If Spotify Didn’t Exist—How Would Artists Promote Music Today?

Other than Spotify, there are multiple ways you can promote your music in this digital world. You can use YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Email list, and more to promote!

Everyone in this world is practically living within a digital world. There is no way to escape social media or the digital world, especially if you are a musician. One thing that places a massive significance on how the digital world controls the music industry is Spotify. It is the biggest streaming platform on the internet. In 2025, Spotify had 696 million monthly active users around the world. When it comes to Spotify Premium subscribers, the numbers are around 276 million.

Why Spotify numbers matter?

So, you can imagine how much impact this platform and its streaming data make on the music industry. Its streaming numbers go toward music charts as well, making decisions on how well your song will be placed on the charts. Let’s understand this with an example.

For instance, if your track earns 100,000 paid streams across platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and other streaming services, the cheats will count that as 1,000 sales. This will be added to your total sales. To reach the same figure with free streams, you would need around 600,000 plays on the streaming platforms, including Spotify. Surely, paid streams carry far more weight when it comes to chart performance and overall sales recognition. But there is strength in free streams, too. This shows how important streaming has become for a musician, especially if you are new to the industry or a rising artist.

But does that mean the game is over if you do not have Spotify? The answer is no. Let’s discuss how you can still be successful in the music industry without Spotify.

1. Musician website

Create a music website with a custom domain so fans always know where to find you online. Your website should serve as a hub with your latest songs, an EPK, artist bio, tour dates, merchandise, and more. You can use it to promote new releases and share your full catalog. You can also use your website to build interest in your listeners in live shows. Though it requires frequent upkeep, a dedicated website is the strongest way to connect with fans and gain direct support for your music.

2. YouTube

YouTube plays a significant role in music discovery. This makes the video streaming platform essential for music promotion. You can upload and share videos on YouTube constantly. This keeps your fans engaged while attracting new listeners. There is also a rise of YouTube Shorts, which offers a way to blend short-form content with traditional music videos. Shorts work exactly like TikTok or Reels, giving you a quick way to grab attention. Once viewers find your channel, they can easily explore your music further and discover your full catalog. If you keep using both long and short formats together, you will be able to build visibility and strengthen fan connections. This also allows you to create more paths for listeners to engage with your musical work.

3. Electronic Press Kit (EPK)

An EPK, or an Electronic Press Kit, is a must-have for promoting your music nowadays. It serves as a professional package that introduces you to media, venues, and potential collaborators. You can create one to support a new release with ready-to-use assets or design it to focus on booking more shows and growing your fan base. A structured and well-designed press kit should include your latest bio, music samples, high-quality photos, performance videos, tour dates, press mentions, social media links, and contact information. This is to keep everything organized in one place, and it makes it easy for journalists, labels, promoters, and fans to learn about your work. This also makes it easy for everyone to support your work.

4. Podcasts

Getting featured on a podcast or landing an interview is one of the most powerful ways to connect with new listeners. Even smaller or local podcasts can introduce your music to fresh audiences and give fans a deeper look into your story as an artist. You might even consider starting your own podcast to promote your music online. This is where you could share updates, stories, or even behind-the-scenes insights about your brand and creative process. Another option is to reach out to existing podcasts for interviews or pitch your songs for features. Take your time to research shows that align with your music style and audience. This further ensures the partnership feels authentic and effective.

5. Email list

An email list is one of the most valuable tools you can build for music marketing. Unlike social media, where algorithms control your visibility, your emails go straight to your subscribers’ inboxes at the time you choose. This direct connection makes email powerful for keeping fans engaged. Even if you do not have new music to release, sending a monthly newsletter keeps your audience updated on shows or projects. Regular communication helps strengthen the bodn with your listeners, creating a loyal community that supports you consistently and is ready to rally when it is time.

6. Instagram and TikTok

If there are any social media platforms other than YouTube that can make such a huge impact on your song’s performance are Instagram and TikTok.

When it comes to Instagram, you get your grid, Stories, Reels, Lives, etc., to promote your music. The platform allows your fans to engage with your content directly, which you can use to build organic traffic on Instagram. This is also the perfect platform to share some funny behind-the-scenes moments or clips of you playing the song. These bring engagement to your grid that you can use to promote your songs.

Similarly, TikTok is another video streaming platform that has quickly become one of the most popular ways to promote music nowadays. Especially popular among Gen-Z, you can release your music directly on the platform, which can be used as audio snippets or sounds. Other than this, you can also create your own short videos with sound to promote your music. 

Conclusion

There are plenty of ways to promote your music even if you do not have Spotify. However, Spotify gives you an easy way to connect with the audience. Moreover, its streams count as sales in music charts. If you are releasing music just for your amusement, then not having Spotify would not make a difference. But, if you want to be successful in the industry, having a Spotify account should be on your priority list!