Once you’ve built a dedicated music website, you’ll want to round out your content with something that draws in your fans regularly, and engages them on a deeper level.
A blog is the perfect tool to fascinate fans and fellow musicians. Think of it as a news function: by sharing ideas and insights that animate the hearts and minds of your readers, your blog posts can foster a deeper relationship with your fans and motivate them to promote your music in a unique way.
It may also be the perfect place for journalists to learn more about you ahead of an appearance on a podcast or preparing for a media interview.
A blog that's regularly updated also helps with your website’s SEO, especially if you're routinely adding content relevant to your music.
If you’ve decided to write on a blog on your music website, check out these topics that can be exciting conversation starters for fans and industry alike.
ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATIONS
1. Behind the lyrics
Behind every great song is a story. Whether your song is inspired by personal experience, an issue you care deeply about, current events, or a tale from the past, let your fans know the background of the songs they’re singing along to. This can make your work more relatable, sparking more plays and shares.
If your track is an instrumental, describe the feelings you were trying to capture with your delicate chord progressions or syncopated rhythms. With lyrics, line dissection might be easier, so walk the readers through your lyrics by explaining what was important for you to build into song.
2. Music that inspires you
Whether it’s a local band, pals you met on tour, a billboard charting artist, or musicians long gone, let your fans know what inspires your style. You may have a taste in music that goes broadly beyond your own genre — surprise fans with what you’re listening to, and how it inspires your own musical stylings or helps you get loose after an intense writing session.
3. Film and fiction
Speaking of other creatives who inspire your work, if you’re a big movie buff or you always have a good book in your hand, let your fans know what you dig outside of music. Bonus points if the film has an amazing score or soundtrack, or the novel has some incredible passages that help you take your lyrics to the next level, or the last book of poetry you read is lingering in your songwriting.
PROMOTING YOUR WORK
4. Upcoming shows
Blog posts about your upcoming gigs are a great way to share more details about the venue and the artists you’re playing with. Whether you’re opening or headlining the show, putting a spotlight on the musicians you’re sharing the stage with is a great way to draw a crowd. And, if you’re playing a unique or historic venue, make it a main attraction in a blog post.
5. Merch releases
Band T-Shirts are a hot commodity and look great with all sorts of accessories. If you’re planning to release new merch, unique items, or you’ve restocked a product, alert your fans in a blog post. You can even link to your store page to help with direct-to-fan sales!
6. Crowdfunding
Your fans care about your new releases and if you have crowdfunding set up for a new project, use your blog to bring attention to the latest offerings. Maybe you’re exchanging autographed prints, or limited edition merchandise, or a special mixtape for fans that contribute a certain amount toward your campaign. Add all the details in a few posts.
You can also take this opportunity to update your fans on the progress of your campaign and the music that is being made as a result! Crowdfunding is a community effort, so draw the community in with your blog posts.
BEHIND THE SCENES
7. Gear talk
Humbuckers or single coil? Tremolo bar or pedal? Condenser or dynamic mic? Let your fans know how you get your sound! You don’t have to share all your secrets, but if you’re looking to play with other musicians, teach future rockers, or record upcoming artists, posts about your rig could translate to future gigs or other connections.
If you have a home recording setup, a blog post is a great place to share your specs. Recording gear can be hard to navigate for even the most experienced musicians and your recommendations and journey could inspire your fans and fellow musicians.
8. Tour diary
Asking for a place to crash during the first song of your set is a very real part of the touring experience - so are gas station apples and quick-stop showers. Tour life also brings out some of the most positive aspects of being a musician — connecting with other bands, finding new fans, and the amazing inside jokes you and your band members share.
Let your fans in on your on-the-road experiences with a tour diary. Whether you want to share daily updates on a dedicated blog page, or sprinkle your tour diary in with your regular posts, posts dedicated to your touring life offer a glimpse into your life as a musician.
9. An issue you care about
Musicians have a powerful voice — use yours to talk about an important issue in your community, in your country, or around the world. If your fans are directly affected by the issue, they’ll appreciate being seen and heard by an artist they admire. If your fans aren’t aware of the issue, this could open up an incredible dialogue and encourage them to take action.
PRAISE FOR THE AWESOME PEOPLE
10. The folks you love to work with
Shine spotlights on the people who you hired to work on your recording, and why you chose to work with them. Think session musicians, producers, mixing studios, everyone. Why did you choose them? Where did you record? These types of posts profile the strengths of other musicians and people in the production and recording industry, providing you a great opportunity to include tracks of theirs, and links to the websites of your favorite people to work with.
Let someone know once you've added a post that profiles them - there's a good chance they'll share your post within their network, and maybe even include a link to your blog from their own website (which is GREAT for search engine optimization!). Extend these ideas to presenters, venue staff, sound technicians, publicists, and promoters as well - give a hand to anyone that's made a delightful impact on your life as a musician.
11. People that saved the day
All musicians get there in some form or another along the way: EEK. The horror show. Time to dig through the memory bank and conjure up that cringey time your gear didn't make it to the airport, or an instrument got busted, or something broke backstage, or someone dropped the keys to the tour van down a sewer grate an hour before a show, with all the gear locked in it (<- yes, this one really happened. And I love hearing the epic saga of the key's retrieval every time it comes up in conversation).
Most times these hard-won tales are made better by someone intervening and absolutely saving the day. Or (ooof) they don't, and you're left with at least a story to tell. If you have any stories like this (and we always hope you won't!), it's likely your fans would enjoy hearing about them. Especially if some hero came along and saved the show — you can thank them in your post, and your fans will happily support them for doing you a solid. Heck, some of the people reading your blog post might even have been at that show.
QUIRKY INSIGHTS
12. The odd jobs
Making money through music doesn't always come easy. Most musicians have good stories about odd jobs they worked along the way while building up a music career. Fans enjoy these details, and often treasure a glimpse into a moment of your life before you got to where you are today. Got a tale you tell of a job you worked that always gets a laugh? Write about it.
13. Favorite shops or restaurants
Think: travel or neighborhood tips for your fans. Is there one place you always go to check the new vinyl they have on the shelves? That one mom-and-pop restaurant where you stop in every time you're in xyz-city? Chances are your fans would like a lot of the same spots. Share your recommendations and favorite places, and especially get into the details about why you like the spot and what keeps you coming back - the more unique the better.
Just think how often we read Google reviews to scope out a spot, or watch travel shows hosted by someone whose taste we jive with — we all like gathering good tips from people we admire, and love to know about the great spots to check out. (Case in point: Do I want to know about which quirky independent bookstores my favorite songwriters love to scope out, and why? Yes please, absolutely!) Another great thing about doing this is you can share your post with the business — they will appreciate the special nod you're giving to their efforts, and likely would happily spread the word about your next show in return (and maybe even stock your music!).
Despite internet advances over the last while (hello AI!) blogging continues to be a way for musicians to reveal the more personal and interesting facets of their lives and career. Fans are always looking to support their favorite artists, and writing is a natural way for many musicians to draw in their biggest supporters, keeping them engaged, and coming back for more.
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