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Artist Community: Promote Your Music on YouTube for EDM Festivals (2025)

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(Post via Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has exploded into one of America’s most dominant music genres, with festivals across the country drawing millions of fans annually. From Chicago’s underground EDM scene to Houston’s thriving electronic music community, EDM artists are finding unprecedented opportunities to connect with massive audiences. YouTube, by far, has always been ahead of the curve in being able to successfully serve as a bonafide platform for cool content creators and EDM artists community alike.
For the artists’ community though, YouTube finds itself in the midst of this roaring upsurge of streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, where one would wonder if YouTube is still as lucrative. The answer is yes, however, the catch really is that if you don’t use the platform in conjunction with your favorite streaming platform (read Spotify), it may not entirely serve the purpose. It’s 2025, and with the rise of virtual event marketing and streaming platforms, the music landscape continues evolving, while you can’t go out there and play live, YouTube has been doing something special for the artist community. YouTube For Artists comes with a super-advanced analytics suite, an exclusive community, and official artist channels.  Read on to know how exactly you can leverage this. 

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Promoting your Music on YouTube

Promoting your Music on YouTube isn’t exactly revolutionary. In recent years, the content-sharing platform has beefed up its incentives for creatives looking to grow a subscriber-base and monetize their music. For the DIY musician, the challenge is rising above that seemingly infinite noise of YouTube content and its pesky algorithms. Here we’ll outline how to make your channel a hub for promoting the biggest music festivals in America and unstoppable, watchable content that the algorithms just can’t keep at bay.

Put Your Best-Flick Forward.

Whether you’re promoting EDM concerts in Chicago or planning to sell jazz fest tickets, your channel should immediately showcase your best work. Have your best or newest music playing at the start of the page or readily clickable. A majority of viewers decide whether or not they’re going to subscribe to a channel in the first 30 seconds of scanning the page. If they’ve ended up on your page then that’s already a great start for you. But now you need to hook them. Have your newest release or most popular upload playing automatically as they enter your channel. That, or have a welcome video that immediately makes the page personable between you and the viewer.

Clear Call-To-Action

You don’t want it to be hard for your viewer to find more of what they like. At the start and end of videos, as well as throughout your profile, make your call-to-action easy to see, and simple to click. The Backlink channel with Brian Dean has a really useful tutorial that explains the “In and Outs” of creating an effective call-to-action as well as tips on all aspects of YouTube strategy. A call-to-action can be linked to your  Instagram, Spotify, and your website ( get one if you don’t have one!).  Also, end your videos with explicit calls-to-action for viewers to leave a comment. Anything that will provoke further engagement among viewers is key.

Keep it Consistent

Whether you’re covering famous music festivals or local events like Arts Beats and Eats 2025, choosing a day and time of the week to consistently upload content will more likely gain you a consistent fan base. Followers and fellow artists from your community are more invested in you if they can rely on you to stick to an upload schedule. You’ve most likely spent a lot of time developing your band or music to fit a certain style. You want the feelings fans associate with that style to transfer over into your YouTube page. Work on developing your page to mirror your music. This could mean creating a layout with video thumbnails and color schemes that match that of your album artwork.

No Returns Without Tags

The tags you choose to represent your videos with will be your first line of attack in ranking among the ocean of YouTube videos. You want to cast a wide net but you also want to be casting it in the right place. Tags are the primary source that YouTube algorithm’s use to place your video.

Your first tag should match the keyword you have chosen to represent your video and should also be included in the video title. If the video in question is your “Music Vlog at the Hollywood Bowl,”  than an appropriate first keyword might be “Hollywood Bowl or “Music Vlog.” For your next view tags, use variations of that keyword. Perhaps “Gig Vlog,” “Vlog,” or “Hollywood Music.” For your final few tags, use general terms that encapsulate the big picture of your video: “live music” or “LA music scene.” For festival coverage, consider tags like “biggest festivals in America“, “EDM Houston“, or “festivals in the United States“ to capture broader searches.

Another way to get your tags working for you is by using the same ones as other popular videos that are similar to your’s. Websites like TubeBuddy and vidIQ allow you to quickly check the tags of high ranking videos allowing you to slap on the same tags for a chance to show up beside them in a search.

