Meet Jide, an upcoming artist in the Afrobeat genre from Lagos who wish his works go viral. Jide has talent in abundance, with a unique sound that blends traditional African rhythms with modern beats. Yet, despite his incredible music, Jide’s tracks were struggling to gain traction. He couldn’t understand why his music wasn’t reaching more listeners. After some reflection and advice from industry insiders, Jide realized he was making some critical mistakes that were holding him back. Let’s take a closer look at what Jide—and many other indie artists—are doing wrong and how to fix these issues.
Neglecting Professional Production Quality
Jide recorded his first single in a makeshift home studio. While the track was good, the production quality wasn’t up to industry standards. When listeners compared his music to top-charting songs, the difference was noticeable, and many clicked away. Investing in professional production could have made all the difference.
Inconsistent Branding
Just like many upcoming artists today, Jide’s social media profiles were a mess—different profile pictures, mismatched bios, and random content that didn’t reflect his musical identity. This inconsistency confused potential fans, making it harder for them to connect with his brand.
Ignoring the Power of Social Media Engagement
Jide posted his music regularly, but he rarely engaged with his followers. Fans left comments and sent messages, but Jide was too busy creating to reply. Over time, his audience felt neglected and started to lose interest.
Overlooking the Importance of a Pre-Release Strategy
When Jide dropped his album, he did so without any prior announcement. There was no buzz, no anticipation. As a result, his release day came and went with little fanfare.
Failing to Utilize Data Analytics
Jide had no idea which of his songs were performing well or why. Without data analytics, he was making decisions in the dark, unable to replicate what worked or improve what didn’t.
Skipping Digital Distribution Platforms
Initially, Jide focused only on YouTube and SoundCloud, ignoring other streaming platforms. Like many upcoming artists today he missed out on the broader audience that services like Spotify and Apple Music could have provided.
Not Investing in Targeted Advertising
Jide believed that good music would sell itself. While there’s some truth to that, he underestimated the power of targeted advertising. Without ads, his music struggled to reach beyond his immediate circle.
Underestimating the Power of Networking
Jide rarely attended industry events or networked with other musicians. He missed out on valuable connections that could have led to collaborations, gigs, and exposure.
Being Sporadic with Releases
Jide released music whenever he felt like it, with months between each drop. His fans had nothing to keep them engaged in the interim, and many drifted away.
Ignoring Playlists and Curators
Jide didn’t realize the importance of playlists. He never pitched his music to curators, missing out on opportunities to be featured and discovered by new listeners.
StarHype Recommendation:
Jide’s journey is a common one for many independent artists. To avoid these pitfalls, the Star Hype Plus package provides essential tools like digital distribution, targeted advertising, and feedback from industry influencers. This package helps artists like Jide maximize their reach and ensure their music doesn’t get lost in the crowd. Click here to see the full feature of StarHype Plus.
