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Discover the latest music trends and insights with A&R Factory. Stay informed and inspired as we explore the dynamic music industry landscape where we cover the latest music industry trends, analysis and predictions in the industry. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or industry professional, A&R Factory is your go-to source.

Streaming is King: Here’s How to Conquer the Domain in 2023

Posted on 17 September 2023
Music Streaming

As streaming platforms, such as Spotify, which continues to reign supreme in 2023 with a dominant market share, reached saturation point a long time ago, independent artists have a seemingly impossible task ahead of them if they want to hit the ground running with their new releases and become popular playlist staples.

Perceptibly, battling it out on the streaming platforms themselves has become futile. New uploads are just a drop in the ocean, and it is enough to make the era of indie landfill in the 2000s and 2010s seem like a euphonic utopia of opportunity. It is no surprise that given that we thought music was derivative then, we are positively dejected by the prospect of an industry where millions of banal hits pile onto the airwaves each year.

So, what’s the remedy?

It may be the case that streaming platforms are proliferated by hack hobby musicians, and there isn’t a lot that can be done to prevent their access to streaming platforms. But for professional musicians worth their salt, there is everything left to gain in the industry. Well, relatively. New up-and-coming artists who have any true staying power in the charts have become sonic unicorns. Especially with the disappearing phenomenon of the mainstream music industry, but great music, which is marketed as masterfully as it was made, still has a fighting chance. Especially for artists willing to harness fan power.

Marketing your music outside of streaming platforms has become crucial to making an impression. Or at least achieving streaming stats and monthly listening figures that don’t want to make you throw the towel in. If you’re searching for the average number of followers, monthly listeners, or streams you need to be regarded as a success in the industry, you might as well be looking for the average length of a piece of string. There is no fixed number that you can achieve that will signify that you’re a success – unless you’re Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, Drake, or the Weeknd, that is.

Streaming stats boil down to several factors. From whether your genre or style thrives on streaming platforms to how much money you throw at a pre-release campaign. It isn’t always a case of the best artists being the ones to send their streaming stats through the roof. Therefore, streaming stats aren’t yardsticks you should use to determine your worth as an artist.

This article will highlight up-to-date streaming platform stats to show you what you are up against as an independent artist, before suggesting some of the ways you can ensure your new releases rack up the streams and garner fans who will support you away from streaming platforms – which is where the real revenue streams will start to flow.

2023 Music Streaming Stats

To conquer your enemy, it pays (in this instance, $0.003 – $0.005 per stream on average) to know them. To understand the music streaming market in 2023, we have collated a list of streaming platform stats:

  • 10,000 – 50,000 monthly listeners will help you earn $100 – $600 each month.
  • The Weeknd and Taylor Swift are the only artists to break the 100 million monthly listeners mark on Spotify with 106.89 and 100.91 monthly listeners, respectively.
  • Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande are the most followed artists on Spotify with 115.03 and 93.76 followers, respectively.
  • As of September 2023, Spotify holds music from 11 million artists; their music is listened to by 551 million active monthly listeners.
  • The rate of Spotify uploads continues to soar in 2023, with an average upload rate of 120,000 per day.
  • You would need 625 million subscription streams or 1.875 billion free streams to achieve gold certification on streaming platforms alone. Which is infinitely higher than the 500,000 album or single sales you would need away from streaming platforms.

How to Increase Streams on Independent Releases

When it comes to streaming platform stats, remember that everything is relative; your milestones should always be set based on your current standing in the music industry and what is possible based on your marketing budget. By setting attainable instead of lofty and ‘in a perfect world’ goals, you will have something to push for and celebrate to achieve.

Here are some of the best ways to maximise the success of your singles, EPs, and albums across streaming platforms:

  1. Value user-generated playlists as much as Spotify-curated playlists. Read our guide to getting playlisted here.
  2. Start marketing your new releases and pushing your pre-save links across all your social media accounts six weeks ahead of the release date and create unique content to make the countdown interesting.
  3. Collaborate with artists who already have a strong presence on streaming platforms or partner up by curating your own playlists.
  4. If you have a strong enough social media presence, consider paid advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
  5. Link up with pluggers, and promoters who have a track record in maximising streams.

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For more inside views into the music industry and tips on how to take your music marketing campaigns to the next level, keep following our blog, or get in touch for one-to-one sessions with our award-winning A&R team.

Of course, you can always boost your streaming stats by submitting your demo to our top 10 UK music blog, which is heavily frequented by staunch music fans and industry figureheads, who are always scouting for fresh talent.

Article by Amelia Vandergast

Warner Made History By Signing the Virtual Pop Star, Noonoouri

Posted on 10 September 2023

With the advent of increasingly futuristic AI tech, people are rightly fearing that the adage out with the old will lead them to obsoletion. Especially within the realm of the music industry; an already an inhospitable ecosystem for many independent and up-and-coming musicians to foster their talent.

