Music marketing guides

Three ways onto Spotify playlists: editors, independent curators and the algorithm. Step-by-step pitching, timelines, what to skip and how to tell if it worked.

Music promotion costs from $0 to $10,000+ per release. Real price ranges by channel and budget tier, hidden costs, what to ask before paying and where $100, $500 and $1,000 go.

When Spotify playlist promotion pays off, when it's a waste, what it costs per stream, how to measure ROI and the risks of botted playlists.

A complete 90-day music marketing plan: goals, audience, brand assets, release calendar, channels, budget, KPIs and a one-page checklist you can copy.

A week-by-week plan to promote a new single: 4 weeks before, release day, and the 30 days after. Spotify pitching, content, ads, pre-saves, budget and what to measure.

The most common music promotion scams, 8 red flags, what Spotify says about guaranteed streams, how to check your data and a 10-minute vendor vetting checklist.

A practical guide to sync licensing for independent artists: what makes a track sync-ready, rights and splits, the four routes in, pitching briefs, contracts and timelines.

Sync licensing fee ranges for TV, film, ads, trailers, games and social, what changes the price, upfront fee vs royalties, and what independent artists typically earn.

How the iTunes chart works (paid downloads, velocity, genre charts), what a legit chart push looks like, timing, Billboard link, risks and the honest limits.

How to pitch Apple Music editors through Apple Music Pitch, the deadlines, what editors look for, metadata, algorithmic playlists and user and curator playlists.

How Shop Stream Station compares with playlist promo sites, sync platforms and distributors: prices, what real users complain about, and where each one fits.