6 Expert Tips for Promoting Your Music (That Actually Work)

Q: "How do I submit my music to Spotify and other streaming platforms?"

"Through a distributor - DistroKid and TuneCore are the standard options - which pushes your release to Spotify, Apple Music, and the rest from a single upload. Neither platform accepts direct submissions from independent artists."

Q: "Is it still worth submitting music to radio stations?"

"It can be, especially local and college radio, which are more accessible to independent artists than major commercial stations. There's no guarantee of airplay, but the cost of trying is low - a search for \"submit music to radio\" for stations in your genre and region is a reasonable place to start."

Q: "Is SoundCloud still worth using for music promotion?"

"Yes, especially for genres with an active SoundCloud scene (hip-hop and electronic in particular). It's one of the few platforms that still gives independent artists full control over what's public versus private, without needing a distributor."

Quick answer: Six concrete moves that actually promote your music: work with a music promotion service to reach industry contacts you don’t have yet, submit to radio stations (especially local/college), get your music onto Spotify and other streaming platforms through a distributor, keep SoundCloud active for direct fan access, and use a press release when you have real news. Making great music is genuinely half the job - the other half is making sure people actually hear it.

If you’re currently struggling to get your music in front of anyone beyond people who already know you, that gap between “made it” and “someone heard it” is exactly what music promotion closes. Here are six tips worth putting into practice.

#1 - Use a Music Promotion Service

A promotion service gives you access to industry contacts and distribution channels most independent artists don’t have on their own - reach that would otherwise take years of relationship-building to accumulate. At ArtistPR, that means expert guidance and distribution built specifically for indie artists, not a generic marketing template repurposed for musicians.

#2 - Submit Music to Radio Stations

Local and college radio remain genuinely accessible to independent artists in a way major commercial stations aren’t - there’s no guarantee of airplay, but the cost of trying is low. Search for “submit music to radio” plus your genre and region, and start with stations that already play music like yours.

#3 - Get Onto Spotify and Apple Music

Neither platform accepts direct uploads from independent artists - you’ll need a distributor (DistroKid and TuneCore are the standard, reliable options) to get your music onto Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and the rest from a single submission. If you’re already working with a label, this is likely handled for you; if you’re independent, it’s the one piece of infrastructure you genuinely can’t skip.

#4 - Keep SoundCloud in Your Toolkit

SoundCloud still gives independent artists something the bigger streaming platforms don’t: real control over what’s public versus private, with no distributor required. Upload full tracks or an entire release, and use private links to share unreleased material directly with people you want to hear it first - reviewers, playlist curators, or fans on your email list.

#5 - Send a Press Release for Real News

A press release earns attention when you’ve actually got something newsworthy - a release, a tour, a milestone - reaching journalists, editors, and radio programmers who wouldn’t otherwise know to look for you. See Music Press Release Tips for exactly how to write and format one that gets read instead of deleted.

#6 - Combine Reviews With Your Press Push

Pairing a press release with a music review gives editors two independent reasons to pay attention instead of one - the release states the facts, the review adds third-party credibility.

Build Your Fan Base With a Real Promotion Plan

A manager can help, but none of the above requires one. Combining a promotion service, radio, streaming distribution, SoundCloud, and press coverage gets you most of the way to what a small team would otherwise handle for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I submit my music to Spotify and other streaming platforms? Through a distributor - DistroKid and TuneCore are the standard options - which pushes your release to Spotify, Apple Music, and the rest from a single upload. Neither platform accepts direct submissions from independent artists.

Is it still worth submitting music to radio stations? It can be, especially local and college radio, which are more accessible to independent artists than major commercial stations. There’s no guarantee of airplay, but the cost of trying is low - a search for “submit music to radio” for stations in your genre and region is a reasonable place to start.

Is SoundCloud still worth using for music promotion? Yes, especially for genres with an active SoundCloud scene (hip-hop and electronic in particular). It’s one of the few platforms that still gives independent artists full control over what’s public versus private, without needing a distributor.

Ready to get your music in front of more listeners? Submit Your Music and let’s get started.

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