Between AI fears, unfair royalty payment systems, and the oligarchy of the big moguls and labels, there is scarcely room for optimism for independent artists. Especially after it was announced that Warner Music pushed a record contract towards the virtual pop star Noonoouri. Oh, and let us not forget the former chief business officer for Google X, Mo Gawat, using every press opportunity he can to proclaim that the need to regulate AI is beyond an emergency. Elon Musk has even started to express his concerns regarding the advancements of AI, which makes a change from his usual self-serving range of mercenary emotions.

What Does the Noonoouri Record Deal Mean for the Music Industry?

Before you throw in the towel and take all your music gear to the pawn shop, it is worth bearing in mind that it is highly likely the Warner Music Group decided to pull a publicity stunt by signing a virtual act. After all, now Warner can claim they made history with this first-of-its-kind deal.

Warner certainly isn’t the first major company to turn their attention to the virtual ‘icon’. Due to her 403,000 Instagram followers, the viral virtual star has fashion campaigns with Balenciaga and Dior to her name.

So, what’s her deal (aside from the one she has signed with Warner)?

Warner Music's Noonoouri debuts single ft. DJ Alle Farben | WIRED Middle East

In our highly digitalised era, a captivating online presence is more valuable than gold dust. Knowing this, the Munich-based graphic designer Joerg Zuber developed the CGI icon, who made her first appearance in 2018. To make her feel a little more organic, Zuber introduced her as a 19-year-old before she made strides in the fashion and music world.

Her first single, Dominoes, was created with Alle Farben, a German DJ, who worked his beats around her generative AI-rendered voice. After the official music video premiered on August 31, it has racked up 94k streams to date. To give us a little hope for humanity, there were ample criticisms of the single in the derivatively generic hit in the comments section:

“YOU HAVE A HIDDEN TALENT, KEEP IT HIDDEN.”

“This slaps… any joy out of my head I had left in life.”

“THIS GOES HARD, ON MUTE.”

“Finally, artificial intelligence is making strides in bad pop music.”

So, no matter how “ground-breaking” the move was, it certainly isn’t something that talented artists should be shaking in their boots over. Major labels are hardly renowned for keeping their fingers on the right pulses. It was only a matter of time before such a deal was struck, but after noting the public perception of the single and what the musos or making of it, Warner has notably made themselves a laughingstock.

A New Era of Entertainment is Here, But Noonoouri Isn’t a Trailblazer in It

While some attempted to coin Noonoouri as the icon of a new era, that rings true as much as a disconnected doorbell.

Yes, entertainment and art are no longer bound to the physical realm, and metaverses are becoming increasingly popular amongst younger generations that need to be reminded to unplug themselves from the internet and touch grass. But the demand for living and breathing musicians isn’t going anywhere soon.

After hearing how dross the Noonoouri debut single was, does it really matter if she can switch between different personas, styles, and genres with ease? Or if she can perform in different languages and diverse virtual environments? Absolutely fucking not.

AI in Muisc Production: Technology and Tools | 2023

In previous blogs, we have illustrated how AI has been integral to the music industry for decades, from algorithms which put your new favourite singles in front of you to tools artists can use to make the task of production, mixing, and mastering a little less laborious. As a tool, is highly valuable with great utility. Unless things get dystopic real quick, this generation of artists shouldn’t lose sleep over the threat of AI obsoletion.

Sure, some programs can now synthesise music based on vibe and genre prompts. But even with the availability of such technology, most figureheads in the music industry are still scouting for real talent. Metaverse-based influencers (I felt a little sick even writing that phrase, let alone taking them seriously) may have some swing amongst the people who are looking for the next vapid entity to follow devoutly and part with their hard-earned cash on everything they promote. But thankfully, for now, most people are still connected to the real world and common sense.

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Stay up to date with all the latest music industry updates by following our weekly blog. Or use our heavily frequented platform to promote your new music. Unlike Warner, we always favour organic talent over virtual artists producing synthesised and soulless singles!

Article by Amelia Vandergast

What Happened to Music NFTs?

Posted on 3 September 2023
Music NFTs

It was only last year when Pitchfork published an article on how NFTs are shaping the way music sounds, and Rolling Stone pegged them as the ultimate way for artists at all levels to monetise their music, so what happened to music NFTs? How many NFT holders have as much buyer’s regret as Justin Bieber after he purchased a Bored Ape NFT for $1.3 million back in 2022, only for it to lose 95% of its value? And perhaps, most importantly, will they ever make a comeback?

