5 Ways Musicians Can Instantly Improve Branding

In today's digital age, branding has become an essential aspect of the music industry. It's no longer just about the music itself, but also about how it's presented and marketed to the public. A strong brand can help musicians stand out in a crowded industry and make a lasting impression on their audience. Here are five ways that musicians can instantly improve their branding.

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1. VISUAL ALBUM ART (INCLUDING ARTIST NAME)

Album art is a crucial aspect of a musician's branding. It's the first thing that potential listeners see when they come across an artist's music, so it's essential that it accurately represents the musician and their music. Visual album art that includes the musician's name is an easy way to improve branding. It helps people recognize the artist's name and associate it with their music. If you can, be sure to also include a high quality photo of your face. This will help improve that face/name connection even more strongly as you continue ascending into popularity.

EXAMPLE SHOWN BELOW -- Song artwork for Jason Waterfall (designed by King Holder)

2. HIGH QUALITY VIDEO CONTENT

Social media has become a powerful tool for musicians to connect with their audience. Video content is especially effective in engaging audiences on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Musicians should strive to create high-quality video content that showcases their personality, musical style, and creative vision. Include content like BTS in the studio/backstage, interviews, day-in-the-life vlog, and other material that will allow fans to feel more deeply connected. These videos can be used to promote upcoming shows, new releases, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the artist's life. Not only that, but music videos should be of considerable quality as well, as they are a direct extension and representation of your brand.

EXAMPLE SHOWN BELOW -- Music video by Kalan.FrFr

3. CREATE A PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE

A professional website is an essential tool for any musician. It serves as a hub for all of the artist's online presence and helps establish their brand identity. A website should include a bio, music samples, tour dates, and links to social media profiles. It's also a great place to sell merchandise, like t-shirts, hats, and posters. Not only that, but by integrating a sign-up form or newsletter, you can gather the contact information of fans and keep them updated on all new releases, concerts, march drops, and beyond. Owning that data is invaluable when it comes to learning about what demographics make up your fan base.

EXAMPLE SHOWN BELOW -- Website for Sickick Music
 

4. SAYING NAME (OR CATCHPHRASE) IN EVERY SONG

Repeating the artist's name or catchphrase in songs can be an effective way to improve branding. When it comes to the human brain, repetition is the key to memorization. By constantly reminding the audience of your name (ESPECIALLY when being featured on other people's songs), your personal brand awareness will improve. For example -- when you think of Jason Derulo, can't you instantly hear his catchphrase? This is especially true for up-and-coming artists who are trying to build their name recognition. A catchy name drop or phrase can stick in listeners' heads and help them remember the artist's name long after the song has ended.

EXAMPLE SHOWN BELOW -- Jason Derulooooo 🎵🎵

5. USING A LINKTREE

Linktree is a free tool that allows musicians to create a landing page with links to all of their online presence. It's a convenient way for fans to access all of the artist's content in one place. Musicians can include links to their website, tour dates, social media profiles, merch, sign-up forms, and music streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Linktree can be included in social media bios, emails, and even printed materials like posters and flyers when paired with a QR code. The functionality of Linktree is only growing, so it's important to get familiar with this tool now.

Branding is an essential aspect of success in the music industry, and musicians should take steps to improve their branding from the start of their careers. By using visual album art that includes their name, creating high-quality video content, repeating their names in songs, creating a website, and using a Linktree, musicians can quickly improve their branding and stand out in a crowded industry.