Content Creation and Blogging for Musicians 

In an era where everyone’s attention span is reducing every day and content is, quite literally, everything, musicians like you may find it hard to escape the seemingly tedious cycle of content creation. Whether you’re a new or veteran musician, knowing what content to post, how frequently to post, and the possible benefits of blogging can help you advance your career.

In this article, we shall be answering these questions:

1. What content should musicians post?
   
   
2. How often should musicians post on social media?
   
   
3. How can musicians create engaging content without a big budget?
   
   
4. Should musicians start blogging?
   
   
5. Can musicians monetize their music blogs?
   
   

What content should musicians post?

Musicians have no choice but to also be content creators to effectively market themselves in the digital age, even if it is at the expense of enormous time and effort that could have been contributed to the music-making process - well, it is what it is. But what kind of content should the new-age musician post?

Behind the scenes

Billie Eilish, for example, routinely shares behind-the-scenes footage that gives fans insight into her creative process, making them feel more connected to her music. Like her, you can share moments from rehearsals, recording sessions, and tours to provide fans with a window into your world, a small glimpse that makes you appear more relatable and human, rather than just a professional in the industry. This way you can connect to your followers and listeners on a deep-rooted level that could stand as a strong foundation for a loyal fanbase.

Cover songs

Cover songs may be an effective strategy for performers wanting to gain new fans and engage with a larger audience. Covering hit songs allows you to tap into their existing fanbases, attracting listeners who are already familiar with the original track. Cover songs, when done creatively, can highlight a musician’s distinct style and meaning, offering a new perspective on well-known tunes. Take the Grammy winner, Laufey for example. She’s consistently posted short clips of covers of songs like City of Stars on her YouTube and Instagram.

Pssst…come here: Covering songs can also act as a type of homage or tribute, helping in making relationships with the original artists or their fans. In some situations, this can lead to collaborations or shout-outs from the original musicians, extending the cover artist's reach even further.

Music Tips

Consider this: your audience adores your music, so giving them a behind-the-scenes look at how you make it can be game-changing. It not only adds value to your work but also establishes you as an expert in your subject.

You communicate directly with aspiring artists who look up to you by providing tutorials. Maybe they are just starting and looking for their sound, or they are more seasoned yet seeking inspiration from artists they admire. By sharing your expertise, whether it's a guitar lesson for your current single or a breakdown of how you make your beats, you’re helping them improve while also creating a sense of community around your brand.

Pssst…come here: It doesn’t have to be overly technical or polished, either. Some of the most effective tutorials are the ones that feel personal and raw - just you, your instrument, and a camera sharing what you know. This kind of authenticity resonates deeply with audiences today. It shows you're not just a distant star on a stage, but a real person with a passion for your craft, willing to share it with others.

Funny clips and memes

Sharing funny clips and memes can be a fantastic way to keep your audience engaged and entertained. Let’s face it - everyone loves a good laugh, and in the world of social media, humor is one of the best ways to grab attention and make your content more shareable. Record your reaction to funny music-related content, or better yet, react to your own old performances or music videos with a humorous take. Self-deprecating humor can be endearing and shows your fans that you don’t take yourself too seriously. 

How often should musicians post on social media?

Consistency is essential in social networking. However, the frequency varies depending on the platform and your audience’s interests. We did try to come up with a general guideline though:

TikTok: Given the platform’s high content consumption rate, updating daily or at least 4-5 times per week might help you keep visibility. TikTok’s algorithm prefers frequent content updates, particularly when interacting with trending noises and challenges.

YouTube: Posting once a week or biweekly is usually sufficient, but YouTube videos take a greater effort to make. Consistent uploads, such as vlogs, live performances, and music videos, can help you build a subscriber base.

Instagram: Posting 3-5 times a week, including Stories, will keep your audience engaged without overwhelming them. Stories can be updated more regularly, maybe even daily if it is possible, to provide real-time updates and behind-the-scenes content.

How can musicians create engaging content without a big budget?

Sure, to make good-quality visuals for your reels on Instagram and TikTok, you’d need to invest in equipment and that requires money. However, it is possible to make engaging content without a big budget.

