🎤 Building Momentum: Marketing & Artist Development for Emerging Artists
Why Marketing Matters for MUSIC Grants
Most major music grants (like FACTOR, Canada Council, provincial programs) are competitive. A great song isn’t enough - you also need to show growth goals, audience traction and career momentum.
Jurors look for:
Active fan growth (social media, streaming, newsletter lists)
Engagement (comments, saves, shares, playlist adds)
Press/coverage (blogs, interviews, reviews)
Clear release strategy (planned singles, rollout, visuals, marketing)
A strong application = great music + a clear, measurable plan to reach people.
🚀 How to Start Building Traction
Consistent branding and handles across all platforms (Clear profile pics, easy to remember handle)
Post consistently on 1-2 leading platforms (don’t spread too thin, it’s harder to maintain)
Use video content (short-form TikTok/IG Reels/YouTube Shorts perform best)
Network: collabs, features, playlist pitching, local shows
Share the journey, not just the music - fans buy into you, not just the songs (Share behind the scenes clips and sneak peaks)
Collect fan emails/contacts early (mailing list > algorithm)
Attached links (fans want easy access to listen)
Plan releases strategically (singles leading into projects, visuals that support the brand)
Final Takeaway:
Grants reward artists who show both great music & market momentum (i.e. measurable metrics and goals headed towards growth).
Start building traction now!
💡 Need Guidance?
Kwame Boison is here to help. He has:
Pitched 5,000+ releases at Believe → thousands of playlist placements
Set up K. Forest’s first North American tour (73M+ streams)
Helped artists land distribution deals & brand partnerships
Book a 1-on-1 with Kwame - Artist Development Coaching Call ($75/hour):
Tailored strategy for growing your audience
Branding & content insights
Release rollout planning
Positioning for grants and industry opportunities
If you want to understand the best grant options available to you…
visit https://grantable.ca/rates or
email info@grantable.ca for a free consultation!