In this article, we will answer all the above questions to give independent artists and music fans looking to support the careers of their favourite artists a no-bullshit account of where the NFT market currently stands. But first, we will give a brief introduction to music NFTs, which work a little differently from your standard NFT.

What is a Music NFT?

In short, music non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are distinct digital assets that are issued on a blockchain (a distributed ledger that contains a growing list of records, referred to as blocks), which are tied to a single, EP, album, entire discography, or video clip. NFTs can also represent everything from gig tickets to passes to money can’t buy virtual experiences to exclusive merc.

The hype around Music NFTs started to amass due to the unfairness of the distribution of wealth in the music industry. In 2023, the global revenue of the music industry is expected to surpass $65 billion, but the vast majority of those funds will pour into the pockets of major labels and platforms instead of the cups of songwriters and musicians.

The pipedream of an idea was that music fans could replace the oligarch record labels, and more direct connections could be created between independent artists and their fans. Unfortunately, as you can probably gather from the radio silence on the subject of music NFTs, the revolution was a lie.

Where Did Music NFTs Go Wrong?

With Music NFTs came the promise of an income revolution, and we have to admit to getting swept up in it originally. When Justin Blau and Justin Ross founded the music NFT marketplace, Royal, gave NFT owners’ rights to the songs sold on the platform and enabled artists to decide the percentage of royalties, we were stoked to anticipate the financial opportunities for independent artists and the profiteering middlemen cut out of the royalty equation. Here are just a few reasons why NFTs couldn’t help the average independent musician.

  1. Crypto Volatility

The value of the cryptocurrencies used to purchase NFTs is volatile. The most popular cryptocurrency used to purchase NFTs is Ethereum, while it isn’t completely impossible to buy NFTs with fiat currencies by using credit and debit cards, the vast majority of NFT marketplaces require you to hold cryptocurrencies. For example, at its peak in November 2021, 1 Ethereum token was valued at over £3k. By January 2022, its value almost halved and at the time of writing, 1 Ethereum token is worth £1297.57. Holding crypto is a great way to see your life savings wiped out overnight. Regardless of what the crypto bros say.

Ethereum Price Prediction 2023: When Will The Bear Market End? Watch This Key Pattern - Bitcoinsensus

  1. The Inaccessibility of the Web3 World

Unless you only go to see house DJs perform and buy tickets to grime gigs, you will have probably noticed that the average music fan tends to be in an older demographic. Many indie, rock, punk and metal fanbases are ageing populations, and can you really see the average Gen X or boomer music fan getting to grips with the Web3 world of cryptocurrencies and NFTs so they can support their favourite artists?

The ’50 Quid Bloke’ is used to heading down to their favourite record store or affixing themselves to eBay every Sunday evening to pick up tangible wares they can use in music-centric rituals. They are also the most likely to have a negative reaction to the introduction of new technology that they can’t quite wrap their heads around and break into a “back in my day diatribe”. In 2023, YouGov and Consensys discovered that only 34% of the people they surveyed had ever heard of an NFT. But apparently, Gen Z is dumb because they don’t know how we used to burn CDs on our PCs or how cassette tapes used to function.

WHEN MUSIC wasn't "In The Cloud" - Audiophile News & Music Review

  1. Only the Richer are Getting Richer

In 2022, a survey discovered that most NFT buyers invest in NFTs to make money. However, almost the same percentage lose money. Only 14.7% were interested in investing in a community, and even fewer respondents reported that they bought NFTs just to own a digital asset. So, the fans are operating at a loss, but what about independent musicians who are already scratching a living and stretching their resources thin to monetise their music? Yeah, they’re screwed too.

Grimes may have been able to make more money than she has ever made in her career via NFTs, but she has also spent years integrating herself into the type of communities that would be interested in NFTs. She’s digitalising everything, and if her latest single, I Wanna Be Software, is anything to go by, that is still not enough to sate her digital desires.

The Takeaway

Unless, as an independent artist, you have time to indoctrinate yourself into the Web3 world and you are already backed by a hardcore community of fans who are likely to engage in that world with you, it is unlikely that music NFTs are going to come along and save your career. The only musicians making millions are the musicians who were making millions (or near to that mark) before NFTs became a massive phenomenon.

With that being said, there is something to learn from the rise and fall of music NFTs; community and fan power are everything. There are other ways to enable your fans to back you. Take Kickstarter campaigns to fund new albums, and platforms such as Patreon as the perfect example. Learn more about how to harness the power of your fans here.

Article by Amelia Vandergast

A Statistical Overview of the Crushing Blow of Brexit on the Music Industry

Posted on 27 August 2023
Brexit

Earlier this week, the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) revealed just how detrimental Brexit has been to the income and careers of touring musicians in the UK. While everyone who was in their right mind, when they strolled down to the polling station, knew that our ability to move and work freely throughout Europe would be infringed by voting to leave, the results of the recent survey illustrate how many livelihoods have been dilapidated by the dream of nationalism.

