I think in the past, record labels used to pay YOU money if you were good. Now, when you submit a track to a label, they expect YOU to pay THEM.
The first thing you should know is that FM is dead. New generations don’t even know what FM is, and everyone streams apps like Spotify and Pandora while they drive. OG’s might even be using some older apps like Sirius XM and YouTube. But all of these music repositories are FLOODED with drowning artists trying to get a single listen. Some of these lost artists are extremely talented, and nobody will ever know.
So what did Fate decide for YOU, the artist? Well, this dynamic world has already decided where to place you in the end. But you can try to change the outcome.
Invest in yourself. Pay to boost your posts on social media, pay for advertising, get a distribution service, and link your accounts together. Focus on professionalism. Make sure images aren’t blurry and are free of watermarks. Make sure your lyrics are clear, and that your bass hits. Make sure your uploads are in the highest quality format possible.
Even doing all this might not be enough to get a little attention. If you can do it, then try live performances wherever you can find a host.
The best thing I can recommend is to form a design team. You will need a producer, a composer, a lyricist, a video editor, a graphic design artist, and the “celebrity”. Your goal is to produce this “celebrity” into something pleasing to the eyes and ears that people get hooked on.
There are some underground marketing techniques, such as buying followers and likes, that can work. But get your team developed first, and make sure everyone is on the same page. I’m struggling in this career field, but still enjoying myself. Although I don’t think I have enough budget and/or time available to succeed.
Hope you do.