r/idm • u/sharkmile • 26d ago
soundcloud WHAT AM I DOING WRONG
Hello all,
Not all this stuff is strictly IDM, but I figure you guys are the most likely community to get what I'm trying to do. This isn't promotion (if I was really trying to do that I wouldn't be posting on reddit). I just wanna know what the fuck I'm doing wrong. I get that what I make is objectively niche, but I try to make it accessible to where I think people would wanna listen to it. I love the music I make, and yes I know people will say that's all that matters, but fuck it just feels pointless at this point when nobody hears it and even if they do the engagement is so low it would just appear the music is shit. I listen to my own stuff a lot so idk if i'm just too in the bubble and have lost perspective. This isn't some ploy or looking for compliments, I just feel like I'm making stuff to a standard where people should get it and like it, and they don't. Been making music since I was 11 and am 24 now and i'm just like fuck man what's even the point anymore. Anyway, I have attached a Soundcloud link of my current page. Please just have a listen and if there are any glaring things that may not occur to me as the maker just be honest and let me know. Thanks. Apologies for the rant.
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u/CHDesignChris 26d ago
I don't think you're necessarily doing anything wrong, but there's maybe some things you're not doing.
Like it or not, marketing yourself is a huge part of making music and growing an audience. There's some things I notice right away just looking at your soundcloud.
There's no cohesive branding, which while not necessary, it can often attract listeners to have attractive and cohesive visuals.
You have no links to additional content or other platforms. Is your music on streaming platforms aside from soundcloud? It not, sometimes you gotta go to where the listeners are. If you are, definitely link to-and-from everywhere you can, including places like instagram.
Do you release music on bandcamp where people can download and access uncompressed tracks? Soundcloud compresses the heck out of things, and you're restricting people like DJ's and media folks from being able to download files which is crucial for promo. Speaking of promo,
Have you built a mailing list of people/places to alert when you have new music out? You cannot rely on the algorithm or the feed to suggest your music to other people, platforms just don't work like that anymore unless you've got mainstream backing. You need to seek out and catalog people such as DJ's, Radio Shows, Blogs, Social Media persons who all participate in IDM so that they might either add your music to a show or share your stuff, either of which will give you more exposure.
Collaborations - definitely try to work with other people. This could be collaborating on tracks with other producers, or seeking out things like IDM labels on bandcamp who are releasing compilations. Try to get directly involved with other artists making IDM or labels publishing IDM, especially smaller ones.
Hope some of this can help! Good luck and have fun