For months I have been working on my EP (which I am releasing as singles monthly) and I thought "okay, after this I can rest." Boy was I wrong. When you are a DIYer and don't have the resources to hire a music promoter, making music is only the beginning.
As it stands I have 190 Instagram followers, 21 monthly Spotify listeners, 44 Youtube subscribers, and YOU!!!! Just amassing those people was a huge task. First, you need to be present on social media. I have always SUCKED at that. It takes effort and discipline. You know those people who post pics of their meals? I have always wanted to do that because I eat some really awesome food. There is one problem, I only remember to take the photo AFTER I've eaten 75% of my meal. I am no social media natural. Spotify? When you have zero listeners and are new to the game like me, you have to WORK for those listeners. What does that mean? Emailing dozens of curators with a request to be added to their playlist. So far I've been added to 3 playlists!! CRAZY WINS!!! (In all fairness Gospel Blues is a niche genre.) Youtube? Well I have been getting views on my music and new subscribers, the majority of which have come in the last 7 days. I can't really complain about that. Interviews? Check out my most recent interview with Grammy Nominated Producer Donald Robinson! I also managed to score another interview with Ambient Vibes! Woo hoo!!! Okay, all the hard work is paying off and I'm getting there slowly but surely.
This is has been quite the experience and creating and promoting are only a fraction of the business. Day by day I learn a little more. (Hey, I finally figured out how to navigate Tik Tok - a little.) What I've learned most about this industry is that it is a marathon and not a sprint. I'll continue to keep working hard both creating and promoting...until I can hire someone else to do it. Hey, a girls gotta sleep!