FORGET your new music for a moment.

Artists spend an inordinate amount of time on their new projects.

It’s your OLD music that has the key to building a fanbase.

Old music, otherwise known as the “back catalog” has a treasure trove of valuable insights.

Yes, it has something that your new music lacks…

Data

By analyzing your analytics, you can identify which older songs are getting the most streams & traction.

This data isn’t just numbers.

It’s a guide to understanding what resonates most with your audience.

When new fans discover you, they may feel overwhelmed by the volume of music available.

Use this as an opportunity to guide them to your most popular songs—those that data shows have already connected with listeners.

(Spotify already shows listeners your most popular tracks. But  presumably only you can see across all your artist profiles on various platforms.)

Create a Top 10 list for your new fans

When someone discovers your content for the first time, it’s an opportunity to guide them through the journey.

You could have a place on your website that says:

“Are you new here? Start here. These are my top 5 most popular songs.” (or whatever your artistry is)

Post this to your socials so people know where to start when experiencing your art.

This not only directs new listeners to your most acclaimed tracks but also encourages them to delve deeper into your catalog.

Making it easy for fans to discover and binge your music builds a stronger, more engaged fanbase and ultimately enhances your creative career’s longevity.

Review your artist analytics to see not only what’s getting the most streams.

But which songs have the most repeat listens, fewest skips, and most saves.

For example, I released my solo guitar album earlier this year.

My version of “La Paloma” is among the most popular tracks.

So, when I share my music with fans, I lead with this song (not the track that I like the most).

Everyone is distracted and inundated with information.

It’s up to you to help your fans learn about and navigate your artistry.