The cultural impact of Brexit may be a drop in the ocean when you consider the exacerbation in the cost-of-living crisis and the obscene levels of inflation that reached a 45-year high and plunged previously comfortable families into poverty. But the recently published figures are enough to make you feel claustrophobic about the prospect of being trapped on a late-stage capitalism island intent on ostracising itself into global redundancy.

The ISM survey revealed:

  • Since Brexit, one in four industry workers haven’t picked up any work in Europe.
  • Almost 50% of UK industry workers noted a significant downturn in income opportunities in Europe.
  • 39% of industry workers have had to turn down work in Europe due to restrictions imposed by Brexit.

While many voters who voted leave like to justify their blindsided democratic decision by blaming the Brexit fallout on other factors, such as the Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ISM was careful to ensure the data they extrapolated from the survey was accurate. They asked all 400 participants to focus on their experiences between the 1st of January 2021 and April 2023 to ensure that Covid restrictions weren’t the main source of income and employment stagnation.

Unsurprisingly, one of the 400 participants in the ISM survey stated that their working band has folded due to gigs in Europe drying up as they couldn’t make any kind of living solely bumbling around the tiny market in the UK. While there is a romantic notion that artists should suffer for their art, the line has to be drawn somewhere, and that is where we have to take a stand. You can’t blame European companies, bookers, and promoters for not wanting to deal with the red tape of booking UK musicians and industry workers. There are so many grey areas in the legislation, especially revolving around import and export taxation that it isn’t worth the risk or the headache to outsource UK talent.

Is There Light at the End of the Brexit Tunnel?

Even though it is unlikely that the current Government will listen to the pleas for intervention and consider ways they could bring viability back to the prospect of making a living as a professional musician, the demise of our music sector isn’t something that should be taken lying down. Apathy is a cancer. If all we do is lament about the current state of affairs, this generation of artists and industry professionals will suffer just as much as the next, and the next one after that.

Unless artists band together and prove how detrimental the loss of income to the UK’s culture sector is and build on the work of the ISM’s study, it is unlikely that the future of our apparently ‘world-class’ music sector will be high on the agenda for policymakers. Thanks to the good work and the insistence that something has to give, there have been some promising moves, but just like any movement, it needs real momentum to get anywhere. If you’re intent on keeping your ennui on the situation insular, consider yourself as part of the problem.

In April 2023, The Guardian revealed that a highly influential Lords Committee is pushing to remove Brexit barriers for musicians and young people. After six months of research, 72 areas where small changes could result in massive differences for industry workers on both sides of the channel were identified. So, even if re-joining the EU is out of the current realm of possibility, that isn’t to say that we should give up the ghost on cutting some of the red tape. Potential areas to focus on include the expense, accessibility and viability of work permits and visas and the cost and confusion around carnets (customs permits).

The fact that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement that was signed in December 2020 by the UK and the EU did not include any specific provisions on short-term travel for musicians and industry workers should also be taken as a positive.

In 2021, the House of Commons Culture Committee recognised that barriers have blighted the cultural ecosystem and made it needlessly difficult to move equipment and merch. The ISM has made several recommendations to the government to remove some of those barriers, including negotiating a waiver agreement on the 90 / 180-day working rule.

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You can read the full ISM report and discover all the ways they are helping artists navigate Brexit barriers here.

For more independent artist advice, keep your eyes peeled for more independent artist advice articles.

Article by Amelia Vandergast

The Value of the Superfan is Dwindling but Indie Artists Can Rekindle It

Posted on 13 August 2023
Superfan

For independent artists looking to break it without the backing of a record label, harnessing fan power is crucial. It takes more than playing a few good shows and recording some hit singles; a conscious effort needs to happen on the artist’s behalf to nurture relationships with superfans.

The power of the superfan may have diminished in the streaming era of music, but they are still a valuable asset and growth driver in the music industry, especially with the looming existential threat of AI and the oversaturation of streaming platforms, which are slowing down in growth. For some perspective, in the first quarter of 2023, on average, 120,000 tracks were uploaded to streaming platforms every day; a sharp rise from the 2022 average of 93,400.

With more people sacrificing their subscription services in a bid to take some pressure off their finances that are being mercilessly squeezed by the ever-increasing levels of inflation and the rate of singles uploaded to streaming services increasing year-on-year, the landscape for new and independent artists is precarious and almost impossible to navigate without using the shining light of superfans as a compass. Record labels have already noted the value of superfans; it is about time independent artists do the same and start making moves in their careers to nurture them.