 

Keep it Short Lengthy

This isn’t Twitter folks. 140 characters isn’t excessive. In fact, research has shown that writing longer descriptions for your videos actually helps your ranking. 100-200 word descriptions work well, especially when covering topics like RFID wristbands at festivals or streaming vs cable music consumption. This is because the more specific you are, the more YouTube bots have to work with when sorting you for organic searches.

By the same logic, longer videos, usually 8-15 minutes long, rank better. Just by making longer content you are quickly increasing the chances that your video will get more watch time. So if you’re wondering how to turn that 3 and a half minute music video you’re premiering into ideal-length content, get creative. Add bonus content to the ends of your music videos; a behind-the-scenes feature or heartfelt message from you and your band to your followers serves two purposes. It gets that run-time up closer to the sweet spot and it humanizes you and your content, giving fans a connection to you and your band that would otherwise be lost in cut-and-dry music video.

Co-Market

Make this Space a HomeMany YouTubers rely on one another to promote their own channels. Teaming up with other artists, collaborating, or guest appearing in each others’ videos is mutually beneficial when both parties exchange niches of fans and followers. Websites like youbloomConnect make this co-marketing simple by matching you with compatible artists that suit your style and are based nearby. This makes collaboration seamless and if you end up finding a good match, youbloomConnect will even help you to set up gigs with the other artists. Check out our Connect Guide to learn more about everything youbloomConnect can do for artists.

Finally, you want your channel to be more than a glorified playlist; that’s what Spotify is for. YouTube is the perfect platform to show your followers the minds behind the music and to establish a personal connection with subscribers. Feeling a relationship with a YouTuber promises a much higher return rate of loyal viewers between uploads. This can’t be done with a music video alone. Create band interviews, behind-the-scenes gig vlogs, or an informational video. And don’t forget to end each video with some specific call out to your viewers: “Leave a comment about your favorite part of that gig, what band we should collaborate with next,” etc.

If you’re looking for a simpler way to join these networks, check out youbloom Connect and/ or sign up here: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/  where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road.

Getting A Record Label Deal: Musician’s Guide

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(Post Via One of the most important things that artists look for when starting out is a record label. A label is very important to many artists and they always aspire to get one. A record label deal is a great thing to have but is not always needed. This article will start with what labels help out with and then list ways to get a label and how to do things on your own.

Record Labels:

Labels help with so many things. They help you pay for things such as tours, merchandise, and recording. They also help with creating shows and other performers to work with. Labels also help with distribution and marketing. They do a lot of the business side so you don’t have to.

YouTube:

YouTube is a great way to get your music noticed. Record labels go there looking for what’s new and making waves. It shows a lot about you and your music. Live videos will show them how fans and people react to you as well as show your stage presence. Music videos show your artistic side and even what your songs are about. They’re easy to link to and easy to find.

Good Music:

Having good music will intrigue them. You want something that will stick with them and they won’t forget you. The more you make unforgettable music, the more likely they’ll want to check you out. It can’t just be good to you. It has to be good to everyone. Have honest friends listen to your music and tell you what they think about it. Have music that stands out and doesn’t sound like everything else out there. There are popular sounds out there, but you still want to stand out amongst those sounds.

Live Shows:

You never know who’s going to show up to a live show. Labels will sometimes send out their A&R people and sometimes they’ll just show up on their own terms. You can always go to music industry conferences, such as SXSW, or find a local venue that holds industry night shows. There will be some venues who have nights where people from the industry will show up to check out a new artist. Most of the time you will have to bring a significant amount of people in order to just play there.

Contacting Record Labels:

When contacting record labels, you want to make sure you are contacting the right label for you. You want to make sure the label is helping out other artists like yourself and working in the same genre. Always look over the website before sending anything in. It will show you a lot about the company. It will show you what kind of music they work with, who’s on their roster, and how to send your music to them. Every A&R person will have a way they want you to send in music. If it doesn’t say, send them a link to your  Spotify, Bandcamp or SoundCloud. 

If a record label doesn’t respond right away, don’t get give up hope. They are most likely busy with other artists sending in their music and plenty of other things their job requires them to do. After a week or two, you can send in a follow-up email to remind them that you are still out there. Be respectful and understanding when doing so.

