Why is no one listening to your music? 

You’ve made good music and have been consistent with a release schedule as well. You’ve also constantly promoted it and tried to spread the word as much as possible. But why aren’t you getting enough traction? Why does it feel like no one is listening to your music? Does that mean your music isn’t good? Does that mean you aren’t a good enough musician?

In this article, we have tried to answer a few questions:

1. Why does nobody care about your music?
   
   
2. How to tell your story as a musician?
   
   
3. How is storytelling used in music?
   
   
4. What are the 5Ps of storytelling?
   
   
5. How is storytelling important for a music brand?
   
   

Why does nobody care about your music?

Any upcoming and independent musician would have pondered upon this question. There’s a very simple answer to this though. Many musicians are frustrated that their music isn’t getting the attention it deserves, but it is important to remember that it is not always due to the poor quality of your music. Nobody seems to care about your music because they do not know YOUR STORY.

By your story, we mean, your artist persona, your musical journey. And this is exactly where storytelling becomes very important to emerging musicians like yourself. For starters, however, let us look at other possible factors you may have missed:

Oversaturation

The music industry is busy, with hundreds of songs released each day. Every day, new music is uploaded to platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Spotify, for example, estimates that it adds over 60,000 fresh songs to its service every day (yeah, that is a LOT). 

This massive volume makes it nearly impossible for any single track or artist to achieve traction. Unlike in the past, when record labels served as gatekeepers, today’s artists must traverse a digital landscape in which anybody can upload their music, resulting in a massive ocean of music content. As a result, you might not get the streams you’d want because there are so many other songs competing with you. 

Lack of Engagement

You possibly cannot expect to get 100k streams on your brand-new track if you haven’t maintained a steady engagement with your audience or loyal followers on all platforms. Releasing quality music is merely the first step toward a successful music career. Even the most gifted musicians may struggle to create a dedicated fan following if they do not actively engage with their audience. Interaction is important because it develops an emotional connection between the artist and the audience, resulting in a sense of belonging and loyalty that goes beyond the music. 

Pssst…come here: Fully monetizing the potentiality of loyalty that a fanbase shows, the K-POP music industry is way ahead in making sure that emerging K-POP idols and their music are listened to very well. The culture there hosts fan services and events that are dedicated to making loyal fans meet their idols and music artists. You could draw inspiration from such tactics and make sure that you interact with your fans regularly. 

Less Artist Visibility 

People wouldn’t be able to listen to your music if they didn’t come across you in the first place. Artist discoverability especially in the streaming age, means everything - it helps you get new ears for your music and grow your reach steadily. This doesn’t mean you put out music everywhere on all possible streaming platforms and establish a presence. We mean, by working through the algorithm to make sure that your music lands on a new listener’s page. 

One of the major and reliable ways you could increase your discoverability is through playlisting on Spotify. If your music lands a placement on any popular Spotify playlist (it could be editorial, algorithmic, or playlists from independent curators), then your discoverability will increase and help you get the attention your music deserves. Another way you could increase your discoverability is by making effective use of all the available tools from Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, Youtube Music for Artists, and so on. 

How to tell your story as a musician?

As a musician, you could tell your story through your music, your brand image, your social media as well as through any press coverage you get. Your story should essentially humanize you, making you more relatable and memorable. This means that instead of coming off as this musician that people could read about on your Spotify bio, they also try to understand that you’re someone with an interesting personality, through which they could connect to your music. It offers context to your music, allowing audiences to grasp the experiences and feelings that drive your work.

What’s your music narrative?

Identify the key components of your story. You may not have a ‘villain arc’ but sure, you must have a ‘musician arc.’ Think of those very impactful moments. Consider the major occasions and events that have shaped your career as a musician. These could include your early years, obstacles you’ve overcome, milestones in your profession, and personal insights. These could help outline your narrative, the context in which you could put out your music, and the way your listeners would get to know you. 

Take Eminem for example. Eminem’s story about growing up in a rough Detroit area and overcoming countless personal and professional challenges to finally mark his place is key to his narrative. His music usually echoes similar ideas, making his story accessible to a wide audience.

What’s unique about you?

There are thousands of indie musicians who can make chill indie music. What makes you different? Think of traits that are unique to you and what you bring to the table that would want to make listeners listen to your story. It could be your background, artistic style, influences, or attitude to creating music. Your narrative will be compelling because of its originality. And never, lose out on your originality.

Let’s take Billie Eilish for instance. As soon as one mentions her name, you’d probably think of something like, ‘moody, atmospheric vocals, very chill fashion sense,’ and so on. Billie’s brooding sound distinguishes her from other performers. Growing up in a creative environment, she collaborated with her brother FINNEAS to develop her songs. This also helped her shape her unique sound and convey her story effectively. 

