Authentic Growth: How to Make Stuff Happen For Your Music

When you want to make stuff happen for your music - followers, streams, placements… 

I find this simple 3 step formula works well:

Outlet: Pick a place to share

Output: Make stuff to share there consistently

Outreach: Send messages to connect with people

Everything pretty much boils down to that.

Here’s 3 quick stories from how I used this over the years. 

I didn’t think of this at the time - it’s only in reflection that I simplified it to this formula. 

EXAMPLE 1: Artist

In 2012 I felt like I was making music good enough to share. I wanted to reach people and see what happened.

Outlet: YouTube 

Output: Once a week

Outreach: Replied to every comment, sent emails to promotion channels, radio stations, blogs

Result: Millions of plays, 2 indie awards, connected with people who appreciated my work - had a couple get married to my music, and was mailing handwritten thank you notes and homemade CDs to followers.

EXAMPLE 2: Career

In 2015 I was serious about trying to make music my income. I stumbled into an opportunity in Stock Music and went really hard on it with a business partner. 

Outlet: AudioJungle (stock music website)

Output: 3-8 tracks a month on average

Outreach: Post on the forums, send emails to libraries and other publishers to expand opportunities 

Result: A catalog of hundreds of tracks earning royalties, connections with libraries offering opportunities, and a “music used by” list featuring lots of big names. It built the foundation to a life sustained by music.

EXAMPLE 3: Public Creator

In 2022 after years of behind the scenes work, I wanted to build a new outlet to connect with people and create a spot to explore my own creative voice again.

Outlet: Instagram

Output: 3 posts a week / then 1 a day

Outreach: Reply to comments, send DMs to followers

Result: 50,000+ followers, 1:1 students, a MIDI pack, a course, and connecting with people in a way that felt meaningful. I even stumbled into a writing credit with KSHMR.

So if you’re at the place where you wanna “make something happen” for your music, I hope this little formula helps!

I’ve helped students brainstorm this during lessons if you wanted to work on it together.

Avery