As of 2021, the music industry contributes up to £4 billion to the UK economy. The industry is currently experiencing a resurgence, which is good news for aspiring music professionals hoping to make their mark. However, competition is as high as ever, but don’t fret as in this article by musomuso, we’ll explore a host of useful tactics you can utilise to get your work in front of as many people as possible and convert your passion for music into a fruitful career.
Develop Your Personal Brand
Whether you’re a singer, performer, producer or an all-in-one superstar, developing a personal brand plays a key role in establishing yourself as an artist and getting noticed in the industry, as reported by Brand Credential. Here are some of the best ways to go about starting your brand:
Define Your Identity: Your first step will be to hone in on what sets you apart from the rest in the industry. This can include your musical style, creating a unique stage name, etc. Developing a distinctive identity that reflects your personality will help you develop a loyal following in the short and long run.
Stay Authentic: One of the reasons fans follow artists they like is because they connect with them on a personal level, either through their art, or life experiences. By staying authentic, you’ll connect with your audience on a personal level and be able to form a community that organically promotes your work and provides constructive feedback.
Build Your Online Presence
In today’s digital age, building a strong online presence is a must. Not only will this make it easier for you to get discovered locally and internationally, but it will also amplify your visibility among industry professionals and form strong business relationships.
Create A Digital Portfolio: Create a comprehensive digital portfolio that showcases your best work - audio/video recordings, live performances, awards received and more. Ensure that your portfolio is easily shareable and accessible by everyone. This can be achieved by embedding it into your professional website.
Design A Great Website: Your website will serve as a key part of your promotional activities and be used for monetization - through selling your art, merchandise, event tickets, and more. There are a host of free tools which you can use to create an aesthetic and functional website, as reported by UX Planet.
Harness The Power of Instagram: If you haven’t already, create an Instagram account dedicated to showcasing your work. Divide your content into buckets which can include behind-the-scenes content, live performance highlights and engagement-based content such as Instagram Live, posting polls on stories, and more.
Stay Active to Get Noticed
For any artist wanting to make a name for themselves, staying active whether it be through consistent social media posting or connecting with their audience in person is key. Here are two effective ways for staying active.
Prioritise Live Performances: Whether it be at local bars, open mic nights or college shows, seek as many live performance activities as possible. This helps you connect with your audience in person, arrange meet and greets and develop personal content which cannot be done digitally.
Get Your Content Listed: In addition to sharing your content on social media, reach out to UK-based blogs, online magazines, and other platforms and form partnerships to get your content promoted organically.
2023 is a great time for artists wanting to enter the UK music industry. By developing a strong personal brand, building an online presence, and staying active through live performances and strategic content promotion, you’ll be able to increase your visibility and create strong foundations for a successful career in the industry.