Two Things your Artist Career Might be Missing
So, you are ready to take your career to the next level, but something's missing, and you don’t know where to start. By now, you’ve probably realized it’s not just about having the sickest tracks and a unique voice—it’s about knowing who you are and setting clear, strategic goals to get where you want to be. Let’s dive into these two essential things: developing your artistic vision and setting the *right* goals, and see how these can transform your journey.
1st.
Who Are You and Why Should We Listen to You?
To truly stand out, you need to start with some self-discovery. Reflect on your personal values and how they shape your music. Sit down and ask yourself, why should people listen to my music? Because it’s cool, you may say…
But why is it cool for others? Did you write it thinking about something that they can relate to? Because you had your heart broken? Or because your best friend said it was the best music you’ve made? Figure all that out, and then go and tell everyone. If they like it, they will tell others. If they don’t, then they might not be your right audience (more on this later).
If they like it, they will tell others. If they don’t, then they might not be your right audience.
Then, figure out what makes you unique. Maybe it's your vocal style, your talent for songwriting, or your electrifying performances. Whatever it is, these strengths should be at the forefront of your brand. This is what we could call your artistic vision—this vision will help show a consistent and purposeful image.
Craft your story. (And I’m talking about more than Instagram stories). Share the journey that brought you to where you are today, highlighting key moments and challenges that shaped you. This story builds a deeper connection with your audience.
Visually, your brand needs to be instantly recognizable. Choose a color palette, fonts, and design elements that reflect your identity. Ensure all your visual content—album covers, social media posts, videos—consistently follows this identity. Lastly, establish your voice and style and keep it consistent across all platforms.
Hot Tip! If you already have a pretty good idea of who you are and what you bring to the table as an artist, but you still don’t see it resonate with your fans, consider what “interference” might exist between your brand and the people who see it. Make sure you display a clear picture of who you want to be in others' eyes.
Make sure you display a clear picture of who you want to be in others' eyes.
This sounds like a lot of work. And it is. But if the point is to show people who *you* are, it should come naturally to you. If it doesn’t, you might need some guidance from professionals.
Next, understanding your audience is another crucial step when developing your artistic vision. Think about who your ideal fans could be—what are their ages, locations, and, most importantly, what are they like? Knowing this helps tailor your music and the way you present yourself to meet those needs.
2nd.
Set Realistic Goals, and Follow Up With Them
After you have a solid idea of your artistic vision and how to showcase it, goals are your roadmap to success.
On short-term goals
These are usually 6 months or less. During your self-discovery period, you might’ve realized that there are things about your brand that you’d like to improve. Here is where you should take care of these things.
Are you short on songs?
Prioritize *finishing* songs over starting new demos.
Are your visuals boring and inconsistent?
Find inspiration on how you can improve that (you can start by looking at what your favorite act is doing and dissect that).
Is your stream count low?
It’s probably because you’re short on songs and your visuals are boring and inconsistent.
You know what to do now.
On mid-term goals
What do you think you can get done within a year? Hint: the more realistic you can be, the better.
Releases should be well-promoted and align with the artistic vision you created.
This is where you plan and execute the release of EPs, albums, or a series of singles. These releases should be well-promoted and align with the artistic vision you created earlier.
Here, you can also implement strategies to grow your fanbase through consistent, organic social media engagement, collaborations with other artists, and behind-the-scenes content. If you want to perform live, look for performance opportunities such as local gigs, festivals, and opening acts for bigger artists, which will build your stage presence and expand your audience.
Hot Tip! During this time, you might find yourself feeling like you are sharing your music and content and nobody is paying attention. DO NOT FEEL DISCOURAGED! This is part of the process. Keep creating and keep sharing—that is your job! I will never not encourage people to promote their song, even if it’s been 6 months since it came out. Figure out what type of content works for you and keep sharing!
On long-term goals
Try to always foster an environment where you are having fun with your plans and not just desperately trying to cross things off your list.
These are 1 to 3-year plans. Here is where you develop plans to achieve major milestones with the goal of ensuring sustainability in your career. Some examples are winning awards, connecting with established acts, or even headlining shows. The sky is the limit here. Just make sure that everything you do in your short- and mid-term plans aligns with your long-term goals.
Overall, try to always foster an environment where you are having fun with your plans and not just desperately trying to cross things off your list. You don’t want to burn out before you accomplish something that you’ve been longing for.
Bonus.
Tracking and Analyzing Growth
As you implement these strategies, it's essential to track and analyze your growth to understand what's working. Monitor key performance indicators such as social media follower growth, engagement rates (likes, comments, shares), and streaming numbers. Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website traffic and understand user behavior.
Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube offer built-in analytics to help you track your performance. Music streaming services like Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists provide detailed insights into your streaming data. Consider using third-party tools like Muso.ai and Chartmetric for comprehensive social media and streaming analytics. Regularly reviewing this data will help you adjust your strategies, ensuring you stay on the right path to achieving your goals.
I will never not encourage people to promote their song, even if it’s been 6 months since it came out. Figure out what type of content works for you and keep sharing!
Closing Thoughts
Two things that might be missing from your artist career are setting strategic goals and building a strong artistic vision. By focusing on self-discovery, understanding your audience, defining your brand elements, and setting clear goals, you can build a sustainable and successful career. Stay true to yourself, stay consistent, and watch your career grow.
Feel free to leave a comment if you think there’s other information I’m missing! Thank you :)