How to Leverage Your Music Career Through Other Streaming Platforms: Apple Music and TikTok
(Part 2 — Apple Music & TikTok)
In the evolving landscape of the music industry, independent musicians often focus heavily on one or two platforms like Spotify or YouTube. While these are excellent starting points, leveraging other streaming platforms like Apple Music and TikTok can help you reach a broader audience and diversify your revenue streams. By creating a well-rounded strategy that includes these platforms, you can build a more resilient and expansive presence in the music industry.
This article will provide an in-depth look at how independent musicians can harness the power of Apple Music and TikTok to grow their careers.
But first, what is Apple Music and TikTok?
Apple Music is an audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users can select music to stream to their device on-demand or listen to existing curated playlists by music experts and recommendations tailored to a user's music preference. (definition ref. Wikipedia) TikTok, on the other hand, is a video-sharing platform with over one billion monthly users, which owes much of its popularity to its simplicity and accessibility. Designed for mobile devices, TikTok enables users to upload or record videos directly within the app. Its intuitive editing tools allow creators to enhance their content with filters, stickers, visual effects, sound effects, and music. The seamless process — from creation to posting — can be completed in mere minutes, making it a favorite among users.
Like YouTube, these platforms have a proven record of success in terms of breaking new artists. Exciting, isn’t it?
So, why Apple Music and TikTok?
Apple Music and TikTok offer unique opportunities for artists that complement each other. While Apple Music focuses on high-quality audio streaming and album-oriented listening experiences, TikTok is all about social engagement, trends, and viral moments. Together, they can create a balanced approach to marketing and fan engagement, such as:
Paid streaming platform with high-quality audio.
Short-form, video-centric social platform.
Focus on albums and curated playlists.
Focus on trends, viral content, and community engagement.
High payout per stream compared to other platforms.
Direct, organic fan engagement and discovery through trends.
How to Leverage Apple Music for Your Career?
Optimize Your Apple Music Artist Profile
Your Apple Music profile is your digital business card. Make sure it is polished and professional. How to do so?
Update Your Artist Bio
- Keep it engaging and relevant. Include your latest releases, achievements, and personal touch to connect with fans.
High-Quality Visuals
- Use striking artist photos and album artwork. Apple Music highlights visuals prominently, so make sure they reflect your brand identity.
Connect via Apple Music for Artists
- Access analytics and insights to track performance and understand your audience better. It helps you tailor your promotional strategies based on real data.
2. Get Your Music Featured on Apple Music Playlists
Playlists are a major source of discovery on Apple Music. Here’s how you can increase your chances of being featured:
Pitch Your Song via Your Distributor
- Most distributors have a process for playlist pitching on Apple Music. Make sure to submit your music well ahead of the release date.
Collaborate with Curators
- Engage with independent playlist curators who specialize in your genre. Building relationships with curators can lead to increased exposure.
Focus on Editorial Playlists
- These are curated by Apple Music’s editorial team and include popular lists like “New Music Daily” and “Today’s Hits.” Submitting your music early and building buzz around your release can increase your chances of landing a spot.
3. Engage with Apple Music Radio and Content Series
Apple Music offers several unique features beyond playlists:
Apple Music Radio (Beats 1)
- Submit your music for consideration on Apple Music’s radio shows. This exposure can introduce your music to a global audience.
Connect via Lyrics and Content Features
- Apple Music often highlights artists who use time-synced lyrics and additional features like Behind the Music content. These elements help fans connect with your songs on a deeper level.
How to Maximize TikTok for Fan Engagement and Growth?
Establish a Strong TikTok Presence
TikTok is a powerful discovery platform for musicians, especially independent artists. Here’s how to effectively use it:
Optimize Your Profile
- Make sure your bio reflects your artist brand. Include a link to your latest release or link-in-bio tool to guide followers to your other platforms.
Use Trending Sounds
- Utilize trending sounds, including your own music, to increase visibility. Incorporating your own tracks into popular trends can boost streams across platforms like Apple Music.
Engage with TikTok Music Partners
- TikTok partners with major and indie labels for music promotion. Consider working with these partners for increased exposure.
2. Create Engaging and Trend-Driven Content
To grow on TikTok, you need to be active and consistent. Here’s what works best:
Leverage Challenges and Hashtags
- Create or participate in music challenges using your song. Hashtags like #NewMusic or #IndieArtist can help reach your target audience.
Collaborate with Influencers
- Partner with influencers who align with your music style. Influencer collaborations can amplify your reach and drive more people to listen to your music on Apple Music.
Share Behind-the-Scenes Content
- Fans love authenticity. Share your creative process, music studio sessions, and behind-the-scenes footage. This type of content builds a deeper connection with your audience.
3. Use TikTok Analytics to Refine Your Strategy
Understanding your analytics on TikTok can significantly boost your content strategy:
Monitor Engagement Metrics
- Pay attention to video views, likes, shares, and comments. High engagement can signal the algorithm to push your content to a wider audience.
