What I Wish More Musicians Knew - Tips
- Jun 8
- 7 min read
One of the things I love most about BTN is the opportunity to talk with musicians from all walks of life. Some are releasing their first single. Others are playing festivals, touring the country, and building careers from music they once recorded in a spare bedroom.
Despite being at completely different stages of their journey, I hear many of the same questions over and over again.
How do I get people to hear my music?
How do I grow my audience?
How do I get more gigs?
How do I get noticed?
What should I be doing?
The truth is that most musicians start in exactly the same place. They have a song, a dream, and absolutely no idea what comes next.
The reality is that making music is only one part of being a musician. The rest is learning how to build something around it.
No one starts out knowing how to write media releases, upload music to streaming platforms, create promotional content, pitch radio stations, organise photography, manage social media, navigate contracts, or build a website.
Most of us learn by making mistakes along the way..... many.... MANY mistakes.
That's completely normal.
One of the biggest surprises for many musicians (and non musicians) is just how much work happens away from the stage.
Nobody gets excited about answering emails, updating artist profiles, filling out applications, or organising promotional material.
Yet these things matter. If you're serious about your music, you're running a business whether you realise it or not.
The artists who succeed aren't always the most talented people in the room. Often they're the ones willing to consistently do the work that happens between writing songs.
That work becomes even more important when your music is ready to be released.
Today, independent musicians have more opportunities than ever before. Platforms such as DistroKid allow artists to distribute their music worldwide without needing a major label. Because of this, many emerging musicians focus on releasing singles before committing to an album.
Every single release creates another opportunity.
Another chance to introduce yourself to new listeners.
Another chance to tell your story.
Another chance to experiment with your sound and discover what resonates with your audience.
Don't be afraid to release music and learn as you go. Growth rarely happens while songs sit on a hard drive waiting for the perfect moment.
Something else I see regularly is artists spending months perfecting a song, then only minutes thinking about how they present it.
Artwork matters.
I need to say that again in-case you missed it.
ARTWORK MATTERS.
Before anyone hears your music, they usually see it on social media or as a thumbnail on streaming platforms.
Your cover artwork, promotional images, and branding are often your first introduction to potential listeners.
If you're a newer artist, don't be afraid to put your artist name and song title on your artwork. Think of it as advertising. Every time someone sees that image on a website, social media page, playlist or review, they're learning who you are.
Your performing name is a brand.
That doesn't mean becoming a corporate product. It simply means understanding that recognition takes time. The more consistently people see your name, your artwork, and your message, the more likely they are to remember you when the next song arrives.
Of course, music doesn't happen in isolation.
Some of the best opportunities in this industry come from relationships rather than applications.
Talk to photographers.
Talk to venue managers.
Talk to sound engineers.
Talk to other musicians.
Talk to promoters and festival organisers.
It's hard, I'm personally hopeless in person at gigs as I'm already writing so my mind is elsewhere - but I try and follow up with a message or give out a business card.
But many of the opportunities I've seen artists receive have come from simply being part of a creative community.
Networking doesn't have to be awkward or transactional. It doesn't mean trying to sell yourself to everyone you meet. Often it's simply about building genuine relationships with people who share a similar passion.
The same applies to collaboration.
Recently I was speaking to someone who creates textile artwork and was looking for ways to gain exposure. The first thing I suggested was connecting with musicians as she knows some. Imagine seeing those designs in music videos, promotional photos, live performances, or album artwork.
Creative people grow fastest when they grow together.
Musicians, photographers, designers, visual artists, videographers, writers and content creators all have something valuable to offer each other.
At some point, if you stay in the industry long enough, opportunities will begin to appear.
An agent might show interest.
A manager may offer to help.
A label might approach you.
Those moments are exciting, but they're also the moments when it's most important to slow down.
Read every contract.
Then read it again.
Understand who owns your recordings.
Understand who owns your songwriting rights.
Understand how long agreements last and what happens if circumstances change.
