Knowing your audience: How artists can use market research to improve their marketing strategy

As a music artist, you may have already realised that creating great music is just the beginning. Marketing is crucial to getting your music and building a loyal fanbase. Market research is an essential tool that can help you understand who your audience is and what they want. 

This article will explore how music artists can use market research to learn more about their audience and improve their marketing efforts.

Utilising surveys for market research

Market research is essential for music artists to form effective marketing strategies. Surveys are a great way to gather real-time data and get valuable insight into your target audience.

When setting up a survey, Google Forms, Typeform, and Survey Monkey can be helpful tools to help you create effective surveys quickly and easily. Once the survey is complete, sharing the link with the right people is essential. Start by engaging in conversations with friends and family, then focus on those that are most engaged.

After that, you can begin sharing the link via social media platforms, email marketing campaigns, and direct messages to get more feedback. To avoid spamming your audience, focus on starting conversations and maintaining an open natural dialogue.

By using survey tools and gathering data from listeners and potential fans, music artists can better understand their target audience and use this data to form an effective marketing strategy.

Creating a survey to understand your audience

When creating your survey, it is essential to ask questions that will give you a better understanding of your audience.

Here are some questions to consider for your survey:

• How did you first discover my music?
• What is your favourite song of mine, and why do you like it?
• What other music/artists do you listen to that are similar to my style?
• How often do you attend live music events/concerts?
• How do you typically discover new music?
• What social media platforms do you use most frequently?
• Would you describe my music as more upbeat/energetic or introspective/emotional?
• What age range do you fall into?
• Are you more likely to stream and purchase music online or in a physical format (e.g. vinyl, CD) for artists you like?
• What other hobbies or interests do you have that are related to music?

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Monitoring survey submissions and analysing your results

After sharing your first survey, it is essential to monitor the submission and results of your survey regularly. Doing so will help you identify any issues and ensure you receive accurate data. Your goal is to get the information you need for your market research.

Once you have collected and analysed the responses, use the information to inform your marketing strategy. For example, if your survey results reveal that your audience is most active on Instagram, focus on creating engaging content for this platform.

Or, if the majority of your audience prefers streaming music over physical formats, prioritise promoting your music on streaming platforms. Regularly monitoring and using the data from your survey will help you stay connected with your audience and improve your marketing efforts.

Use this information to improve your marketing strategy, such as targeting specific social media platforms your audience uses most frequently or incorporating their favourite songs into your live performances.

By using online survey tools, asking the right questions, analysing the results, and using the information to improve your marketing strategy, you can build a loyal fanbase and grow your career as a music artist.

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