Step 1. Find band members.
You need people to create music with. Nowadays it’s possible to use virtual instruments to create basic melodies and build songs from that. The best method however, is to find people who specialize in an instrument and make music together. This way you get the most out of all the sounds available. You can try finding musicians in your area by searching the internet for forums made specifically for this purpose. You can also try forums on Facebook or making a post yourself on Facebook. You could also try asking local music schools. If you still can’t find anybody to join your band, you can start making songs by yourself and recruit later. Keep in mind that you will have the work of creating parts for the different instruments alone, as well as having limited creativity, since no one can master all instruments equally well. If you’re looking for a way to consistently write good songs, read my guide on Kurt Cobains songwriting method here.
Step 2. Release music.
You can either release an entire album at once, release some songs from your album and have the rest only available to people who purchase the album or you can release content with a regular schedule. Once all scheduled content is released, rerelease it as a full album. For getting some initial attention, you can reach out to YouTube channels specifically made to feature upcoming artists and have them upload your music, with links in the description linking to you. Find some unique artwork that will be remembered independently from your music. After all, the album cover is what people see when they decide whether or not to click on your music. Think the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon artwork or the Nirvana Nevermind baby. One thing to consider is releasing your music as an EP (Extended Play) instead of as an Album. The only real difference is in the name. If you intend to sign with a record label, having no prior albums gives you an edge in negotiations. The contracts are often based on the performance of previous albums however, having only EPs means you can argue that an album release under the label will be much bigger than your previous EPs.
Step 3. Share your Lyrics.
If you have highly emotional, meaningful lyrics in your music, you should upload them to different song lyrics sharing platforms. This gives your listeners the ability to connect with the words on a deeper level and allows you to get some free publicity, when people come across your lyrics and decide to listen to the song afterwards. You don’t have to go all-in and upload them to dozens of sites, but sharing your lyrics on Genius.com at the very least will have a positive impact.
Step 4. Build a social media presence.
Create a TikTok, a Facebook, an Instagram, a Twitter and a YouTube-Account specifically for your band. Regularly upload content. You could upload clips of your band practicing songs, jamming, new song ideas or just guitar riffs you came up with. Consistency is key.
Step 5. Play shows.
As a smaller band, you will not be headlining any big shows with your first few performances. Try asking local bars to play for your first show. Something with only a few people, so you can practice playing live and performing under pressure. Once you have a reliably good act, you can reach out to local venues or bands and their managers, asking if you could play at one of their performances. This is the step where many people stagnate, so go back to step number 4 and keep uploading content on the internet. You have 8 billion people who can listen to your music online. Only playing locally will immensely limit you.
Step 6. Release merchandise.
Some money in music is made via brand deals and album sales, but the by far largest amounts of money are made from merchandise. Jordan Gaster, head of A&R at the music label sandbag says that most bands make significantly more from merchandise than from their album sales. If you’re looking to release merchandise and finally monetize your music, reach out to us here. We will take care of everything merch related, so you can focus on what you love – music. A good band shirt can be legendary.
Step 7. See what works for your music.
Yes, nobody likes a sellout. Despite that, you should aim to make around 3 songs from each album really catchy and appealing to a wider audience. This way, you can grow your music past the established fanbase and still retain your musical identity. Newer listeners will be very inclined to give your other, less mainstream music a chance.
This is a simplified guide, but the steps are ultimately always the same. No one who has worked day and night on something, learning and adapting and never giving up has failed to become successful in it.
