How to Become Successful in Music: 5 Do’s and Don’ts

We’ve mentioned names like Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran, and we could easily add more commercially successful artists to the list. While these figures can certainly serve as a great source of inspiration, they don’t necessarily define what success should look like for everyone. Finding fame, making a fortune, and performing in front of packed stadiums is impressive, and we won’t pretend that generating an income isn't important. However, these factors don’t have to be the primary motivation for every musician.

The concept of success can be subjective and is often deeply personal. It genuinely varies from person to person, depending on their goals, values, and passions in life. We may reckon that Taylor Swift sees herself as successful, but unless we ask her directly, we’ll never truly know, and our perception will be nothing but an assumption. What we perceive as success may not align with her own sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.

The key takeaway here is that there’s no ‘perfect’ path to success, nor is there an ideal image of what it looks like. So, don’t feel pressured to chase a narrative that doesn’t resonate with your vision and aspirations—even if you think that’s what you’re supposed to do.

Instead, strive to define your own version of success—whether it’s performing to a small, dedicated fanbase (that’s absolutely crazy about you) or writing songs and telling stories that deeply move your listeners. Remember that your journey is yours alone, and that’s what makes it unique.

Being a professional musician isn’t just about creating and releasing music—it’s also about understanding the business side of the industry and learning how to navigate its ever-evolving landscape.

Gone are the days when artists were expected to stay in their lane and focus solely on making music. The rise of streaming services and the indie scene has transformed the industry substantially, often encouraging (or even requiring) artists to juggle more activities at once—as marketers, promoters, and innovative entrepreneurs. Take Taylor Swift, for example: she has famously built an entire empire around her music, with her in-house production company (founded in 2008) handling all her visual work since 2018. Her innovative business and marketing strategies have even earned recognition from management and marketing consultants.

Many key players, both internal and external, shape the music industry in one way or another—from streaming platforms like Spotify to social media networks, AI, and other technological advancements. These factors influence how artists release, distribute, market, and even create music.

While staying in the loop about music business trends can feel overwhelming, it is absolutely essential for building resilience in the face of constant industry changes, spotting potential challenges, and seizing unique opportunities you would otherwise miss.

Moreover, music business professionals are more likely to connect and collaborate with those who are more knowledgeable about current industry trends and developments, making industry awareness a valuable networking asset.

The competition in the music industry is cutthroat and quite literally palpable. Independent artists not only contend with one another but also with major-label-backed musicians. In order to be more competitive and stand out, knowing how to market your music and brand creatively is essential—not just to engage your existing audience but also to expand your reach.

With social media and the advancement of AI-driven technology, the possibilities for innovative marketing are endless. Surprise releases, mystery gigs, metaverse performances, various social media trends, easter eggs in your visuals, or scavenger hunts for concert tickets can all add an exciting layer to your promotional strategy. You can also get inspired by what other musicians and artists do and tailor ideas to fit your unique style and available resources.

From our point of view, a recent standout example of inventive marketing is Halsey’s 2024 promo campaign for her latest album, The Great Impersonator. She first launched a global scavenger hunt across 5 major cities—London, LA, New York, Toronto, and Sydney—inviting fans to join forces and uncover different cover artworks corresponding to 5 different time capsules from 5 different decades. This was followed by an 18-day social media countdown for the album’s release, during which Halsey posted daily images of herself impersonating iconic figures and teasing "a snippet of the song they inspired."

This is genuinely a remarkable way to generate buzz around your music and turn fans into active participants, making them feel deeply connected to the music and its journey. By integrating personal storytelling and interactive elements, artists can create memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression.

Standing out creatively is just as important as promoting your music. Everyone has a favorite artist or two, and it’s only natural to dream about strumming guitars, singing, and writing songs just like them. Unfortunately, the possibly disappointing reality is that you can’t replicate that—because you’re simply not them. On the bright side, you’re uniquely you, and you have the opportunity to showcase what sets you apart from others.

Imitating others and using their professional tricks and strategies is never the way to build true success in the music industry. To artists’ disadvantage, listeners can often sense and recognize when a musician isn’t being fully authentic. In reality, everyone is different and unique in their own way. Your individuality—your skills, passions, strengths, and creative instincts—is your greatest competitive advantage.

Ask yourself: What sets me apart? What are my skills? What are my passions? What are my strengths? What experiences and emotions shape my artistry? The answers to these questions will help you define your distinct sound and artistic identity. For instance, the late Swedish DJ Avicii was said to be exceptionally emotionally tailored, which helped him write simple yet catchy and emotionally compelling melodies. Aretha Franklin stood out for her multi-octave voice range and ability to blend and switch genres effortlessly. British band Kasabian, on the other hand, is praised for strong, consistent songwriting, a unique sonic identity, and electrifying live performances.

Every artist has something that makes them special. Identifying and embracing your unique strengths will not only help you carve out space in the music industry but also build a lasting, authentic connection with your audience.

Navigating a music career can be challenging, especially in the beginning. In such a situation, connecting with someone who understands the industry inside and out can help you take the right first steps into the music world or provide guidance when you feel stuck.

There’s no shame in seeking and accepting help from those with more experience. A mentor can offer valuable insights, industry knowledge, and the confidence to push your career forward. In fact, even some of today’s biggest artists had mentors—Justin Bieber was brought to the US by Usher, and Céline Dion’s career was famously shaped and guided by music producer René Angélil.

At iMusician, we recently launched a Music Business Mentorship program, connecting artists with industry experts who can provide experienced guidance at every stage of their journey. Whether you need support with releasing music, booking gigs, marketing campaigns, or long-term career planning, our music business mentors can help you navigate challenges and refine your strategies. You also have the opportunity to receive direct feedback on your plans and ideas and gain more clarity on your next steps.

