Apple Music is one of the most popular music streaming services, with over 90 million subscribers worldwide. As an artist or record label, getting your music on Apple Music can help you reach a massive audience of music fans. However, actually getting your music on the platform and promoting it effectively requires some strategic planning. Here are some tips on how to get more listeners on Apple Music.
Distribute Your Music to Apple Music
The first step is making sure your music is actually available on Apple Music. The easiest way to do this is through an audio distribution company like CD Baby, TuneCore, DistroKid, or EmuBands. These companies can distribute your music to all the major streaming platforms, including Apple Music. They usually charge an upfront fee and/or take a percentage of your royalties. Here’s a quick rundown of how to get your music on Apple Music using a distribution service:
- Create an account with your preferred distribution company
- Upload your finished audio files and album artwork
- Enter all the necessary metadata (song/album titles, ISRC codes, etc.)
- Choose which streaming services you want to distribute to
- Pay the upfront fee if required by the distributor
- Wait for your album/songs to be reviewed and approved (usually 1-2 weeks)
- Monitor your distribution dashboard to see when your music goes live on each platform
Once it’s live on Apple Music, your music will be available to stream for all users. However, just getting it on the platform is only the first step. You’ll also need to actively promote your music to get listeners.
Optimize Your Metadata
One important but often overlooked step is making sure your metadata is filled out accurately and completely. Your metadata is all the descriptive data attached to your songs, including:
- Song title
- Artist name
- Album name
- Genre
- Release date
- Track number
- ISRC code
- Songwriter/composer credits
- Album artwork
Taking the time to optimize your metadata will make it easier for fans to find your music when searching or browsing on Apple Music. It also ensures your music is categorized properly. Here are some key metadata tips:
- Include all featured artists and credits in the artist name
- Choose 1-3 descriptive but accurate genres
- Write detailed song descriptions
- Add your official website to the artist profile
- Provide high-quality album art at least 1400×1400 pixels
Generating complete ISRC codes for each track also helps with monitoring streams and payments. Accurate metadata makes it easier for fans to know who you are and what your music is about.
Claim Your Artist Profile
Apple Music has in-depth artist profiles where fans can view your full discography, bio, photos, music videos, and more. As the artist, you should claim your official artist profile on Apple Music. Here’s how:
- Search for your artist name on Apple Music
- Go to your profile and look for the “Claim Profile” button
- Enter your Apple ID email and password to claim your profile
- Apple will review your claim request within 24 hours
- Once approved, you can access your artist dashboard to update profile details
Claiming your profile allows you to:
- Add or update your bio info
- Upload cover photos
- Share music videos
- Link to your website and social profiles
- Communicate with listeners through posts
Essentially, it gives you control over how your artist profile looks and the info fans see first. Having an optimized, claimed profile establishes your authority on the platform.
Utilize Pre-Saves
Apple Music allows fans to pre-save upcoming releases so new music gets automatically added to their library upon release. As an artist, you should utilize pre-saves to drive early excitement for your next release. Here are some tips:
- Set up your single/album for pre-save via your distributor or Apple Music for Artists
- Share the pre-save link on your website and social media
- Offer incentives for fans to pre-save, like early song access
- Build a pre-save campaign on Facebook/Instagram Ads
- Add the pre-save link to your email newsletter & YouTube descriptions
- Reach out to fan influencers to help promote your pre-save
Giving fans the ability to pre-save can drive anticipation for your release and help more listeners become aware. A pre-save campaign should start 1-2 months before your official release date.
Submit to Editorial Playlists
Getting added to Apple Music’s editorial playlists is invaluable for discovery. Playlists like New Music Daily, A-List Pop, Rap Life, Country Wide, and more have millions of followers. Here are some tips for getting considered:
- Use your distribution service or Apple Music for Artists to pitch unreleased music to playlists
- Craft custom pitch emails to playlist curators about your song/album
- Partner with a promotional company connected with playlist curators
- Have an engaged existing fanbase who can help bring attention to your music
- Target location and genre-specific playlists related to your niche
- Pitch tracks at least 1 month before your release date
Even if you don’t land on Today’s Hits or other top playlists, getting added to mid-tier ones in your genre helps. Don’t spam editors – personalized, concise pitches tend to work best.
Run Targeted Ads
Paid advertising campaigns are a common way to gain more Apple Music listeners. You can run audio ads that play in-between songs or display ads that appear in browsing sections. Some options include:
- Apple Search Ads – Text ads that appear at the top of Apple Music search results.
- Apple Music App Ads – Display banners in the iOS Music app and Android Apple Music app.
- Apple Audio Ads – 15-30 second audio ads played during listening sessions.
- Instagram/Facebook Ads – Target users interested in related artists. Drive them to save/follow you on Apple Music.
The key is tightly honing in on your target demographic like genre, similar artists, location, age, and more. Track conversions to optimize towards users who actively follow or share your music.
