Much music happened in 2024
We are heading toward the end of 2024 – and wow, what a year it has been. To list but a few music-centric things that occurred within the last 12 months:
^Country music exploded – Beyonce and Post Malone released country records and Morgan Wallen had a #1 charting album.
^Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” became a smash hit.
^Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan were the breakout artists of the year.
^ The Drake/Kendrick Lamar feud escalated into some legendary diss tracks.
^Charli XCX’s “Brat” went viral.
^One Direction’s Liam Payne died at age 31.
^Taylor Swift’s ERAs tour came to an end – in Vancouver.
^This was the biggest year for women in global songs chart history, with 39 of the top global songs coming from female-identifying artists.
What do you want to tackle (musically speaking) in 2025?
As the year winds down, what are some things you’ve accomplished this year, and what are the things you want to tackle next year? One pro tip I always share with artists is to end the year with some goals. Even if you don’t complete all of them, it’s great to have something to work toward. Here’s a few suggestions to get you thinking…
A fresh start with endless possibilities!
- Collaborate with another artist. Take that leap of faith. It could end up being something, or nothing at all. It could end with a great song or just be an amazing learning experience. Regardless, it’s a bold, brave, scary thing to do. Accept that challenge!
- Work on your social media calendar. Consistency is key when it comes to social media, and it’s hard work to keep your audience engaged. It’s not easy to remain creative and fun, especially when you’re not always feeling particularly creative or fun. Developing an editorial calendar will help keep you on track and will also provide a log of sorts for you to look back on.
- Make this the year you reward your loyal followers. You know those people who have been with you since Day 1? Create some exclusive content for them. Whether it’s a special song for a core audience, a video or even a short online acoustic set with a curated list of guests, it will get people talking AND it’s a nice thing to do.
- Teach Yourself Something New. What don’t you know? How to play the ukelele? How do distribution deals work? What type of budget do you need to film a live show? Make it your business to learn something new that you never thought you’d have to be knowledgeable about. It will feel so good when you succeed at it!
- Create a Timeline. Whether you’re a solo artist or part of a band, creating a timeline on how you see the next year is a super-smart thing to do. If you’re in a band, it’s a smart thing to get on the same page as your bandmates. Maybe one really wants to do a regional tour, and another wants to play local showcases to build a story. It’s smart to talk about what you want out of the next 12 months. If you’re a solo artist, you can do the same to motivate yourself, or, and if you have a team, something to get their views on.
- Stay Inspired. Listen to one new song a day. Pick one artist to listen to all week long. After 7 days, chose a new artist. Go to one live show a month. Chose a radio station and listen to it every day. I bet within 4 months you will be shocked by how much you’ve been influenced.
- Enter Play MPE’s indie artist incubator – Caster Emerge! Here is your chance to get your music heard by top curators in the music industry. Anyone can enter, with ten artists selected and then promoted to radio, media, and industry pros across North America. Of those ten, the two artists who receive the most curator engagement & airplay will win music promotion packages, radio tracking, and guidance from our Music Industry Relations team for 3 singles each! This is an amazing opportunity for an unsigned artist or band to reach top tastemakers. Click here to learn more about how you can enter.
Get noticed by leveraging release cycles
One last “tip” – January-March are great times to release new music if you’re an independent artist, so take advantage of that stat and put something out! Major labels typically don’t rush out releases after their busy fourth quarter, which could give you an edge. Whatever you decide to do, music-wise, stay true to you. We will be right here, waiting to hear you on the radio!