How to promote your music for free to get more exposure
Trying to break into the music industry as an underground artist can feel like an impossible battle. With so many different styles, talented musicians, and the fight for audiences' attention, getting your music heard requires more than just dropping songs and hoping for the best. You need a plan, goal and strategy. Whether you’re a rapper, singer, or producer, doing smart promotion is the key to building a loyal fanbase and turning your music skills into a sustainable career. The perception among many new artists is that they need a major label to really make an impact as an artist. But this is far from the truth; many very successful artists started with zero connections and built their audience through consistency, using free services, and posting strategic promotion. By focusing on the right methods, you can create a buzz and excitement surrounding your music, reach new listeners, and grow your brand organically. In this blog post, I’ll break down three free most powerful ways underground musicians can get more exposure and take their careers to the next level.
Instagram reel & Tiktok
One of the fastest ways underground artists are blowing up today is through short-form content on social media like Instagram Reels and TikTok. These platforms thrive on viral content, and many artists have skyrocketed their careers by consistently posting engaging videos. Many of your favourite upcoming artists have leveraged TikTok and Instagram Reels to turn their songs into viral hits. These social media platforms are designed to reward creativity, consistency, and engaging content. There is simple searchable information like knowing the best times to post can make all the difference. As well, posting everyday and engaging with your audience daily will grow your insights and allow for you to get a bigger reach. The more content you put out, the better the algorithm understands your content and starts pushing your videos to the right audience and potential to go viral. Don’t be discouraged if your first few TikTok or Instagram Reel posts don’t blow up and go viral. The algorithm works in your favor over time, especially when you experiment and learn what content of yours actually works. Posting regularly at the best times to post increases your chances to go viral. That one Instagram Reel or TikTok could be the post that helps you go viral, bringing new fans, streams, and even label attention. Building a fanbase on TikTok and Instagram Reels is more than just chasing what is trending, it's about building a community. These platforms let you connect with fans in real time. This is the perfect form of promotion as you don’t need a massive team, you literally just your phone and an idea. When you consistently show up, you’re more likely to go viral and grow a loyal fan base that supports your music journey. By making Instagram Reels and TikTok a core part of your strategy, you're able to grow and build a loyal fan base of real supporters!
Self promo Discord music servers
If you're an artist looking to get your music heard, another great free method is joining a music server on Discord. Servers like Drew’s server, Plaque Boy Max’s server, and Kai Cenat’s server all have dedicated self promo Discord channels where artists and creators can share their tracks, connect/network, and grow their fanbases. A music server isn’t just about dropping links to your music and trying to only grow yourself. Rather it’s about connecting with other passionate musicians, getting real feedback, and finding new fans. In these self promo Discord spaces, you can interact with different creators and collaborate from all around the world. Also you can even catch the attention of bigger influencers who own these discord servers and could potentially share your music with a wider audience. Whether you're a new artist, up-and-coming artist or an established one, being active in a music server can help you gain so much organic traction. That is why take full advantage of self promo on Discord music servers, as this is a free opportunity to get your name out there and build a strong community around your own sound!
Shopify Playlisting
Another powerful tool for gaining more exposure is Spotify playlisting, especially if you're part of the underground music scene. Spotify playlisting is the key to many artists' success because unlike the other methods when you get your song into a playlist you don't have to convert the audience to the song as they already are listening through the playlist. One of the best ways to do this If you’re on a computer, is doing smart research on how other artists are getting discovered. First go to an artist’s page of someone who makes a similar style or same genre as you and scroll down to the “Discovered On” section. This shows the Spotify playlists that are currently driving traffic to that artist’s music. This is a hidden gem for anyone in the underground music scene trying to grow. You can click on each playlist, check who curates it, and sometimes you’ll find they accept submissions through Instagram, email, or other platforms. Although some of these playlists cost money, some are completely free. This is a great way to find real Spotify playlisting opportunities that are already working for similar artists. As well there are Spotify playlist checking websites that will check for bots or suspicious activity on these playlists. So if you're grinding in the underground music scene, this method can help you get real listeners to your Spotify page with no guessing, just some research and smart moves.
Publisher: XNocturnal
Published: February 24th, 2025