After covering a brief history of the superfan, this article will cover how to increase your superfan following and create content to keep them contented.

The Modern History of Music Superfans

By contrast to the modern music age, in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, the majority of music fans were superfans; while some kept their fandom antics to buying records and gig tickets, others started zines, ran music clubs and organised events. While some of that still rings true today, the superfans are in the minority compared to how many casual music fans stump up the cash for a music streaming subscription, and that is the extent of their artist worship.

From the 70s onwards, merch became a big money spinner; while it is almost impossible to imagine the music industry without merch peddling in 2023, back in what many revere as the music heyday, official merch only started to emerge in the music industry. To further exemplify the importance of the superfan, rumour has it that the first band tee was created in the 50s when an Elvis fan club started to distribute them, and the rest was history.

In the ’90s and early 00s, it was common for superfans to head to their favourite record store and buy multiple albums every month, leading to the coining of the term ‘The 50-quid Bloke’, which describes a middle-aged music fan who would constantly be keeping tills in record shops ringing. This demographic of music fans was so influential to the music industry, their consumerist habits would shape the music charts.

Napster and The Fall of the Superfan

Napster arrived on the scene in 1999, but its internet debut didn’t become detrimental to the music industry until some years later when CD sales started to plummet. Spotify emerged just when the recorded music industry was suffering its worst crisis point in decades in 2008; if you have never heard the term, 50-quid bloke, before, that is because they started to become an endangered species and evolved into live music fans as they shifted their spending to gig tickets and the merch, they would pick up at the shows they attend.

Initially, Spotify promised to facilitate an uptick in money spent on recorded music. While they never struggled to find people to pay for monthly subscriptions, the expenditure on recorded music barely translated into revenue for musicians.

You don’t need to be a mathematical prodigy to discern that music fans spending far less than the price of a CD to access all the music they want would equate to infinitely less money being poured into the industry compared to decades ago when it was commonplace for music fans to buy multiple CDs or vinyl records a month.

Of course, there were still music fans keen to hoard records like tomorrow, and the convenience of streaming platforms didn’t take the gloss off a trip to the record shop and the satisfaction that they were supporting their favourite artists with their purchases. No doubt you know many physical music collectors, maybe you are one yourself, but make no mistake, this kind of music fan became a minority at the turn of the millennium.

Cash In on the Tentative Return of the Superfan

In recent years, industry analysts have noted that modern music consumers have started to pick up the same spending habits of 90s superfans; look at the phenomenon that Bandcamp Friday has become or consider how devout Taylor Swift fans are as they pay over the odds to join her on her tours. However, they are still on the fringes of consumer behaviour.

To amass some superfans of your own, instead of looking at ways to bleed your followers dry, look for ways to facilitate a genuine value exchange that will deepen their connection to your music.

Here are just a few of the ways you can go about it:

  • Create exclusive or limited-edition merch for your fans
  • Create social media content for your fans via Facebook fan groups and Patreon
  • Give exclusive previews of your music and music videos
  • Invite your fans to an invite-only launch show
  • Host pre-gig meet-ups with your fans
  • Collaborate with your fans
  • Create fan loot boxes
  • Go live and host Q&A sessions

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For more guidance on how to grow your fanbase and maximise streams and sales, ask about our one-to-one consultancy services and keep reading our weekly blog for more tips on how to make an impact with your music campaigns as an indie musician.

Article by Amelia Vandergast

The Music Marketing Landscape is Changing: Move with It by Factoring in These Key Shakeups

Posted on 6 August 2023
Music Marketing

The domain of music marketing is evolving faster than ever in 2023; with the rise and fall of platforms (RIP Twitter) and the new features added to existing platforms, such as the free tiers on Patreon, it can be difficult for independent artists to keep stock of all the major moves and stay up to scratch.

This article will cover the main changes that have changed the landscape of music marketing, including our view on whether it is still worth promoting your music on Elon Musk’s platform, which is sinking faster than the Oceangate submarine, a review of the brand-new features on Bandsintown, and an introduction to the new radio-like platform from Amazon.

4 Major Music Marketing Shakeups to Note in 2023

1.   Bandsintown Launched Music Promotion Pages

Few people will be as interested in your new music releases as your fans who have parted with their hard-earned cash to see you live, which makes the brand-new music promotion pages on Bandsintown promising for independent artists who know just how to draw a crowd to their live shows.

As most artists and bands who are no strangers to the live touring circuit will know, Bandsintown is already one of the top platforms to market your tours and one-off gigs. Now, the platform is allowing artists to announce and build the hype around everything from new music to merch drops.

After the new features were implemented, Bandsintown is now a one-stop shop for keeping your loyal fans in the loop. Via the platform, you can customise your release announcements, share them with your fans on social media, and even collect emails and phone numbers.

