What Does It Really Take to Reach 5,000 Streams on Spotify?
For many independent artists, 5,000 streams on Spotify feels like a distant landmark. Not huge. Not viral. But still meaningful. It’s often the first number that suggests your music is starting to move beyond friends, family, and polite curiosity. According to the CD Baby DIY Musicians article, “How to reach 5,000 streams on Spotify” instead […]
If I Were Starting as an Indie Artist in 2026: A Practical Roadmap
Starting out as an indie artist today feels familiar and strange at the same time. Technology makes it easier to create and release music, and it also makes it harder to be heard. In a recent Disc Makers blog post, Tony van Veen reflects on what he would do if he were launching his career […]
Fan Engagement in 2026: What the Data Is Really Telling Artists
Fan engagement has been talked about for years, but in 2026 it is no longer a vague marketing idea or a social media buzz phrase. It is measurable, trackable, and increasingly central to how artists build sustainable careers. A recent article on Hypebot, drawing from insights in the Luminate Year-End Report, breaks fan engagement down […]
Why Anonymous Artists Are Winning (And What the Music Business Can Learn)
For the last decade, the music industry has pushed a single dominant idea: artists must be visible, personal, and constantly online. Share your life. Share your process. Share your opinions. Share everything. And yet, quietly and almost against the grain, a growing number of artists are succeeding by doing the opposite. Recent analysis from Chartmetric’s […]
What to Do on Release Day: A Practical Guide for Independent Artists
(This article is a curated and expanded guide based on the excellent CD Baby / DIY Musician article “What to Do on Release Day”) Release day is often treated like the finish line. You spend weeks or months writing, recording, mixing, mastering, uploading, and scheduling. Then the music goes live… and many artists quietly exhale […]
Are Physical Music Sales Really Making a Comeback in 2026?
For years, the narrative around music consumption has been fairly settled. Streaming won. Downloads faded. Physical formats became a niche curiosity kept alive by collectors and nostalgists. And yet, as we move through 2026, physical music is back in the conversation again. Not as a replacement for streaming, but as something else entirely. This article […]
How to Send Music Promos That Actually Get Heard
For most artists, sending music promos feels like shouting into the void. You spend weeks finishing a track, finally hit send… and then nothing. No reply. No feedback. No traction. The uncomfortable truth is that most music doesn’t get ignored because it’s bad. It gets ignored because it’s poorly presented, badly targeted, or sent in […]
5 Ways Indie Artists Can Build a Loyal Audience in 2026
Building a loyal audience is one of the toughest challenges for independent musicians today. Great music is essential, but it isn’t enough on its own. You also need intentional strategies to attract, connect with, and retain fans who will stick with you beyond a single release. This post distills key ideas from the article How […]
How to Get Your Song to 1,000 Streams: A Practical Music Marketing Action Plan
One thousand streams isn’t a magic number, but it is a useful one. For independent artists, it represents momentum. It means your song is being heard, tested in the real world, and starting to move beyond friends and family. More importantly, it forces you to stop thinking in vague terms like “promotion” and start thinking […]
What Independent Artists Are Doing to Succeed Right Now (According To CD Baby)
Building a sustainable music career today has less to do with chasing viral moments and more to do with consistent habits, clear thinking, and owning your relationship with your audience. A recent article published on DIY Musician by CD Baby gathered advice from independent artists who are actively navigating today’s music business landscape. Their insights […]