Website:

Owning a website is always a great thing to have. It has everything in one place. Links to music, videos, social media, merchandise, and news. Labels will be able to go to one place to get everything they need. There are plenty of domain owning sites out there to help you, you just have to find the right one for you. Like everything, shop around before settling with just one.

Artwork:

Artwork can be anything, it just needs to catch the eye of the people you want. Come up with a logo that is pleasing, eye-catching, and shows what your music is about. It can be very basic or very extravagant. Photos are the next things you need. It can be artsy and help show things about you. Shows how you look and describes the music you produce. Filters help show more than what a basic photograph can.

Independent:

Record Labels are now looking for artists who can handle things on their own. They will be there to help you out, but only after you are signed. They want you to be able to do things on your own before signing and even after signing. You have to know how to get fans on your own, have some music already recorded, and how to handle things that come to your music. Shows how passionate you are about your music and that you don’t have to rely on others to get things done.

Build Relationships:

Relationships are the most important thing in any business. It builds a connection between yourself and the other person. Try to build one with anyone at the label. Be genuine about it. Talk to them about themselves and get to know them. They will be more willing to help you with what you need. Don’t assume they are going to help just because you are being friendly. That should be left up to them. Do this before sending in music, otherwise, it might not work out the right way. Follow them on social media accounts and strike up conversations with them about some of their posts. It may take a while, but it will be worth it in the end. If the company is near you, go in and try talking to them face to face. Keep going in and trying to talk to their A&R person and become friends with everyone in the office, including the receptionist. Sometimes connecting with the first person you see when walking in is the best.

Looking for the right record label takes time and patience. Make sure you are ready before looking for one and have all the details about what you are looking for and what they are looking for. Build relationships and connect with them. Have followers and music to send them. You want to make sure they stay interested and won’t forget you.

Networking and making friends is crucial and takes a lot of work and dedication. If you’re looking for a simpler way to join these networks, check out youbloom Connect and/ or sign up here: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/  where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road. Whether you reach out or decide to do it alone, do yourself a favor: get out more and meet like-minded people. Many of them might not be your next musical partner in crime, but the worst that’ll happen is you’ll have more friends.

About the Author

 Michele Enoch is a music business graduate from Musicians Institute who has managed and promoted bands for years. She is now working on her photography and helping performers advance in their careers. Her passion has always been music and she is exploring all aspects of the industry. Michele appreciates all kinds of music and seeing music in all kinds of environments. She enjoys crocheting hats and toys, reading and writing mystery and horror stories, taking pictures of everything she can, food from around the world, and adorable animals. She is always on the lookout for anything new and exciting.

 

Looking For Agents? Impress A&R Scouts, 5 Tips Right Here

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Band

Performance

This is more than just technical ability and having good music, but the ability to express these things by actually enjoying yourself on stage and playing the crowd. Hyping them up and drawing them in close when it’s appropriate, getting them to follow your energy, and giving them a dynamic and exciting show!
Beyond the music, being on stage is about having presence. Your body language speaks volumes, and if it’s in sync with your music and vibe the performance is that much stronger. Agents love this in performers.

Styling

This is a big part of your image and branding and is a tool for sticking out from the crowd. You can get away with jeans and a hoodie sure, but that’s not memorable. Ultimately it’s the music that’s important, but if your style is in sync with your music and performance it just leaves that much more of a mental impression on agents and anyone who goes to gigs for a living.

Bring A Crowd

Obviously a large part of what an A&R scout is looking for is your ability to pack out a venue. If you’re a small band, try and go for smaller venues, it looks much better to have a small room jam-packed with twenty to thirty people, than a large venue with the same amount spread out. Know how many people you can get to your shows, and go for the venues that relate to that number. You will grow as you keep playing, and as you do, the more likely it is that you’ll play a gig where you’ve got a scout hanging about, and when it happens you’ll want to make sure the room is full of die-hard fans that are there to see you play.