Currently, the release pages are in their beta testing stages, and only artists with a claimed profile and over 100 followers can participate. If you fit the bill, there is no harm in trying the release pages out for size. There are already 80 million live music fans signed up to the platform, connect with them!

2.   Amazon Introduced Their Free Music Marketing Platform

Decades ago, we were told that video killed the radio star, but in 2023, the radio waves are still alive with the sound of music. Especially after Amazon launched their very own radio-like platform, AMP.

It is completely free to market your music with AMP; the radio-esque platform also enables artists to connect with their fans in real time, making it a prime place for music marketing. The platform was founded on the certifiable belief that there is no better way to connect with your fans than talking to them.

The platform may not be huge yet, but it is already drawing a steady flock of tastemakers, emerging artists, and music fans who want to try their hand at being a radio DJ. The inventively interactive platform allows you to spin tunes on the radio while starting conversations with your fans.

See it as an opportunity to give your listeners an insider view into your most popular music, talk about who inspires you and find common ground with your fan base. As another benefit, you can receive money through the Amazon AMP Creator Fund every month while you are hosting shows!

3.   Reels Are on the Rise

A few months ago, we covered the TikTokification of other social media platforms and apps; a recent report published by Meta has shown to what extremes short-form content reigns supreme. Earlier this week, disclosed that reels now receive over 200 billion views every day across Facebook and Instagram.

Once you have wrapped your head around those inconceivable figures, you might want to consider how you can jump on the trend for music marketing before people get sick of being sucked into the short-form time vacuums and start being more mindful about how they spend their time on social media platforms.

While the number of Reels viewed on TikTok each day is undoubtedly far higher than the view count on Instagram and Facebook combined, TikTok hasn’t been quite as forthcoming with its viewing stats. But one thing is for certain; long-form content is out, and snappy, creative reels are in.

4.   X Now Marks the Spot, But Should You Still Dig for Engagement There?

If you use an application programming interface (API) to post to all social media sites simultaneously, you may have noticed that X (formerly Twitter) is now making it a little difficult to share your music marketing posts simultaneously.

On top of that, the levels of engagement on the platform are going down like a lead balloon. If you already have a following on there, we won’t try to convince you to jump ship before the social media vessel sinks entirely. But if you are attempting to grow your fanbase on there, you may be better off investing your time establishing yourself on Threads, Facebook, TikTok or Instagram instead.

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For more music marketing and self-promo advice, follow our music news blog, or get in touch for a one-to-one consultancy service and take charge of your music career in 2023.

Article by Amelia Vandergast

AI Music is Here, But Are Music Fans Here for It?

Posted on 23 July 2023
AI Music

When AI is working away in the background helping fans to discover their next favourite song on Spotify by using machine learning to analyse consumer behaviour and pinpoint patterns in listening habits, music fans have few complaints about the involvement of AI in music.

Music AI technology has been around, albeit in a rather primitive form, for the better part of a century. One of the first recorded instances of it was a composition created by World War II code-breaker Alan Turing in 1951. Of course, it took decades for computer-generated music to morph into what it is today, and the computer he used to create his composition was far bigger than a MacBook Pro, as it took up most of the ground floor of his lab. Nevertheless, in the following decades, AI has slowly introduced itself into different facets of the music industry; it was here far before moral panic amassed around it.

Hear the first computer-generated music, made by Alan Turing

However, now that the conversation around AI in the music industry has become a major part of public discourse, levels of anxiety are starting to rise, especially when anticipating how AI can replace musicians. The threat of creative redundancy is bound to take a negative psychological toll on musicians who are already struggling to scratch a living in this precarious economy. Yet, many musicians are overlooking the most fundamental purpose of their craft. To use their talent to connect with music fans and sonically visualise universal fears, hopes, and everything between.

You only need to look at how mainstream musicians are idolised to the point of obsession to note that successful musicians are far more than humans with a knack for creating earworm melodies, exhilarating anthems, and juicy riffs. No matter how advanced AI systems become, they can never replicate that raw human essence in music, which starts with an autonomous visceral emotion as a precipice to jump off and builds from there.

The Ethics of AI Music

As for the artists who make the creative process easier and polish their songs by using lyric generators, AI production tools, and autotune, the ethical dilemma around the involvement of AI becomes a little hazier. While some people believe artists should be able to use the tools at their disposal, others take a far dimmer view of utilising AI to get over the finishing line with a song.

When considering the ethics around AI as a creator instead of a helpful tool that can help artists create chord progressions or synthesise vocals, don’t forget that many artists, including Elvis, Rhianna, and Whitney Houston almost never wrote the songs they performed. So, what is the difference between Elvis singing songs written by the successful R&B songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller and an independent artist sitting in their bedroom studio using a lyric generator?