Most contracts aren't designed to trap artists, but many artists sign agreements without fully understanding what they're committing to. Good managers, agents and labels can be incredibly valuable.
However, nobody will ever care about your career as much as you do.
Protect your creative freedom.
Ask questions.
Seek advice.
Never be afraid to understand exactly what you're signing.
Another thing I wish more musicians knew is that self-doubt never truly disappears.
I've spoken with artists performing in front of thousands of people who still question whether they're good enough.
Imposter syndrome is incredibly common, you are not alone.
You'll compare yourself to other musicians.
You'll wonder if you're progressing fast enough.
You'll question whether your music is good enough.
The challenge isn't eliminating those thoughts.
The challenge is not allowing them to stop you.
Trust your music.
Trust your work.
Trust your journey.
And while we're talking about looking after yourself, there's something else that's incredibly important.
You need to remember that YOU are the instrument.
A guitarist can replace strings.
A drummer can replace drum skins.
A producer can upgrade equipment.
But when you're exhausted, burnt out, overwhelmed or creatively drained, there's no replacement sitting in a case somewhere.
You are the instrument.
The music industry can be demanding in ways many people don't realise. Writing songs is only one part of it. There's social media, promotion, networking, applications, photography, websites, streaming platforms, emails and administration. Sometimes it can feel like you're spending more time promoting music than creating it.
Then there's rejection...
The unanswered emails.
The gigs you didn't get.
The radio stations that never replied.
The playlists that overlooked your music.
The opportunities that went to somebody else.
Even when we tell ourselves not to take it personally, it can still wear us down.
Learning to recognise when you need a break is just as important as learning how to write a song.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your music is step away from it for a day.
Go outside.
Spend time with friends.
See a live show.
Switch off social media.
Do something that fills your cup again.
Because if you're running on empty, eventually your music will too.
At BTN we've always believed music and mental health go hand in hand. Behind every song is a person navigating life just like everybody else.
Take care of yourself physically.
Take care of yourself mentally.
Take care of the person behind the songs.
Because without them, there is no music.
Your story matters too.
People don't just connect with songs. They connect with the people behind them.
Your experiences.
Your struggles.
Your victories.
Your journey.
Sometimes a listener doesn't simply hear your lyrics. They hear themselves in them.
Never underestimate the impact your story may have on someone else's life.
The same principle applies to social media.
One of the biggest mistakes I see artists make is releasing a song, posting about it once, and then never mentioning it again.
Most people never saw that first post.
Use your music.
Create content around it.
Talk about the inspiration behind it.
Share live performances.
Show snippets from rehearsals and recording sessions.
Tell people why the song matters.
Promoting your music isn't annoying - It's marketing.
If you don't tell people your music exists, how can you expect them to discover it?
And while you're doing all of that, make it easy for people to find you.
Whether it's a website, a Linktree, a BTN profile, a Triple J Unearthed page, or I'd recommend all of the above and more!
Every pathway back to your music is another opportunity to gain a listener.
Most importantly, don't spend so much time chasing success that you forget to recognise progress.
Your first stream matters.
Your first gig matters.
Your first radio play matters.
Your first review matters.
Your first fan message matters.
Every artist dreams about the big moments, but careers are built from hundreds of smaller ones.
Celebrate them.
You've earned them.
At BTN we're constantly reminded that there is no single path through the music industry.
Some artists build audiences online.
Others build them through live performance.
Some spend years refining their sound before breaking through.
Others build loyal communities without ever chasing mainstream attention.
The common thread is persistence.
The artists who keep learning, keep creating, keep promoting, and keep showing up are usually the artists who continue moving forward.
So if you're just beginning your journey, don't wait until you feel ready.
Release the song.
Tell your story.
Support other artists.
Learn everything you can.
Keep showing up.
And don't let fear convince you that your music isn't worth sharing with the world.
Because somebody out there might need exactly the song you're afraid to release.
By Uncle Tatt — host of “Between the Notes,”
where the goal isn't just making music, but building a life that lets you keep making it.