Track Follower Growth
- See which types of videos are attracting new followers and focus on similar content styles.
Link Back to Your Music
- Use the link in your bio to direct traffic to your Apple Music page or your artist website.
Synchronizing Apple Music and TikTok Efforts for Maximum Impact
To truly leverage both platforms, integrate the following strategies for Apple Music and TikTok:
Promote Your Apple Music Release on TikTok
- Announce your new releases on TikTok and include snippets of the tracks. Use a pre-save campaign for Apple Music and direct fans to pre-save or stream your music once it’s live.
Create Teasers
- Share a sneak peek of your song or music video. Build anticipation by releasing multiple clips leading up to the release date.
Encourage User-Generated Content
- Prompt your followers to use your track in their own TikTok videos. This not only boosts engagement but also drives more streams on Apple Music.
Utilize Apple Music Insights for TikTok Content Ideas
- Check your Apple Music for Artists data to see which songs are performing best. Use this information to create content on TikTok featuring those tracks.
Highlight Fan Favorites
- If a specific song is gaining traction on Apple Music, focus on promoting it in your TikTok content. Create dance challenges, lyric breakdowns, or story videos around that track.
Analyze Demographics
- Use Apple Music data to identify your target audience. Cater your TikTok content to this demographic for a more personalized and effective approach.
Understanding Royalties
Music and MONEY -- Our favorite things in the world. The talk on "royalty", however, is more complex than ever. That is why we are here to make it simple for you.
Apple Music Royalties
Apple Music pays artists around $0.01 per stream, meaning that for every time a track is played, an artist earns about one cent.
Apple Music's per-stream payout fluctuates based on various factors, such as the listener's location and subscription plan. Regions like North America and Europe, which generally have higher subscription rates, tend to offer better payouts per stream. Conversely, streams from regions with lower subscription fees result in reduced payouts.
TikTok Royalties
To maximize your earnings and success on TikTok, it’s essential to understand how the platform’s royalty system works. Unlike streaming platforms such as Spotify and SoundCloud that pay based on the total number of streams, TikTok calculates royalties based on how many videos feature your song.
Surprisingly, the number of views on these videos doesn’t impact your earnings. Instead, as a music creator, your goal is to have your song used in as many videos as possible—not just a handful of viral ones.
How much can you earn on TikTok?
TikTok currently pays artists $0.03 for each video that uses their song. For example, if your song is used in 1,000 videos, you’ll earn $30.
However, the amount you take home depends on your music distribution service, as each has its own royalty-sharing terms. For instance, CD Baby deducts 9% of your royalties. In this case, you’d receive $27.30 out of the $30 earned.
Pro Tip! — Maximizing Your Earnings
Apple Music
Maximizing your streams on Apple Music is key to increasing your royalty income and aligning with the platform's average pay-per-stream rate. Once your music is live on Apple Music, the next essential step is getting verified. Verification through Apple Music for Artists unlocks exclusive artist-only features, which ultimately allows you to make the most out of the promotional tools available on the platform — an edge to leveraging your marketing strategies in promoting your music.
TikTok
Compose songs with visuals in mind. If your goal is to go viral on TikTok, consider reversing the traditional songwriting process. Instead of writing a song first and figuring out the visuals later, craft music that naturally fits into trending video formats. This approach may challenge your creative norms, but if TikTok success is part of your strategy, think like a filmmaker while you write.
Connect with the TikTok community. Stay active and engaged with your followers and other creators on TikTok. Reply to comments, follow relevant accounts, and join trending discussions. Cultivating a sense of community encourages your audience to interact more with your content.
Leverage TikTok ads. TikTok’s advertising options can help amplify your reach. Explore resources, like tutorials or guides, to learn how to use these tools effectively and maximize their impact.
Collaborate with influencers. Teaming up with TikTok influencers who resonate with your musical style can expand your reach significantly. Partner with creators who share your vibe and see if they’ll feature your tracks in their videos.
Conclusion:
Apple Music and TikTok offer different yet complementary ways for independent artists to grow their fanbase and increase their streams. By understanding how to optimize your presence on each platform and creating a cohesive strategy, you can harness the full potential of both.
Start by building a solid foundation on Apple Music with a polished artist profile and focus on playlist placements. Then, amplify your reach through TikTok by engaging with trends, challenges, and influencer partnerships.
Ultimately, the key to success lies in consistency, authenticity, and a willingness to adapt your strategy based on the insights you gain from each platform. By leveraging the strengths of Apple Music and TikTok, you can build a sustainable and successful music career.
If you need more guidance and have an unwavering intent to connect with like-minded musicians and industry professionals, PressedFresh Collective offers in-depth strategies and personalized mentoring for independent artists looking to take their careers to the next level. Get in touch with us and witness how our resources keep them talking!
