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Here’s something to keep in mind if spending hours pouring over sub-genres is piquing your desire to abandon the effort and turn on the TV… There are almost definitely artists in your sub-genre who are even better than you at using metadata and other digital tools to maximize their discoverability. That kind of specificity really helps you access the truest fans your band might ever collect. If you use the tag “blues punk” there may only be a handful of bands in that community, but their fans are probably hardcore blues punks. Tag your primary genre first, but then try and define the most accurate sub-genres your music fits into. General tagging casts a wide net, but specificity helps you zoom in on the communities that really matter to you. So it’s important to talk about your genre as clearly and specifically as you can. But remember that genre is very subjective, and with general search terms such as “blues,” “rock,” and “pop” you’re almost guaranteed to be lost in a sea of options.
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General tagging of your typical blues-related search terms will help get your tracks in front of the eyes of blues lovers right at the moment they’re looking for new music to put on. It’s only natural that you strive to attract an audience that loves the blues. + Read more: “How to Make Sure Your Band Is Discoverable Online” So here are some pointers if you’re like me and are kind of lazy about maximizing your search terms. Tagging is also the easiest way to force-associate your work with those who influence you, and communities to which you want to gain access.
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And beyond people literally engaging with the tag links, tagging feeds information into Bandcamp and SoundCloud’s search and discovery algorithms that help the sites feed your music into the ears of the fans who most want to hear it - people with a demonstrated history of loving just the kind of music you make. And fans use tags to explore new bands similar to their favorite artists. Labels might peruse tags to find bands that fit their sound. Bands exploring tags to categorize their own music will often discover similar local acts they can perform or tour with. DJs, music supervisors, and radio hosts, as well as their interns, use tags all the time to find extra tracks to fill playlists or sets, score video projects, and pitch to clients. The truth is tags work incredibly well, and can (if used properly) have a massively positive effect on how people discover your music. And if I’m going to be on the site anyway, why not take advantage of every opportunity the service offers - not just to share new content with my existing fans, but to make my new recordings as discoverable as possible?! But, like any other kind of metadata out there on your band, tags are a simple and important tool in helping potential fans find your music.Īs a musician with quite a few active projects, I use Bandcamp every single month to upload new tracks, albums, and live recordings. I'm not someone who regularly uses tags to discover new music on discovery platforms such as Bandcamp and SoundCloud, so I often forget to or let laziness overcome my ability to tag my own music to make it more searchable. Guest Post by Jeremy Young on Soundfly's Flypaper