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# How to Connect With Influencers When You Have Zero Music Industry Contacts
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/how-to-connect-with-influencers-when-you-have-zero-music-industry-contacts/
- Published: 2014-11-06T11:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2014-11-06T11:00:00.000Z
- Description: [UPDATED] By Cortney Harding on Sonicbids Blog A few weeks ago, the New York Times ran a profile of theAudience, a firm that connects big brands to social media influencers. Gone are the days. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2014/11/how-to-connect-with-influencers-when-you-have-zer
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: DIY Advice & Tips, Indie Music, Music Business, Music Marketing, Music Think Tank, Social Media, Startups & Funding, Album cover, Artistdirect, Atlanta, Berklee College of Music, Best Thing, Boston, Creative director, Docstoc, Ernest Hemingway, Sonicbids, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:38

[![Influencer](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b7c702353b970b-200wi "Influencer")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b7c702353b970b-popup?ref=hypebot.com)

\[UPDATED\] *By *Cortney Harding* on [Sonicbids Blog](http://blog.sonicbids.com/how-to-connect-with-influencers-when-you-have-zero-music-industry-contacts?ref=hypebot.com)*

A few weeks ago, [*the New York Times* ran a profile of theAudience](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/21/magazine/turning-microcelebrity-into-a-big-business.html?%5Fr=0&ref=hypebot.com), a firm that connects big brands to [social media](http://blog.sonicbids.com/ask-a-publicist-5-social-media-dos-and-donts-for-bands?ref=hypebot.com) influencers. **Gone are the days when a big ad spend or tons of radio promotion was required to break a band** – now, a kid with a big [Tumblr](http://blog.sonicbids.com/5-artists-who-are-nailing-tumblr-and-what-you-can-learn-from-them?ref=hypebot.com) following can move the needle just as much as a spot on TV. But for artists who are just starting out and can’t shell out the big fees that firms like [theAudience](http://theaudience.com/?ref=hypebot.com) charge, reaching influencers can feel like an impossible task. Don’t despair, though – here's how youcan connect with the person who might give you your big break.

## 1\. Determine your target audience

For artists who want to reach a broader audience on social media and target influencers on platforms like Tumblr and [Instagram](http://blog.sonicbids.com/4-tips-to-make-your-bands-instagram-more-engaging?ref=hypebot.com), you need to determine who your target audience is. Saying you want to reach everyone is about as useful as saying you want to reach no one. In a world where niche communities are the future, **you need to pick a few lanes**.

## 2\. Develop your pitch

**Next, take a full inventory of your story as an artist, and make sure to dive deep.** "We’re a rock band" isn’t a great hook, but "We’re a rock band whose lead singer grew up in a Filipino-American household and is connected to that community" – well, now you’re getting somewhere. Think about where you went to school, any hobbies you have, local businesses you love… the list goes on. Then, scour all the [social sites](http://blog.sonicbids.com/5-key-elements-of-a-comprehensive-social-media-strategy?ref=hypebot.com) for any influencers in those communities, and reach out to them with a [targeted pitch](http://blog.sonicbids.com/ask-a-music-journalist-knocking-on-the-right-door?ref=hypebot.com).

## [![Bigstock-Social-media-concept-43274035-e1414174408500](http://a0.typepad.com/6a016766638dee970b01b7c7020648970b-150wi "Bigstock-Social-media-concept-43274035-e1414174408500")](http://a0.typepad.com/6a016766638dee970b01b7c7020648970b-popup?ref=hypebot.com)3\. Be smart about your social media

On sites like Instagram and Tumblr, you can use [hashtags](http://blog.sonicbids.com/5-best-practices-for-using-hashtags-on-social-media?ref=hypebot.com) to grow your following, but make sure to do it in an organic way. **Using every trending tag is a terrible idea,** but if you can connect to a popular tag using content that fits, go for it. And make sure to post and share non-music content as well; you want to make sure you’re giving fans and followers some interesting stuff that isn’t just a series of announcements for new tracks and upcoming tour dates.

## 4\. Take advantage of sites that connect you with influencers

If you’re looking to connect with industry folks, especially producers, try uploading some tracks to [Muzooka](https://muzooka.com/?ref=hypebot.com), then ask friends and fans to vote your track up the charts. The Calgary-based startup boasts an industry panel of heavy-hitters, mostly on the production side, and has helped facilitate collaborations between artists like Long Beach rapper [NameBrand](https://myspace.com/namebrandtheoutspokesman?ref=hypebot.com) and producer [Seige Monstracity](https://twitter.com/SeigeMonstrahs?ref=hypebot.com). Uploading tracks is free.[Fluence](https://fluence.io/?ref=hypebot.com) is another relatively new site that allows artists to upload work and seek feedback from a targeted range of influencers, who can then choose to share the work with their networks. The site works with [bloggers](http://blog.sonicbids.com/start-getting-press-top-5-niche-hip-hop-blogs-for-rising-hip-hop-artists?ref=hypebot.com), [DJs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc%5Fjockey?ref=hypebot.com "Disc jockey"), and editors who specialize in a variety of genres, and artists are allowed to choose who they want to hear their music. Artists pay a small fee to compensate the influencer for their time if that influencer chooses to provide feedback.Reaching influencers can seem daunting task when you’re brand new to the music business, but **with the help of a few sites and the smart use of some social tools, getting started can actually be pretty easy.** We’ve already had [YouTube](http://blog.sonicbids.com/5-reasons-why-people-arent-watching-your-youtube-videos?ref=hypebot.com) stars, Vine stars, and [Twitter](http://twitter.com/twitter?ref=hypebot.com "Twitter") stars – so who knows, maybe you’ll be the next Tumblr sensation.

*Cortney Harding is the director of media strategy for Muzooka and has worked with music startups like [Soundrop](http://www.soundrop.com/?ref=hypebot.com), official.fm, and Gumroad. She is the former music editor and indies correspondent at* Billboard *and has also written for* the [Village Voice](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.7283,-73.9911&spn=0.01,0.01&q=40.7283,-73.9911%20%28The%20Village%20Voice%29&t=h&ref=hypebot.com) *and* Teen Vogue*, among other publications.*

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