How Many Streams Do You Need to Get Signed to a House Label?
Streams Matter, but How Much?
It’s no secret that streams as a metric is the big flashy number that everyone wants to grow. But how much does it matter? Well, it depends on the label and the number you are looking at. A song with a lot of streams can help but what labels want to see is consistency. The metric some labels look at is the average monthly streams. The number the label is looking for depends on the size of the label but they want to sign someone who has shown an ability to create an audience and help those artists grow. Smaller labels may look for streams in the tens of thousands and larger labels could look for artists in the hundreds of thousands monthly listeners.
But, on the other hand there are labels that do not look at monthly listeners at all. Instead they focus on the quality of the track and the artist. They want an artist that shows promise and they can help grow with the label’s resources. Each label is different and it is important to do some research on the label and the type of music they focus on. Also, producing the best demo possible will help in getting signed.
How to Increase Monthly Listeners
It can be hard when you are looking to sign to a label but you feel you don’t have enough monthly listeners. It is hard to stand out in a crowded platform like Spotify. There are a couple of techniques that can help give you a boost to start getting repeat listeners.
The first technique is marketing campaigns. These include ad campaigns on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more. Second is the various Spotify campaigns that Spotify offers. A few of these include Spotify Showcase campaigns and Marquee campaigns. If you also prioritize playlist saves in your advertisement campaigns you can take advantage of Spotify’s algorithm. The Spotify algorithm places higher weight on saves and playlist adds in their algorithm than just streams since they are an active action rather than something that can happen passively.
The second technique is using curated playlists. Curated playlists by reputable DJs and creators can get your music in front of people who like the genre of music you create. If you create house or melodic techno music, getting on a curated playlist by someone who is known for that style of music means you get access to an audience that likes house or melodic techno songs.
Find a Label That Fits You
Not all labels are for every artist. There are multiple factors to consider. Make sure you take the time to research the label you are submitting your demo to. Listen to the music they have put out in the past and see if your tracks fit their style. You won’t necessarily know what metric they use when considering signing people to their label. They could factor in monthly listeners or they focus on if the track is something they like. Don’t just send demos to every label you can find, but find labels that you feel fit you and your style of music.
Labels also want to find tracks that they think are either sure bets or that they can help grow. If you have a high number of monthly listeners then you will be seen as more of a sure bet. If you produce a great demo the label might want to take a chance on you to help you produce more great music and help grow their label. Remember, it is in their best interest to help you get more listeners to help the label grow.
How Defined Sound Records Can Help
At Defined Sound Records, we are an independent electronic music label focusing on house and melodic techno. We focus on developing artists with originality and intention and we value those over trends. Our label wants artists to grow and reach audiences they may not be able to reach on their own. We also want those audiences to turn into long-term fans. If this sounds like something you are looking for, submit your demo to us and let us help you grow.
Even if you do not want to sign with us, we can help you reach more audiences and produce the best track possible. We offer marketing services including Spotify marketing and custom marketing services. Also, we provide mixing and mastering services including stereo mastering and stem mix and mastering services. Contact us today and let us help you.