5 Ways To Successfully Identify the Best Target Audience for Your Music

Finding the best target audience for your music can make or break your career. Casting a wide net from the very beginning can be counterproductive, as you’d be spending time and resources on people who are not into the kind of music you make. Here are 5 tips to identify your target audience and invest your resources in the right people. 

Find similar artists and identify their target audience

Look for a successful artist whose sound is similar to yours. Take a look at their social media followers, fan groups and DSP insights to learn more about who your potential audience is and what they like. Expand your audience even further by identifying which geographical locations tend to attract people who like certain music styles, and dive deep into the demographics of that artist to see who your audience is. 

Use insights to your advantage

If you’re targeting potential audiences, there’s nothing better than looking at the people who already follow you and your music. Use your social media insights to gauge audience demographics and DSP insights to identify your “trigger cities.”

Continue deep diving by installing a Google Analytics tracking pixel and using Google Analytics to identify who is visiting your website and listening to your music. This is an excellent way of defining the target audience for your music.

Identify the right gigging opportunities

Identify local artists who may sound similar to you or work within the same genre as you, and contact promoters to put you up as a support act. This is a great way to showcase yourself to an existing fan base that is interested in your musical genre and would therefore be willing to support you. The same applies to all-dayers and small local festivals, which serve as a platform for learning more about your potential audience.

Collaborate and network

Collaboration and networking are part and parcel of getting involved in the music industry. Collaborate with other musicians on tracks to reach their audience. This is a great way to learn more about who the target audience for your music can be.

If you are not yet ready to work with other artists, you can use TikTok’s “Duet” and Instagram’s “Remix” tools to get noticed by their fans and potential collaborators. In addition, use platforms like Reddit and Discord to promote your music to potential fans and network with other musicians and industry professionals who might be useful to your career in the future. 

Find the target audience for your music through engaging social media content

Creating highly engaging content on social media is an excellent way to reach new audiences interested in your music. TikTok in particular is a great tool for music discovery, as its algorithm works in favour of music. Upload small snippets of your music as well as behind-the-scenes footage to connect with new audiences and turn them into loyal fans. 

author

Janelle knows a thing or two about the music industry. Having been involved in the industry since the age of 13, she's now involved in a variety of music-related projects and is always keen to share industry tips 'n' tricks with fellow musicians.