What platforms are you using?

Just creating an account on all possible social media platforms isn’t enough. Today, in the digital age, as a musician, you have to post music content and be consistent with it on all possible platforms. Every platform comes with its own set of pros and cons so make sure you tailor your content carefully for every social media app. Post regular updates, provide behind-the-scenes content, and interact with your audience.

Live streams, regular interactions. QNA sessions, giveaways and more could be a part of your weekly schedule. Take Lil Nas X for instance. After he went viral on TikTok for his Old Town Road collab, Lil Nas X made sure that all his social media, including Instagram and Twitter, continued to be active and engage in regular fan interactions. He even hosted AMAs (Ask Me Anything) sessions on Reddit!

How often do you get press coverage?

Press converge and media interviews become extremely important while shaping your story because they give you the stage, and the opportunity to share your journey with the readers and viewers of those media channels and organizations. Use interviews, podcasts as well as and public appearances to share your tale. These platforms give you the ability to reach a wider demographic and share your story in your own words. Lady Gaga, for example, frequently utilizes interviews to discuss her challenges with stardom, her personal life, and the ideas for her songs. These events help connect with her thus making her narrative more relatable.

How is storytelling used in music?

How do you weave a story in your music? While connecting different songs to a common theme while working on an EP or an album is relatively easy, it could be a little difficult while working on a single. How do you ensure that that song, is YOU, and it is the kind of music you enjoy making?

Lyrics

Of course, this is a rather obvious answer. Writing storylines in your lyrics can help your music become more relatable and memorable. Bob Dylan, for example, is well-known for his storytelling songs that create vivid images and express powerful emotions. FINNEAS is known for his amazing storytelling skills as well, reflected in his work That’s What They’ll Say About Us, and Break My Heart Again. 

Music Videos

Visual storytelling through music videos can increase the impact of your tunes. Michael Jackson’s Thriller is a classic example of how a music video can convey a gripping tale while increasing a song’s reach and effect. Music videos allow you to visually interpret the lyrics of a song, adding levels of emotion and significance. By combining graphics and music, artists can elicit stronger feelings from viewers. 

Live performances 

Live performances provide musicians with a unique opportunity to interact with their audience by telling stories and engaging them personally. This personal engagement may elevate a concert from a mere presentation to an unforgettable experience. Sharing personal tales, musical inspirations, or stories about the band's journey might help you connect with the audience. This makes the performance feel more intimate and relatable. Think of this as not only an opportunity to showcase of great of a music artist you are, but also a stage where you could share a more personal thought about your music with the attendees, in real time. 

What are the 5Ps of storytelling?

There are 5Ps of storytelling that may come in handy when applied to shaping your musical narrative as well. They are:

People: This means the people who play a part in your narrative. It obviously includes you, any artist you have collaborated with, your inspirations, your close-knit family and friends, and any other role that you believe has impacted your music-making. For example, when you consider FINNEAS, the people in this context would be himself, his sister Billie who he often works with on his music as well as his wife - who he has time and again, asserted to be the muse for all his songwriting. 

Places: The setting establishes context and background. Where did your narrative take place? Identifying your place of origin or important landmarks can give depth. U2, for instance, regularly refers to their Irish heritage and the areas they grew up in their songs. 

Plot: What’s the order of events? This includes the problems you’ve faced, the accomplishments you’ve made, and the path you’re on. Take The Weeknd for example, from his early anonymous recordings that gained a lot of traction to the dark and psychologically provoking themes in his music reflect the stage personality, The Weekend, that Abel Tesfaye has created and maintained. 

Purpose: Why are you narrating your story? It is very important to identify the purpose of your storytelling. What would you like the listeners of your music to understand from your story? What message are you trying to convey in your narrative? Try to answer these questions to conclude and outline your purpose. Bob Marley, for instance, made sure that his music often had messages of world peace, love, and social justice. Yours doesn’t necessarily have to be something similar, but make sure that your music and narrative stick to that purpose. 

Passion: Build your artist image and stick to it. The passion in your commitment makes up the last component of your storytelling efforts. Passion is often, very appealing and could easily draw new listeners towards your music. 

How is storytelling important for a music brand?

Storytelling becomes an integral part of your music brand because it helps establish your persona. If you do not have a narrative or a story of your own, it will get difficult for your publicists, managers, and music promotors to develop a music brand for you and remain consistent in developing and upholding that brand. Think of storytelling as the skeleton of the music brand. It helps put an outline for your artist and brand identity, what aligns with your themes and ideologies, and what doesn’t when you make music and collaborate with other musicians from the industry. 

Good music alone is insufficient to guarantee success in today’s competitive industry. By sharing your narrative successfully, you could establish greater intimacy with your audience, stand out from the crowd, and thus, have a loyal fanbase.

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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