After Show Engagement

The show isn’t over until you’ve left the venue, at least not in the eyes of an A&R Scout. They’ll be watching how you conduct yourselves and manage every aspect of your music, from before you get on stage to how you meet and greet the fans afterwards. If you’re selling stuff that’s great, scouts love a band that takes charge of their affairs, it shows that they’re serious about their music and are thinking of the future. I’ll always remember what my music business tutor told me about merch though, “Don’t ask them to buy your stuff at the end of a set, just say ‘We’ll be over by the bar if anyone wants to chat’, and when they come over, don’t ask them to buy it, if you’re holding it casually in your hand they’re much more likely to ask you about it and buy it as if it’s their own idea. You’re musicians, not salesmen.”
This is a tactic that is tried and tested. People don’t go to gigs to buy merch. But they do go to see their favourite bands, and if you invite them to have a chat, and they’re wondering what to talk to you about, and see your CD in your hands, they’re much more likely to offer to buy it, than if you’re shoving it down their throats. If an A&R scout or an agent(s) sees you selling loads of CD’s, bingo!

Memorable Part of the Set

I had a friend who was in a hard rock band, and he always ended his sets by jumping into the crowd, more often than not he got them hyped up enough to be able to surf them. But even on the nights when the crowd weren’t up to the challenge, finishing a song lyric lying in the middle of the floor with the wireless mic (a very important part of this technique) was a hugely memorable moment of the night, and will stick in an A&R scouts head long after the gig, and he’s forgotten about all the music and clothes and flourishing touches. I’m not saying you need to literally break a leg every time you ‘jump’ on stage. But having something imaginative, or extreme or clever, or whatever little thing it is that suits your style to capture the attention and hook your scout it’s going to work in your favour. (As long as you don’t actually break your leg, I want to stress that, as that can go pretty wrong, and you probably won’t be hearing from the scout or agents if you can’t stand up afterwards.)

Live gigs are a very important part of any musician’s career and the shows should always leave fans desperate for more. Make sure every gig is better than the last, constantly up your game and who knows… you may even find yourself turning the head of your ideal A&R scout and end up working with agents across the board!

Thanks to Laurence Malpass from Music Gateway for this article and Jon Skinner (Music Gateway’s CEO) who  spoke at the youbloom Conference  back in 2014.

Check out youbloom Connect and/ or sign up here: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/  where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road.

Being A Great Lead Singer Is Rough Business: Learn How To Be One

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(Post via Mike Murphy) Fronting a band is no easy task and Mike examines the issue of how to be a great lead singer. Anyone that thinks to be a great lead singer is easy does not understand the skill. Sure, anyone can stand up in front of a band and pose as a lead singer and vocalize in some manner, but that is not what makes them great. Mastering the skill takes developing charisma, timing, having a solid understanding of the material being presented, delivery of the material, and a voice that fits the genre. We have all seen lead singers we have loved and hated. It’s a rough business.

 

How many of us have looked at and listened to a band and evaluated the singer to a higher standard? I think we all have; it is instinctive. Why? I think many people, especially non-musician types, do not recognize being a lead vocalist as a real instrument; like drums, guitars or keyboards. Being the lead vocalist is perhaps the hardest instrument to master! A band can have all great musicians, but if the singer sucks, the overall opinion of the band suffers.

Sure there have been lots of bands who have made it in the music industry without the luxury of a serious and strong lead vocalist. Some last only a short time and have lineup changes. Other bands, adapt the music around the singer’s voice and make it work. I won’t cite specific examples because my opinion may differ from someone else’s as to what is good and what is bad. However, I can think of great punk bands and rock bands that made the music work around the abilities of the singer.

When I evaluate a lead singer’s talents, I first decide how his or her look fits with the band. Let me give you an example. If you are watching a heavy metal band and the singer is dressed like he is in a surf music band, in Hawaiian shirt, shorts and flip flops, I might wonder what is going on. I would be distracted by that personal presentation because it does not fit the genre. I don’t care how good the singer is, he or she is a fish out of water. A singer has to look the part depending on the music being played.

I want to know if the lead vocalist can really sing and/or is singing on key. Granted, different genres have different ways of “singing” the lyrics. I get that, but the important part is how he or she will manage that vocal ability throughout the show. Is he or she going to lose power with their voice or lose it entirely? Singing death metal and pop music are two completely different styles and presenting the vocals are very different. Some would argue that yelling vocals and screaming are not singing. It is expression and singing is just that; expression. Some singing is just more melodic than other styles.