Your Smartphone is enough 

Most smartphones now have high-quality cameras that can produce professional-looking films and images. Refine your content with natural lighting and basic editing tools such as InShot or Canva. These are very user-friendly so you don’t have to know A to Z about video editing as a pro. Just basic cuts and you’re pretty much good to go. You don’t HAVE to buy a great recording camera for starters. 

User-generated content 

How do you think everyone on the internet came to dance to Mamushi, by Megan Thee Stallion? Some people didn’t even know the name of the song and just called it ‘Watashi wa-star,’ because of how viral the hook became. It’s simple - UGC - User-Generated Content. You start a challenge or a trend on TikTok or Instagram and let the users, audience, and other followers make the content for you! You just have to ensure that you feature their stuff on your page to foster community and increase interaction. 

Repurpose content

The concept is pretty self-explanatory: take a single piece of content and turn it into several posts across various platforms, each adapted to the platform’s format and popularity. This saves time while also ensuring that your material reaches a larger audience. For example, if you have posted a live performance video on your YouTube, you take the most engaging part of the video, maybe the hook or a very relatable verse, and post just that section as a YouTube Short, Instagram Reel, and TikTok video (obviously, adjust the ratios and everything). 

If you’ve recorded a podcast episode or an interview, you can select the best phrases or moments and create audiograms or short video clips. These can be shared via Instagram Stories, Twitter, or as standalone posts on Facebook. And, you can add a link to the full podcast/video in that clip as CTA (call-to-action). If you are chronically online (like most of us), you’d have come across such reels and videos on your social media with more than 100-200k views. 

Should musicians start blogging?

Yes! Musicians should start blogging - mainly because there are so many other musicians in the community who could use whatever knowledge they have. This is the writing equivalent of making a YouTube Channel or hosting a podcast series on Spotify; helps you build an online presence as well. Blogging allows you to offer deeper views, stories, and experiences that would not fit into shorter social media updates.

SEO

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) for musicians in this day and age is very important to stay relevant and build your reach for your music. A frequently updated blog can boost your search engine rating, making it simpler for new listeners to find you online. For example, creating blog entries about your music, upcoming concerts, or music production ideas might help generate visitors to your website.

Email List

Blogging helps build an email list that you could use to push out your show tickets, market new music, and so on. All you need to do is include a call to action (CTA) at the end of each blog article to encourage readers to join your email list. You may say it in a way that is both natural and compelling. For example, “Do you want to hear more stories like this? Sign up for my newsletter to receive updates on all of my latest blog entries, new music releases, and unique behind-the-scenes content!”

Pssst…come here: Consider music blogging as a clever way to combine an honest effort at helping your readers take actionable steps as well as grow your music, by establishing expertise and building your artist profile. 

Can musicians monetize their music blogs?

Absolutely! There are various options for musicians to monetize their blogs:

Affiliate marketing: This involves promoting music-related products or services, such as instruments, recording equipment, or music courses, and earning some sort of commission or portion on sales via affiliate links. Partnering with companies such as Sweetwater or Guitar Center, for example, might provide a consistent source of income.

Sponsored Content: Create sponsored posts for brands or services that are relevant to your audience. This could include product reviews, promotional articles, or even content collaborations with other artists or businesses.

Sell Merchandise and Music: Use your blog to promote and sell products like t-shirts, vinyl records, and unique content. Getting traffic from your blog to your online business might boost sales.

Ad Revenue: Once your blog picks up enough organic traffic, then you could consider opening ad spaces on your website, through Google Adsense, just like how newspapers have huge ad sections. Those who want to advertise their product or service on your blog website would pay more if your traffic is huge. 

Creating compelling content and blogging can help musicians like you, increase your reach, establish a bigger fanbase, and even earn extra money. You can improve your online visibility and interact with your audience like never before by producing content regularly, using cost-effective tactics, and blogging. Remember that authenticity and consistency are essential for success; your audience wants to see the real you!

We at GreaseRelease, have a bunch of curators on our network who are looking for new & exciting music to push on their massive playlists. If you make music and want to reach a wider audience, check out our submission platform and get a chance to reach millions of listeners! Submit your tracks now! 

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