The Importance of the Artist in the Art

While younger artists are moving with the time and utilising AI music programs, such as the one recently launched by Meta, which can generate high-fidelity songs from hummed melodies and text prompts such as “upbeat pop anthem” or “soulful RnB ballad”, the majority of musicians are still indifferent to the introduction of tools such as MusicGen.

Take for the perfect example Joe Walsh’s interview with the Associate Press has recently gone viral after the Eagles guitarist stated:

“It’s computers; it has nothing to do with music. It can’t destroy a hotel room; can’t throw a TV off the fifth floor into the pool and get it right in the middle. When AI knows how to destroy a hotel room, I’ll pay attention to it.”

Joe Walsh - Legendary Eagle And James Gang Rocker | uDiscover Music

If you don’t take the interview soundbite that is choked with rock ‘n’ roll cliches too literally, you will see that Walsh made a good point in his slightly outlandish statement. AI music will never be able to emanate the rebellious attitude that created a rebellious anti-establishment movement in the 1960s.

Just as AI music will never be able to stand at the forefront of any counterculture music scene, music fans across all genres are unlikely to toss their favourite artists by the wayside just because a computer can make a technically better single or album. While some argue that you can love the art and not the artist, you only need to note the devout nature of music fans who iconise their favourite bands to the degree that they would travel from the other side of the planet to see them live to see the importance of the artist in the art.

Even in the dance music industry, there is ample cynicism around the idea that AI can replace DJs. For years, there have been programmes that can recommend mixes based on tempo. But in the view of one of London’s top DJs, Nooriyah, who has toured the world as a DJ:

“The way that I connect with my audiences is very difficult to replicate. Imagine a raver looking over at me when I’m DJing, seeing me sweat and dance just like them. In that moment they feel that intimate connection that AI couldn’t.”

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To stay up to date on music industry trends, follow our blog. And don’t forget to check out our reviews of music from sentient human independent artists!

Article by Amelia Vandergast

SEO Hacks for Musicians: How to Make Your Music Rank Higher

Posted on 4 June 2023
Search Engine Optimisation

Google’s search algorithm may be complex, but thankfully becoming a Search Engine Optimisation pro overnight isn’t necessary to push your music and official website to the top of search results. There are a few hacks for musicians to master to ensure their content sits higher on search listings. This article will briefly introduce you to how SEO works before highlighting the most effective ways to ensure your official website or main online domain ranks higher in internet searches.

While there are a few technical aspects to SEO, such as ensuring your website runs as fast as possible and your pages are mobile-optimised, this article will predominantly on on-page SEO tips, which you can use to improve your visibility, and do what seems like an impossibility in 2023; stand out as an artist.

What is SEO?

In short, Search Engine Optimisation improves the visibility of a website by moving it to the top of the Google search results by using a set of practices which let Google’s algorithm know that your page is the most relevant and reliable.

Google, along with other search engines, such as Bing, use bots to collect information by trawling websites to find the most helpful content to put in front of people keying in keywords into a search bar. So, for example, if someone searches for your band or artist name, the sites with the best SEO and most relevant and reliable information will appear on the first page of Google. In addition to relevant content, other factors, such as keywords, images, text length and metadata feed into the algorithmic equation.

If you run your websites on WordPress, you will benefit from the SEO analysis tool, which runs on an easy-to-decipher traffic light system to let you know what you are doing right on your pages and what needs improving – no guesswork required!

The WordPress SEO ranking factors include

  • An even distribution of key phrases throughout the text
  • Key phrase in the introduction
  • Text length
  • Meta Description length
  • SEO title length
  • Whether there are any images on the page
  • Internal links to other pages on your website
  • Links to other reputable websites

How Musicians Can Improve the SEO of their Sites: 5 Simple Steps

  1. Make Your Band Name the Title of the Homepage

By making your band name the title of your homepage and including it in the meta title, you will send a strong signal to Google’s bots that your site is a good match for anyone searching for your band name.

  1. Choose the Right SEO Keywords

Using your band name as a keyword on your website is a fairly obvious starting point. To up your SEO game even more, consider what your fans might also search for. For example, that may be:

  • your band name discography
  • your band name lyrics
  • your band name albums
  • your band name merch
  • your band name tour
  • your band name videos
  • your band name songs
  • your band name & hometown

Once you have decided on your keywords, distribute them evenly throughout your content on the relevant pages, but beware of keyword stuffing; Google’s algorithm can detect it a mile off, and you will be downranked for it. The SEO tools on WordPress can check your keyword distribution for you; alternatively, you can use a free keyword density checker.

