So, you’ve downloaded the FanLabel app but need to strategize to create a winning fantasy label. You’ve heard some fire songs, but maybe they’re not always earning you those virtual Royalties you hoped for. It turns out there are a lot of factors that drive how many streams a song gets, not just the quality of the song itself.
Below is an example of the FanLabel Five™, the five songs provided to you within each genre each day, and from which you pick the one you think will stream the most that day.
Here are some tips on how to make smart picks for your fantasy label….
How large is the artist’s social media following?
As you can read in our article on artists interacting with fans on social media, a strong social presence plays a large role in the growing popularity of a song. This allows artists to share songs directly with their followers. Their followers in turn visit streaming sites to listen in.
The loyalty of an artist’s fans also has a large impact on a song’s total streams. If an artist is doing a great job of interacting with fans and keeping them updated over social sites, that artist has a high likelihood of holding a special place in their fans’ music libraries.
For example, Ariana Grande is usually active on Twitter every day interacting with fans. She has a whopping 61 million followers on the platform. Before choosing your daily picks, make sure to keep in mind how large and dedicated of a following an artist may have. This is an element that has a great impact on streaming numbers.
Are they known internationally?
Some artists are on top of the game in their home countries, but those international acts who cross borders have even greater power when it comes to streaming numbers. A couple indicators of an artist’s worldwide influence is if they have a multilingual discography, or if they’ve embarked on international stadium tours.
A few of these noteworthy international acts include Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Luis Fonsi, Adele, Rosalia and Pitbull. Having a repertoire that appeals to a wide range of audiences or having performed for multiple crowds of thousands across many countries is sure to rake in the streams.
Is it a collaboration with another popular artist?
A song recorded with multiple artists is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. According to an article by DistroKid, the number of songs uploaded to the distributor with a collaboration doubled over the course of only two years (2015 to 2017). Not only is this trend on the rise, but a collaboration also means that multiple fan bases are coming together to stream a song.
Does it have a music video?
Not only do music videos provide a visual for listeners to attach to a song, but they also allow for artists to show off their personality. It gives the artist a chance to tell a story and establish their brand. Not only are fans streaming a song itself through the music video, they’re also viewing an important element in an artist’s era that they may relate to and discuss with other fans. In the digital age, it’s more important than ever to provide audiences with engaging content that captures their attention. This is one factor that’s sure to bring in streams.
Have you heard the song on the radio?
In the age of streaming, radio doesn’t hold the same reputation it did even five years ago. However, research shows that it still plays a large role in music promotion.
According to Nielsen, 98 Percent of U.S. adults listen to radio every week. Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” was 2017’s song with the most radio play. It also happened to be the second most-streamed song that year. When you hear the song on the radio, that’s an indication that people are going to have that song in mind and will be more inclined to also stream that song. That could be a factor in the songs you pick.
Be sure to keep these tips in mind as you continue your contest-playing in the FanLabel app to improve your gameplay!
