asking them to add lyrics, share it on their social profiles, and tag you. This creates a relationship with your audience that is extremely valuable when promoting the rest of your music. Make the most of your social media presence to boost your music’s reach.

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4. Release a music video

People often look for visual cues that will hook them to a particular song. An exciting and original music video can get you more attention than if you released a single by itself. Similar to your publication materials, creating a good music video will require the right gear. Some of the best videos in 2021 have become even more creative, using handheld cameras to weave interesting narratives, like Wiki and Navy Blue’s rap video. When shooting music videos, you can use 4k cameras like the Sony A7S III or the Panasonic Lumix S1H to ensure consistent, crisp quality. They also have a wide range of options for lenses, so you can get as creative as you want with your segments. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when making a music video for your upcoming release. The best videos always have something unique and intriguing about them, so it may be a good idea to take the same approach.

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