  1. Create High-Quality Content

Content is key for Search Engine Optimisation; without it, there is nothing for the search engine to trawl. One of the best ways to fill your site with content is by creating an on-site blog. However, not every independent artist has time for this. Time-pressed artists can always rely on

  • An in-depth artist bio
  • Press quotes
  • Links to your music on streaming platforms
  • Available merch
  • Past and upcoming tour dates.
  • Music Videos
  • Images with meta-data

To inform Google’s algorithm that your site is the ultimate resource hub, update your website as frequently as possible.

  1. Optimise Your Meta Descriptions & Title Tags

The meta description is the short paragraph of text you see on search engine results under the meta title. In addition to being visible to search engine users, it is also fuel for Google’s algorithm. Keep it concise, and ensure it summarises the content on your website. As a rule of thumb, keep it to 120 characters; 60 characters shorter than the upper limit for a tweet.

Once you have written your meta description, ensure the title tags and meta descriptions for each page of your site are customised and relevant. For additional SEO brownie points, organise the text on each page with h1 & h2 header tags, customise the URL name for each page and add alt-text to every image you upload.

  1. Gather and Utilise Backlinks

A great review, interview, or any other kind of feature from a credible source can also aid search engine optimisation if you embed the links to those to your website.

The more reputable and trustworthy the source is, the better a backlink will be for SEO. If you haven’t been blessed by a review from the likes of NME or Kerrang, not all is lost; until those roll in, you can link to all your socials and wherever you happen to have a presence – just make sure that all links are relevant. Alternatively, submit your music to A&R Factory for a backlink-able review!

Article by Amelia Vandergast

Do Music Reviews Matter in 2023?

Posted on 26 May 2023
Do Music Reviews Matter in 2023

It has been over five years since the last issue of the NME hit the shelves in March 2018. In those bitter-sweet five years, the music industry has undergone rapid and unprecedented change; with that in mind, we will answer the question; do music reviews matter in 2023?

A critical acclaim consensus may not be able to make or break an artist in the same way it used to when journalists were revered as iconic golden-eared tastemakers in the music industry. Even with swathes of 5-star album of the year accolades from the likes of the Guardian and the Times, there is no guarantee that there will be a high demand for your gig tickets and digital music.

On the flip side, when journos and critics have very few positive things to say about a new release or a live performance from a well-established artist with a die-hard fanbase, negative reviews will have a minimal impact as the fans play a bigger role. Take Nick Cave & Tom Waits for the perfect example; neither of them has had massive commercial hits, but each has a dedicated fanbase ensuring their legacies and discographies became a perpetuating part of music history.

Do Music Reviews Matter in 2023

Social media has changed the game for many musicians. No longer do they have to rely on magazines and zines to communicate what their art is all about. Similarly, in this era, everyone can voice an opinion online, and even though most journos would disagree with this statement, no one’s subjective view is more important than anyone else’s.

With that said, in 2023, positive reviews still matter, especially for independent artists looking to make their mark in their respective scenes and build those fanbases.

Typically, the more trusted, revered and admired the journalist and publication is, the more worth is attached to their words. However, it would be naïve of new artists to think they can secure reviews from household name publications right off the bat. It isn’t impossible, especially with the right PR team and backing, but more often than not, major publications only feature established artists.

There is no shame in working from the ground up by getting featured by indie websites and blogs first. Their reach may not be as wide, but the connections you make can put you in good stead with valuable other figures in a scene, and the soundbites you can pull from the features are great for bolstering your reputation, proving to promoters that there is an appetite for your music, and for your future press releases. Many independent artists also tend to slather positive soundbites, which capture the essence of their music, across their social media bios, streaming platforms, and websites. In short, the more of a presence you have online, the better your chances of standing out from the rest of the crowd that is oversaturated with artists, all looking to get ahead.

In Conclusion

So, to succinctly answer the titular question, in our modern and often warped era, critics and journos are only really valuable if they spend their time flying the flag for artists who may have otherwise slipped under the radar.

Never judge the popularity of a blog or a website on the number of likes, comments, and shares they get on social media. The times may have changed, but many blogs still maintain loyal readerships, consisting of music fans who are keen to listen to some new music and explore new talent. It can be hard to see the true ripple effect of reviews, but if you trust in the process and continue to spread the word and boost your signal by submitting music to magazines and blogs, it will be time well-spent. Of course, you will need to ensure that you are submitting to the right blogs and have a perfect pitch to stand a chance at seducing writers into hitting play on your music.

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Submit your Music for Review with A&R Factory

If you have a new release that you have poured your blood, sweat and tears into and want it in front of industry figures and music fans alike, submit your music to A&R Factory.

We are always open to submissions from artists of all genres, and as a top 10 UK blog, you can share your A&R Factory review with pride.

Article by Amelia Vandergast