Promote New Releases
Whenever you drop a new single, EP, or album, you need to maximize its first few weeks of release. This critical time determines if you build momentum or fizzle out. Some release promotion tactics include:
- Share your new music across social media and get fans engaging with it
- Run an Apple Search Ad campaign tailored to your new release
- Ask fans to post user-generated content about your new songs
- Reach out to influencers and media in your niche to help spread the word
- Organize a live in-person event for local fans around your release date
- Offer merch/ticket bundles to incentivize sales and streams
Driving conversation in the early release window gives your music the best shot at taking off. Don’t leave it to chance – execute a strategic promotion plan.
Invest in Playlisting Services
Playlist promotion companies like PlaylistsPush, PlaylistPush, and more offer managed services for getting your songs added to major Apple Music playlists. They pitch your music to their connections of independent playlist curators on Apple. Here’s what a campaign typically entails:
- Submit your new release to the service 1-2 months before it drops
- Select the appropriate genre/mood categories
- Get added to an initial round of smaller playlists
- Curators continually pitch your song to higher follower playlists
- You receive regular updates on playlists added and streams generated
While pricier than DIY pitching, these companies automate the process and use their insider expertise to get placements. Costs range from several hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on results delivered.
Partner With Influencers
Influencer marketing has become an integral part of many artist’s promotional strategy. Relevant influencers with engaged audiences can drive streams, follows, and engagement on Apple Music. Some partnership ideas include:
- Pay an influencer to share your new release in their Instagram Stories
- Send a new track to a YouTube reactor for a reaction video
- Ask micro-influencers related to your niche to add your songs to their public playlists
- See if any bigger artists you’ve collaborated with will post your music
- Work out a revenue share deal for any streams generated
Take time to identify influencers who truly resonate with their niche audiences. Reach out personally and offer value before asking for promotions. Even nano and micro-influencers can make an impact.
Link Social Media
Your social media channels and Apple Music account can work together to drive more followers.
On your claimed artist profile, link to all your official profiles like:
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Website
This gives fans easy access to all your online hubs right from your Apple Music portal. It helps capture their attention across multiple platforms.
You can also link your Apple Music account to your Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok profiles. This adds “Listen on Apple Music” buttons that fans can use to open your songs or profile.
Seamlessly connecting your social presence with your Apple Music artist profile makes it simple for listeners to engage with you.
Collaborate With Other Artists
Collaborating with artists who have an existing fanbase on Apple Music can expose your music to new audiences. Some ideas for impactful collaborations include:
- Feature on tracks of artists with a comparable or slightly larger follower size
- Work together on a co-branded Apple Music playlist
- Exchange artist pick posts on your Apple Music profiles
- Film Apple Music reaction videos featuring each other’s catalogs
- Organize a joint livestream concert on Apple Music
- Cross-promote new releases across social media and profiles
Choose artists with an audience demographic that aligns with yours for maximum crossover appeal. Strategic collaborations tap into new pockets of engaged fans.
Analyze Your Apple Music Insights
Your Apple Music for Artists dashboard provides valuable listener data and insights:
- Top cities
- Top songs
- Playlist adds
- Profile visits
- Shazams
- Steve plays
- Demographic data
Analyze your insights regularly to see what’s resonating and how your audience interacts with your catalog. This informs better marketing decisions. You can even filter your daily analytics by location and song.
Monitoring meaningful metrics also helps you identify growth opportunities. Always be optimizing based on the latest insights.
Reach Out to Regional Playlists
Apple Music has numerous localized playlists for specific cities, states, and countries. Pitching these hyper-targeted playlists can help you gain local listeners. Some tips:
- Research region-specific playlists related to your music style
- Filter your Apple Music insights to see your top streaming cities
- Craft pitches that highlight your connection to those locations
- Build relationships with local campus radio and blogs
- Organize pop-up concerts or events in areas you want to target
Even getting added to mid-level regional playlists expands your visibility with local users. Super-serving specific locales helps cement your artist brand.
Run Giveaways and Contests
Giveaways and contests motivate fans to engage with your Apple Music profile and songs. Offer prizes like:
- Merch bundles
- Tickets to upcoming shows
- Special experiences (backstage passes, Skype calls, etc.)
- Shoutouts on your social media
- Autographed items
To enter, require users to:
- Follow your artist profile
- Stream a new release
- Add songs to playlists
- Pre-save an upcoming album
- Tag friends in comments
Contests drive tangible actions that boost your discoverability. They also help you build an email list of engaged fans.
Conclusion
Distributing your music is only the first step to getting streams on Apple Music. A multi-pronged approach works best – combining distribution, optimization, pitching, marketing, collaborations, analytics, and fan incentives. Patience and persistence are key, as growth on streaming platforms happens gradually. Keep releasing new music, engaging with your audience, and executing targeted campaigns. With the right long-term strategy, your Apple Music listenership can continue growing.