At first, it may not seem like starting a podcast has anything to do with marketing your music, but it can actually be a powerful tool.
Podcasting is a powerful tool for growing and connecting with an audience. Musician's can use a podcast to attract an audience of people who are also likely to be fans of their music.
But how exactly does podcasting help musicians, and what should you even podcast about?
Keep reading...
Why Musicians Should Start Podcasting
Radio used to be one of the best ways to "break" an artist. Just get a song on some of the big radio stations and you had "made it"!
Well, podcasts have largely replaced radio...
So what if you had your own radio station that you owned and controlled?
A radio station that you could use to promote your latest music?
Podcasts are powerful because one of the best ways to grow an audience is to create searchable content online.
Searchable content is content that people are actively looking for online by typing questions into search engines.
For example, "How to tie a shoe."
The problem with this strategy is, for musicians, there isn't a whole lot of searchable content you can create...or at least, it may not seem so at first.
However, when you build a larger brand AROUND your music, then suddenly the creation of searchable content becomes possible.
Music artists like Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Hayley Williams (and many more), are branching out and launching other brands, usually related to fashion or beauty.
What if you built your own larger brand around a topic that was meaningful and relevant to you and your music?
According to Edison Research, podcasting is increasing by about 21% to 24% a year. Its target audience is primarily composed of the 18 to 54 age group, who are well-educated and affluent.
Podcasting Is The Best Way To Scale Intimacy & Build A Brand
Podcasting is the best way to connect with an audience because it's the best way to spend a lot of time with your fans.
An average podcast listener spends 6 hours and 39 minutes in a podcast weekly. That's nearly 1 hour a day.
Not only that, but many listeners are likely to listen to your ENTIRE episode, since it's common for people to listen to podcast while cleaning, cooking, driving, exercising, or doing some other task.
This contrasts heavily with social media content, Tik Tok videos, and even YouTube videos where people may only spend a couple seconds to a couple minutes with you.
By launching a podcast, your listeners are able to really form a connection with you...
Which will make them more likely to dive deeper into your brand and music, which ultimately makes them more likely to buy from you.
Free Fan Funnel Formula Guide
Grab my free guide on how to actually start turning followers into fans, and fans into paying SUPERFANS!
Stop chasing vanity metrics and actually build a business around your music that generates consistent, predictable, income.
Podcasting Makes Content Creation Easy
If you're trying to market your music through the Internet, podcasting can be a fantastic way to get started.
You only need to submit your show to each directory once and new episodes will be automatically sent to your listeners.
You can also create many different pieces of content from ONE podcast.
If you are also recording the podcast via video, then you can get dozens of other videos clips from one episode in the form of:
With ONE weekly, or even monthly, show, you can create all of your main content for a week, or up to a month.
Podcasting Builds Your Fanbase
By putting out searchable content in the form your podcast and subsequent clips, you will be attracting an audience to yourself.
Some of these may be interested in music, though others may not be.
You can increase the chances of there being an overlap if your podcast is on a topic that is similar to your music.
For example, I make synthwave music, which is heavily 80s-based. So I started a video podcast discussing the TV show, Stranger Things, which is also 80s based.
Podcasting also allows you to reach the right influencers, promoters, and booking agents.
Providing quality content to your audience is one of the best ways to gain trust and nurture superfans.
You can also use your podcast to promote your upcoming shows and release new music.
Podcasting Can Build You A Network From Scratch
Podcasting is a great networking tool that allows you to interact with others on a regular basis. It's a less formal way to network and can help you establish your credibility with influential industry leaders.
Podcasts also can serve as a gateway to additional networking opportunities.
Just by having a podcast, you'll have an easier time getting someone to agree to an interview or collaboration opportunity. So in this way, having a podcast can open up more doors for you.
Podcasting Can Make You Money
Podcasting is an excellent way to make money when you're marketing music, and it's also a great way to build a community.
Creating a podcast will not only increase your brand recognition, but it can also help you earn brand deals and sponsorships which pay you in exchange of putting an ad in your show.
You could also use your podcast to sell your own products and merch.
What Should Your Podcast Be About?
Again, I recommend your podcast be on a topic that is somewhat related to your music, but it doesn't have to be.
For example, the musician Ruslan makes Christian Rap music, but his YouTube channel/Podcast focuses on creating searchable content related to Christian culture and lifestyle.
As a result, he's grown a massive brand, and though perhaps not everyone in his audience will appreciate his music, a large portion will.
Plus, he's able to create additional income streams from his podcast/YouTube channel, so he is able to earn income even from people who are NOT interested in his music.
If you want some ideas on what you can podcast on, here is a list of different topics:
Best Beginner Podcasting Microphone
If you're looking to start your podcast, you can probably just use whatever microphone you use for vocals.
However, if you want a dedicated podcasting microphone, the best one for beginners that I've found is the PD400X by Maono.
The PD400X is an incredible-sounding customizable dynamic microphone with XLR/USB connectivity, and is great for podcasters, gamers, and even music recording. Its quality and flexibility makes it the best podcasting microphone under $200.
Podcasts By Musicians & Bands
Many musicians and bands are beginning to start their own podcasts.
Here is a list of a few of them, and what they talk about...
- Guys Next Door (Relationships)
- Metal Up (Metallica)
- Table Manners (Food & Family)
- Broken Record (Music)
- Ruslan KD (Religion)
- Trippin (Travel)
How To Start Your Podcast
To start your podcast, simply decide what you're going to talk about, set up your microphone, and start recording!
From there, you'll want to distribute your podcast to all of the online podcasting platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, etc.
To do with, just like with music distribution, you'll need to get a podcast distributor.
A free one you can use is Anchor.FM, which is actually owned by Spotify.
From there, just commit to a consistent upload routine, whether that's once a week or once a month.
Ready To Turn Followers Into Fans?
A podcast, and attracting an audience to you, is just one step in process for turning followers into fans, and fans into profit.
If you want to get the complete proven system for building a fanbase and generating income as a music artist, then grab my free Fan Funnel Formula by clicking below...
Free Fan Funnel Formula Guide
Grab my free guide on how to actually start turning followers into fans, and fans into paying SUPERFANS!
Stop chasing vanity metrics and actually build a business around your music that generates consistent, predictable, income.
Next Steps
Want to get more monthly listeners on Spotify?
Read my article here which breaks down 9 simple steps you can follow to grow your Spotify following.
