Now I know about the events surrounding this tweet after Nip’s passing but I wanted to show an example of a common practice amongst artists who use their platforms to promote other artists and why it’s important. To get love you’ve got to give love and that’s the golden rule when you are looking for support. One of the biggest grievances I hear from artists all the time is that they feel that they aren’t properly supported by their fellow artists. Everyone is not going to reciprocate the support but for the few that do this will help tremendously in the long-run.
Being supportive of other people’s efforts opens the door for other opportunities. Disclaimer: You do not have to support everyone’s albums, singles, videos, and merchandise so only focus on the one’s who deliver products you really like. This can tie into providing value before you even ask for anything in general. It also can put you in a position where you are a curator of other people’s content. Imagine an artist who releases a video you really like and you post a clip of it on your Instagram. What this will do is not only tell people about the artist’s video but it will also look really cool on your Instagram. As your brand grows, you’ll start to notice that your support will come off, or at least it can, as the cosigner a new artist in your city who needs to elevate their brand. That’s a lot of value you are providing.
Promoting another person’s music can also lead to relationship building. Now you shouldn’t over do it as that artist is probably, well, a stranger. If they don’t know you or your intentions you may come off as someone looking for a favor in return. You’re not promoting their music for them, you’re simply telling your followers about great music they should check out. End of story. Anything that arises between you and that artist is a result of your efforts, not the intention. Too many people try to take advantage of this and try to suck people into doing something they would like them to do. A good person is admired not because of what they do, but because of who they are.
Nothing wrong with being a critic and having a high standard in taste in music, in fact it’s highly beneficial. If it takes for someone to make a crazy banger or your city’s next anthem to catch your attention then let your followers know so when someone does make an insane record you posting it will become a co-sign for your followers. I know I’ve already said this but it’s important that you get that this is not necessarily a strategy to entice other artists/producers to get in the studio with you but that this helps your brand more than anything. It creates dialogue and could (keyword) lead to a collaboration.
Once you understand the rules of this game it becomes so much easier to navigate it. The big dogs in this business do this naturally and they’ve left a trail of doing this.
Be like the big dogs.
