Bypass: Music Industry News for Independent Artists

Wednesday edition - 2 min read

This is the first edition of Bypass—our new 2-minute news brief for independent artists.

TikTok Goes All-In on Music Discovery

What's Up

TikTok just launched its first global music campaign, “See Where Music Takes You.” Pretty sure this has nothing to do with the ban coming up in mid-September (cough, cough).

So What

Regardless, TikTok is betting big on music discovery. They’re showcasing artists like Ravyn Lenae, who was able to amass 500 million streams using their platform. Basically, TikTok is saying, “Use us before we’re gone.”

Now What

This is what you need to do: post your music snippets daily to exploit the algorithm. Features like “Add to Music App” allow users to easily save your songs to platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. This way, you can turn those viral moments into actual money.

[Full story at Digital Media News]

Spotify Wants to Be TikTok (But Baby Steps, Please)

What’s Up

Is it me, or does every app want to be social media these days? Spotify just launched DMs as a way to “drive hype” (I mean, it took you long enough).

So What

When you think about it, this could help indie artists stay connected with fans about new music. Except Spotify is only rolling out DMs for fan-to-fan communications right now (yay). An artist messaging feature might be the next logical step for their promised “Superfan plan,” though, but no promises on timing.

Now What

In the meantime, start planning your DM strategy in case artist messaging does roll out. Study how other artists use Instagram DMs and Bandsintown messaging. Don’t forget your email list; it’s one of the best ways of reach fans directly.

[Read more on Hypebot]

Your Merch Orders Just Got Complicated

What's Up

Merch sales just hit a wall. Bandcamp warns users that some international carriers are pausing shipments to the US because of tariffs.

So What

Physical sales are stuck, but digital isn’t. The shipping freeze could actually push more fans to instant downloads and streaming. When fans can't wait for vinyl, they'll pay for the digital instead. That way, you can get sales right now - not to mention better margins.

Now What

Take advantage of digital sales. Also, check with international suppliers about shipping timelines. If the timeline drags out, consider switching to domestic fulfilment until things clear up.

[Full story at Digital Music News]