We thought hard and long and came to the conclusion that there are virtually no downsides to networking. Building connections within the music industry is essential for achieving success and personal fulfillment in your music career. Strong relationships can:

• Maximize your reach and introduce your music to new audiences

• Spark new creative and business opportunities

• Help you refine your skills and grow as an artist

• Boost your confidence in your career path

• Make your music journey more exciting and fulfilling

Networking with other music professionals can create a magical ripple effect. Meeting the right people can lead to collaborations, which can lead to new opportunities, which can maximize your reach, which can open even more doors and offer new experiences. It’s a continuous cycle of growth and possibility.

Make a habit of actively engaging with others in the music industry. Attend music events and conferences, join online and offline music communities, or directly reach out to professionals whose work aligns with your interests and artistic vision. The relationships you build today could shape your career in ways you would never imagine.

As we’ve previously covered in our article on how to make money on Spotify, fake streams—generated through automated processes that manipulate streaming numbers—don’t reflect real listener engagement. More importantly, they are considered fraudulent and can lead to serious consequences, including frozen earnings, removal of your releases, and a negative impact on your organic streams. If a streaming platform detects that you are generating fake streams (by purchasing them from third-party services), you could face fines from your distributor or even be banned from the platform altogether.

The internet is full of services and sites offering the opportunity to buy artificial streams, likes, and followers on various streaming and social media platforms. Such offers can seem tempting at first glance, especially during slow periods in your career when you feel like you’re going through a dry spell. However, these shortcuts never lead to real success. In fact, they can do more harm than good, undermining your credibility and damaging your long-term growth.

With today’s technological advancements, it’s more than likely that if you’re using unlawful and illegitimate practices, you will get caught! Thus, instead of risking your career, invest time and money in proven, ethical strategies to promote your music, grow a genuine community of loyal fans, and engage with people who truly support your journey.

The idea of releasing a track and having it organically take off is beautiful—but, unfortunately, somewhat unrealistic. This doesn’t imply that your song isn't any good and that you need to sugar-coat it to attract listeners, but with over 120,000 tracks released daily on Spotify (as of 2023) alone, breaking through the noise takes more than just great music.

We hate to break it to you, but finishing your track and uploading it for release is only the beginning of your release journey. The sad truth is—it’s often the part after that can make a real difference and determine whether your song gains traction or gets lost in the crowd. To build sustainable success, you need to actively promote your music. This includes:

• Creating a captivating artist website

• Sending out newsletters to engage your audience

• Staying present on social media

• Reaching out to playlist curators and securing playlist placements

• Running ads on YouTube, Google, Meta, and other platforms

Putting yourself out there and trying to encourage people to listen to your music might be difficult, and what’s more, it might feel uncomfortable at first, but leaving your track to fend for itself can seriously limit its potential. Instead, think of marketing as an extension of your artistry—an effort to give your music the best chance to shine and connect with the listeners who will truly appreciate it.

We recently discussed the importance of identifying your why in our article on starting your music journey in the New Year. There, we described it as the core reason you create and continue pursuing music—the deeper purpose that fuels your music journey, especially when challenges arise.

Without a clear why, you may find yourself relying solely on motivation—and as we know very well, motivation can be treacherous, coming and going as it pleases. Even setting goals isn’t always enough—they can shift or lose urgency over time. A strong why, however, can provide stability, helping you stay focused and committed even when doubts and challenges creep in.

Knowing and understanding your why can boost your confidence, promote consistency in your journey, and keep you motivated—especially in difficult times, when you feel discouraged or momentarily stuck and believe for a moment there’s no way forward.

Take the time to define your why, write it down, and revisit it whenever you need a reminder of what drives you. It will serve as your mainstay, keeping you grounded and determined no matter where your musical path takes you.

We’ve talked about motivation; now, let’s discuss consistency. If there’s one thing that can significantly impact your success in the music industry, it’s maintaining consistency across all areas of your career and creation. Even if fans love your music to death, they can easily forget about you or lose interest when they don’t hear from you for a while. Naturally, this doesn’t mean you can’t take well-deserved breaks or spend extra time perfecting your work, but It’s important to remind your fans that you’re still here, creating and evolving.

Social media can be a powerful tool to help you stay actively connected with your fans, deepen relationships, and grow your fanbase. However, simply posting isn’t enough—you need to consistently share truly engaging content that keeps your audience interested. Otherwise, they may shift their attention elsewhere, get bored, and even unsubscribe.

Consistency isn’t only reflected in the amount and frequency of your music releases or social media posts. It is also represented in how you present and market your artist brand. Not having a clear strategy and creating scattered, low-quality content can be just as damaging as an inconsistent presence. Developing a clear plan of action for your visuals, messaging, and overall artistic identity ensures that everything you put out strengthens your brand and resonates with your audience.

Many artists believe that being completely original is the key to standing out. While it’s important to stay true to your personal style and unique sound, striving for originality above all doesn’t necessarily guarantee success— or longevity.

In today’s technological landscape, particularly with the development of AI, almost anything can be replicated. Some might say that technology has taken the magic out of music-making, but the tools and features available today can also simplify complex processes and open doors to new creative possibilities.

The idea of originality in music is more intricate than it seems. While you might see it as the secret ingredient to your work, many experienced industry professionals—A&Rs, producers, and even labels—don’t necessarily seek it out. In reality, audiences don’t always want to hear something entirely new and original—instead, they often gravitate toward familiar sounds.

Even in the past, music wasn’t as original as people like to believe, with countless examples of plagiarism and copyright infringement disputes. The real takeaway here? Instead of obsessing over being different and original, focus on creating high-quality music that you genuinely love and resonate with. Authenticity and passion will likely take you much further in your career than forced originality ever could.