I grade hard on what the lead vocalist is doing with themselves while performing or while the band is playing and they are anticipating the next line. Is the posture good and appropriate for the tune being performed? Certainly, you would not want to see a vocalist presenting an aggressive posture while doing a soft ballad! Turning your back on the crowd is a big no-no in my book. Back away and go get your sip of water, tambourine or whatever you need to do. How much does the singer interact and look at the crowd; not just the people upfront, but the sides, the middle, and the back of the venue? Using the entire venue is critical.

Being a lead singer is definitely not easy. It is very much a skill. Mastering that skill takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Many will fail a bunch of times before he or she finds the right fit and can consistently perform the craft. In many ways becoming a professional lead singer is a survival of the fittest activity. The music industry, especially for a lead vocalist is a rough business. The strong will survive unless he or she has self sabotaging behaviors. That’s a topic for another blog. Happy singing!

About the author
Mike G. has been writing songs for 35 years. He studied voice at United States International University in San Diego California and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Check out youbloom Connect and/ or sign up here: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/  where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road.

One That Will Inspire You Forever: Keith Cullen and His Story

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(Post by Ciara Sheahan)  We’re looking for inspiration around us, aren’t we? Here’s a little something from us to inspire you forever, and more so inspire all independent musicians to truly chase their dreams, they do come true. Don’t believe us? Read on.

Keith Cullen is a singer-songwriter from Dublin who we had the privilege to host at youbloomLA a few years ago.  Keith is the guy who gave it all up to follow his dream. He ran a very successful marketing company with his sister Jennifer in Dublin. They started with nothing and built their business into a profitable operation, bringing them both money, success, and a good lifestyle. So, you’d think all this would make you happy, right ? Well, actually it didn’t.

Keith-Cullen

Keith had a niggle. And it wouldn’t go away. A musical niggle, a yearning to write and perform. That voice in the back of his head that wouldn’t shut up.

A few years previously Keith Cullen had been offered a place in the London School of Music but get this — he didn’t believe in himself enough to pursue the opportunity. He chose the business option instead. In 2010 he decided to let the voice in his head take over. He quit the marketing business to focus on what he really wanted to do. “No regrets, ” he says, “I never wanted to look back on my life and have regrets”.

He started writing again, got a few professional opinions, worked on his voice, wangled a few introductions in the right places, worked the local scene as much as he could. Now as everyone knows, behind every good man is an even greater woman. Keith was blessed in this case as Jennifer took a leap of faith with him. She studied professional management in Dublin and completed her music management studies in London. All whilst juggling the combination of managing Keith, running their Believe Management Company, and rearing her son.

As a result of all their efforts and focus , Keith got a bit of a break. He landed the support slot for Shanyne Ward for three nights at the prestigious luxury venue, The Olympia Theatre in Dublin.

This was his first taste of it. He got involved with festival promoters and played relentlessly at numerous festivals around Ireland. During this stint he worked line ups with acts like Bressie, Keywest, Jack L, Jedward and Ryan O’ Shaughnessy. He showcased his own new material and engaged with his audience. Keith and Jennifer were clever here, because they quickly realised the value of social media. They used the festival platform to build Keith’s substantial social media presence. He has 3,181 friends on Facebook and a Twitter following of over 35,000. That’s a lot of fans. Fans = customers = sales = success = sustainable dream of being a performer.

In the last few years Keith Cullen has been signed by Notting Hill Music in London, he has acquired an agent in the US. He has invested significantly in his videos and self-released singles over that time. He has proven his weight and worth to any prospective labels. He is working his dream-like he worked his business and building from the ground up.

He supported Hozier at The Academy in Dublin, he has several industry legends to visit when he gets to LA. He was part of the Guinness Amplify program and just recently performed for the BBC. He has no illusions about realizing his dreams. He took a big risk. It will pay off, his talent will endure and everyone will ask about his “overnight success”. It’s truly something to be inspired forever. Check him out on www.kcmusic.ie

About the Author
Ciara Sheahan is a self confessed indie rock n’roller. Live music addict, writer, blogger, festival veteran. Native to Dublin, my degree in Journalism is from The University of Sheffield. With a proven track record in business and a creative side that refuses to recede I’m firmly focused on my future in the music/creative industry.

Maintaining some control of your own booking and touring can be made easy for those who choose to hire a manager and those who fly solo through youbloomConnect and/ or sign up here: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/  where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road.