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This article was written by Studiomatic, Bridger's partner.
This is the second part of the article. Click here to read the first part.
It feels like music production has never been easier than it is now, in 2023. With more accessible equipment, more tools to record and mix your sounds, and more digital tools to promote your music around the world, creating and producing your music has become a breeze, right?
Yes, but too many artists still struggle to optimize their production costs, especially when it comes to promoting their work internationally. If this is true for you, here is all you need to know to be able to produce your music without breaking the bank.
To distribute your works online on Spotify, Deezer, or Apple Music, there are now many digital distributors with different prices and strategies.
Some distributors are entirely dedicated to independent artists, while others work only with labels. The wisest course of action is to study the commissions they take and any additional services they can offer such as physical distribution.
So be sure to study the market carefully before choosing your distributor and the formula best-suited to your business plan.
It is strongly recommended that you take the necessary steps to protect your work, and thus to optimize your production costs. You should also make sure that everything is in order on your side by joining the organizations that allow you to collect your copyright and master rights money according to the channels where your works will be broadcast.
As we have seen before, there are many players in the streaming platforms scene. But these distributors do not collect all your rights. You can therefore, once again, supplement your income by registering for free with Bridger to receive all the royalties you generate across all the various streaming platforms.
You can also look for financing for your project:
This “hunt for subsidies” is a long-term job, but putting in the research will allow you to optimize your costs and income.
It has been said before, but it bears repeating, that social networks are a golden opportunity for promoting your music. In 2023, anyone can broadcast their music internationally, and therefore promote it.
We’ve seen plenty of evidence of this with TikTok, viral music, and the emergence of thousands of artists via Spotify or Deezer: the power of these channels is worth all the investments in the world.
In addition to organic posts on social media, you can launch advertising campaigns on Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
All the platforms have an Advertising interface. So, with Ads ($30 - $50), you can make your mark on every continent.
If you want to follow a more traditional route, you can also turn to a specialized agency. Most of them offer to broadcast your work on radio stations and in clubs, as well as finding you concert dates.
At every stage of your music production process, there are choices to be made.
You can choose to make a sizeable investment in order to optimize these steps. You can also delegate to pros, who will always cost you more than freelancers. But, as you know, a professional will tend to give you a better-quality result.
Finally, turning to online players for your label, your distribution, and your promotion will allow you to optimize the global cost of your project. You will need to arrive at the balance that is right for you by studying all the various steps of the process, weighing various pros and cons, and taking into account the time and means you have at your command.
Also, don’t forget that festivals, showcases and your network are just as important as all the solutions listed here when it comes to producing and promoting your work.
