The un:hurd blog

Notes from the independent music industry.

Guides, success stories, product updates and honest writing on releasing, promoting and growing your music — straight from the un:hurd team.

LATEST

Fresh writing

News

Chily Cruz Wins a Grammy-Nominated Mix

This artist has won the chance for his next song to be mixed by an engineer who's shaped the sound for global icons like The Weeknd and Jay-Z, contributed to massive blockbusters like Morbius and Fortnite, and brought shows like Game of Thrones to life with his audio magic.
June 18, 2025
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News

Win a Pro Mix with a Grammy-Nominated Engineer!

One lucky un:hurd artist is gonna win a pro mix package from the legendary Jason LaRocca, a 2x Grammy-nominated engineer and mixer. Yeah, you heard that right.
April 25, 2025
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Guide

Music Release Planning: How to Structure Your Rollout With Planning Cycles

Plan a music release backwards from Spotify's 7-day pitch deadline. How un:hurd's Planning Cycles order your release tasks around your time and goals
February 5, 2025
Guide
Guide

Why You Should Upload Alternative Versions of Your Song to TikTok

By uploading alternative versions of your song to TikTok, you make it more versatile and appealing to different types of creators and fans. Here’s how you can use this strategy to boost awareness and engagement for your music.
February 5, 2025
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Product Updates

Refresh Your Streaming Profiles

According to Spotify 90% of fans interact with an artist’s profile in some capacity, so it’s important to make use of all the features available to you and you refresh your profiles in-line with your release.
January 29, 2025
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Guide

How To: Use TikTok to Hype Your New Release

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use your new TikTok Sound to reach more fans for your latest release.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

How to Write a Pitch for Editorial Playlist Placements

In this guide, we’ll look at some best practices, pointers and some examples of pitches for editorial playlist placements for Spotify and Amazon. This is the only way you’re able to reach editors without a label or a distribution partner.
January 29, 2025
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Guide

Find the Right Press Targets for Your Music

You need to reach the right people. This means finding the blogs, radio stations, and playlists that are most likely to connect with your music and your audience, as well as putting you alongside influential artists
January 27, 2025
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Guide

Choosing the Right Distributor for You

It'’s essential to sign up to a distributor as a musician. There are a number of options to choose from and each distributor works in a slightly different way, offering different services and membership tiers. 
January 29, 2025
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Guide

How To: Build Your Community Using TikTok Comments

One of the simplest yet most impactful ways to do this? Engaging with their comments. When you take the time to reply, you’re not just acknowledging their support; you’re creating a two-way relationship that fosters loyalty and a stronger fanbase. Here’s why it matters and how to do it effectively.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

How To: Use the Right Part of Your Song for TikTok

TikTok is a powerful tool for promoting your music, but success on the platform often comes down to one key decision: choosing the right part of your song for your TikTok Sound.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

How to Claim Your TikTok Artist Profile

Having a TikTok Artist Profile is essential for artists seeking to maximise their reach potential and engage with fans in innovative ways. This guide will lead you through the benefits of an Artist Profile and the process of claiming it.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

Apple Music Set Up Best Practices for Artists

Apple Music is a major player in the music streaming world and you must set-up your profile professionally before sending any fans to your profile. Here's a breakdown of how to optimise your presence from day one.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

YouTube Set Up Best Practices for Artists

YouTube is a fantastic platform for discovery, and if you set it up correctly it can make all the difference to amplifying your reach and impact. Here’s what you should do before sending fans to your channel.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

Amplify Your Music: A Guide to Spotify's Marketing Tools

Spotify's suite of tools is designed to help artists reach new listeners, engage with existing fans, and track the impact of their music. Let's explore how to make the most of these features.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

Why Artists Should be Creating Their Own Playlists

Creating your own playlists can boost your visibility, connect you with new listeners, and even strengthen your relationship with your existing fanbase. Think of it as crafting your own sonic world, a curated collection of tracks that reflects your musical tastes and influences.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

How To: Craft the Perfect Artist Bio for Spotify and YouTube

An artist bio is the first impression to your fans. It's a chance for you to connect with your audience authentically, share your story, be vulnerable and have your profile stand out. This will guide you through it.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

How to Claim Your Artist Profiles on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music & More

Claiming your artist profiles on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer not only enhances your visibility but also lets you manage your content, track performance, and connect with fans
January 24, 2025
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Guide

How To: Post Consistently on Social Media as a Musician

Keeping up with social media can feel like a full-time job, especially when you’re trying to stay consistent. The secret? Plan ahead and build up a library of content so you’re always ready to post.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

An Artist's Guide to Finding Your First 100 Fans

From our 25+ years of industry expertise, we put together this concise guide to provide you with the core steps for creating and growing an authentic fanbase from scratch.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

How To: Book Gigs as a Musician or Artist

Booking gigs is both an art and a science, essential for any musician aiming to build an audience and make a mark in the industry. It is also key if you want to start earning and making a living from music!
February 21, 2025
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Guide

How To: Build a Superfan Strategy 

This blog will guide you through practical strategies to nurture and celebrate your super fans, turning their loyalty into a mutually rewarding relationship.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

How to Build Artist Communities on Discord, WhatsApp, and Instagram Broadcast

Creating communities for your fans can help you connect and build relationships with them. Let’s have a look at how you’d create a community on each platform.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

How To: Use Video to Boost a Song Release Campaign

Whether it's an engaging music video or a captivating lyric video, the right visuals can transform your campaign. Dive into this guide to discover how different types of video content can elevate your music release and leave a lasting impression.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

The Power of Promo Shots For Artists

In music, compelling visuals can make all the difference. Here's how to make the most of your promo shots and where they fit into your marketing strategy.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

The Importance of Typing Up Your Lyrics

Well-documented lyrics ensure your music gets found and played. They're also vital for industry pros looking to sync your tracks. Here's why and how to format your lyrics for maximum impact.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

How to Finalise Your Content Pillars as an Artist

Having a content strategy is a powerful way to engage your audience, express your artistic identity, and grow your fanbase. This guide will help you confirm your pillars moving forward.
January 24, 2025
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Guide

10 Social Content Ideas for Artists and Bands in 2025

We’ve written this guide to spark your creativity and get your content flowing again. Whether you’re new to the content game or looking to freshen up your strategy, here are ten content ideas to inspire you.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

How To: Build a Mailing List for Musicians and Bands

For artists, building and maintaining an email list is vital to keeping your audience easily informed about your work. With direct communication, you can update your fans without relying on third-party platforms who own your data.
February 21, 2025
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Guide

How to Tell If Your Fanbase Is Actually Growing: Turning Streaming Data Into Growth

Learn which streaming numbers show real fan growth, how to read Spotify for Artists audience segments and how to turn your data into your next release plan.
January 24, 2025
Guide

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