How to promote your music without being annoying or cringe

If you’ve ever posted a song link and immediately wanted to delete it, you’re not alone!

Promoting your own music - whether it’s a single, an EP, or a full-length album - can feel awkward, especially if you’re not the loud or salesy type. But your song deserves a chance to be heard. And there are ways to promote it that feel natural, low-pressure, and still work.

Here’s how to promote your next release without hating the process, and how to actually make it feel like an extension of your creative voice, not a departure from it.

1. Show the process, not just the final product

Instead of only posting the final track, take people behind the scenes.

Share:

• A voice memo from your phone of the first time you recorded the idea

• A screen recording from your DAW while you’re adjusting the mix

• A lyric sheet covered in scribbles

• A clip from rehearsal or a casual jam

• A photo of the room or gear where it was made

• A list of versions or demo names that came before the final one

Photo by Keagan Henman on Unsplash

People connect with the human moments behind the music. Letting them into your process builds interest before the song even drops.

You’re not marketing - you’re storytelling.

It turns your song into a journey fan can follow. They don’t just hear it, they feel like they were part of how it came to life. This kind of transparency also builds trust and long-term interest.

2. Add context in your caption

Don’t just post a link with “new single out now.” It feels rushed, and honestly, forgettable.

Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

Instead, try telling a quick story:

• What made you write it?

• Was it hard to finish? Did it change over time?

• What emotion or moment does it capture?

• What’s a specific memory tied to this song?

• What’s one thing you hope people feel when they hear it?

Even 2–3 honest lines can turn a post into something worth reading and clicking.

The goal isn’t just to inform, it’s to invite.

Stories create emotion. And emotion leads to engagement. The more real it feels, the more shareable it becomes.

3. Link to your website (Not just Spotify)

Let’s be real - most people will stream your song on Spotify. That’s where fans already listen, and it’s usually the end goal. But that doesn’t mean your promo should start there.

Rather than always linking directly to Spotify, consider linking to your website from time to time. This doesn’t replace streaming, it enhances it.

Your site lets you:

• Embed your Spotify player or upload your track along with a description

• Sell digital copies of the track

• Offer links to multiple streaming platforms (for fans who don’t use Spotify)

• Collect email signups while listeners are already engaged

• Add a tip jar or merch store for those who want to support more directly

Spotify plays are still the destination. Your website just gives fans more reasons to care once they land there.

If you’re using Noiseyard, you can:

• Embed or upload your track

• Add a descripiton along with any reviews it received

• Feature your new single in a dedicated section in your Homepage

• Create a pre-order and sell your track

Your website doesn’t compete with Spotify, it supports it.

Instead of only chasing plays, you’re building connection, context, and community around your song. It turns curiosity into connection. You’re not just asking for plays, you’re inviting people to stay. And every visit becomes a potential newsletter sign-up, merch sale, or deeper listener.

4. Keep posting, but keep it real

It’s totally normal to post about your single multiple times, but it doesn’t have to be repetitive or robotic.

Photo by Pritesh Sudra on Unsplash

Try varying your angles:

• Share a behind the scenes detail you haven’t posted yet

• Highlight a lyric and explain where it came from

• Talk about what people have said so far - DMs, reactions, reposts

• Film a short clip playing a stripped-down version

• Post a fan-made visual or quote if anyone shares it

• Mention what you’re working on next and how this song fits in

• Reflect on how you feel now that it’s out

Repetition builds awareness. Variation keeps it interesting.

Together, they make sure your song doesn’t get lost after day one. You’re telling a fuller story with each post, and inviting people to follow along.

Bonus: Share clips from live sessions

Have you ever performed this song before? Or tried it out during a rehearsal or a livestream?

Sharing those clips can be a powerful way to reconnect people with the music in a more raw, human setting.

Photo by Francisco Moreno on Unsplash

Even if the performance wasn’t perfect, it adds depth and emotion to the song’s story. It shows how the track lives and breathes in different contexts, and that you’re proud enough of it to play it live.

• Share a snippet from a past live show

• Post a casual living room or practice session

• Upload a stripped-back version from a livestream

It lets people experience the song in motion, not just polished. That vulnerability is often what helps the song connect.

5. Talk about the song like you would to a friend

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

You don’t have to switch into promo mode. Just be yourself.

Instead of sounding like a press release, keep it grounded:

• "Made this one while trying to figure things out. It stuck with me - maybe it’ll stick with you too."

• "Wrote the chorus in the car, didn’t change it. That never happens."

• "This track makes more sense now than when I wrote it. Hope it hits you the same."

Casual, honest tone makes your music feel approachable and human. That’s what gets people to press play, and remember it!

Here are more tips on how to promote music without being pushy: Music Promotion: How to Promote Your Music in 2025

Final Thought: Make your website the center

Promotion works best when you have a home base, somewhere that collects everything in one place.

Your artist website isn’t just for professionalism. It’s where people:

• Go after seeing your post

• Discover your other songs

• Join your mailing list

• Buy merch or drop a tip

• Get updates outside of social algorithms

• Revisit between releases

It takes minutes to set up - and the impact compounds over time. Every post that links back to your website becomes a way to grow your audience without relying on algorithmic luck.

You don’t have to be loud. You just have to be consistent, honest, and ready when someone clicks through.

Need more inspiration for what to post next? Read: What to Post as a Musician: 15+ Content Ideas