More listeners is really two problems
Artists usually ask how to get more streams, but streams are the symptom. The two real jobs are reach (getting in front of new people) and retention (getting those people to stay). Reach without retention is a leaky bucket: you get plays that never become an audience. Solve both and listeners compound.
Reach: getting in front of new people
- Playlists. Pitch editorial via Spotify for Artists and independent curators, see submitting to playlists and our curator database.
- Short video. Reels and Shorts are the discovery engine, a strong hook reaches people who do not follow you.
- Press and features. Blogs, and being reshared by other artists, borrow their audience.
- The full playbook. See how to promote your music.
Retention: turning listeners into followers
Reach is wasted if listeners do not stick. Give them a reason to follow: a clear brand and identity, a reason to come back, and an ask to follow and save. Optimise for saves and follows, not passive plays, they signal the platforms and they build the audience that makes your next release land. See building a fanbase.
Growing music you have already released
You do not need a new song to get more listeners. Pitch older tracks to playlists, cut fresh short video from existing songs, update your artist profile and canvas, and keep driving saves on the catalogue you already have. Released work keeps earning listeners if you keep working it, this is one of the most common things artists overlook.
Getting a team on it
Doing reach and retention consistently, release after release, is where most artists run out of time. That steady, hands-on work is what our programme does: a few artists at a time, founder-led, one month to start, no cut of your music.