wes-hicks-MEL-jJnm7RQ-unsplash.jpg

Every day, thousands of songs are uploaded to the internet. When you place your track online, it becomes a small fish in a big pond. As an unsigned artist, you need to ensure your creation makes a splash. Therefore, it pays to take time and get your song ready for its grand unveiling. Below, we discuss the steps you should take to get your music ready for the internet. 

Plan Your Upload

Contrary to the belief of many, major streaming platforms like Spotify won't just allow you to place any tracks on their server. They have a stringent policy and many artists have to go through third parties to get their music onto the streaming site. Of course, this involves paying, unless you get signed to a label that will do it for you. 

 

There are a host of companies, like Tunecore, who will do it for you. However, make sure that you are getting the best deal. Many of them also have a strict process that needs to be signed off before you upload to them, so you do need high-quality work before your upload begins. 

 

When the time comes to upload, make sure your equipment and connections are up to the task. While they won't damage your files or tracks, it can be frustrating to start over, particularly when you are dealing with large file sizes and slow uploads. This article on video game bugs from CyberGhost VPN has a useful section on how to check your internet connection and cut down on any bandwidth-heavy operations that may be running in the background. It applies just as well to uploading your tracks as it does to fixing video game glitches and will make the whole operation much smoother. 

Invest in Mixing and Mastering

james-stamler-k3heD_KwH0A-unsplash.jpg

Mixing is one of the most important parts of the music production process. It creates a harmonious blend of all of your instruments and sounds, taking out any clashing frequencies and placing them neatly in the stereo field. If you are not trained in this, then you will need to hire a professional to do it for you.

 

When sending files, you will need to send them as stems. These are the final audio files from each section. For example, you may have one file for electric guitar, one for kick drum, and so forth. They will then EQ the sounds and add necessary effects. 

 

Mastering is the process after this. When your song is played in different formats, it will lose some of the frequencies and blend. For example, downloading it on Spotify will cause compression and file loss, taking certain elements out. Pressing it on vinyl will remove a different set altogether. Therefore, mastering it for the correct format will ensure it sounds great, as the engineer boosts certain things and takes away others. 

Spend on Marketing

It's not enough to spend money producing a track and then drop it on the internet as an unsigned artist. That creation is a way to build a fan base, and you need to market to them aggressively. Make sure you set aside a portion of your budget for quality marketing. You may wish to hire a social media company or pay for ads online. 

 

With these tips, not only will your track sound great but it should have the correct impact. With some fine-tuning and planning, you may just be the next viral sensation.