Should Online Music Producers PROMOTE Their Beats Without a Fanbase?

👑 WHO IS CURTISS KING?!
By the way, if this is your first time watching one of my videos, my name is Curtiss King. I'm an Independent Rapper, Music Producer, and YouTuber. My goal is to make you think, laugh and motivate you daily. If you need a channel that constantly keeps you motivated, in a good mood, and speaks to deep thoughts of creatives, consider subscribing.

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[LifeStyleDidIt]

This new setup so beautiful! I’m happy for you

[matthewflowleon]

I'm gonna tell my personal story about this on here real quick because I think it'll help someone:

AIGHT SO BOOM... (Ima try to make this short, no promises tho) I started producing in April 2017. I had only made two beats total at the time and I knew they weren't that good, but I still loved 'em. (They're still public too.) But anyways, I quit because I thought making beats was too hard and I couldn't make anything good (imo). But about exactly a year later, April 2018, I started doing it again, I have no idea what inspired me to do it, but I did. (I think it was a Russ interview, and the fact that he makes his own beats.) But anyways, so this time I kept at it. And I was noticing growth for sure. Once I got to beat #9 I just thought I was fire lol. And on the 13th beat I ever made. I knew I had something special. The melody I did was just way too crazy to me. So I decided, you know what, ef it. I'm gonna promote this on YouTube. (It's called Look Alive - Drake Type Beat) And within 2 hours I had gotten my first two sales, BACK TO BACK MP3 leases. My mind was blown because I had barely spent any money on the ad. And now long story short, the person who bought my first beat lease came back 3 months later and bought the exclusive for $500. (Solo by Rocky The Knockout, it's fire) Now... A lot of people might read this and be like wtf? Who tf does this kid think he is JUST STARTING to produce and make sales or even expect to make sales? And I get it lol... I'm just being completely transparent with ya'll.

But the fact is, is I just believed in my music so much and thought that I was so fire that I decided to go all in with it and invest in myself. Even if people thought that I was delusional with my confidence I didn't care lol. Or if people felt like I shouldn't even be trying to sell beats so early, I still didn't care lol. It's way better to think that you're fire and be considered delusional to everyone else than to be be like damn... I'm ass af. So despite not doing it that long, I decided to go all in with it and invest in myself. So... if you believe in yourself, do it. I'm not saying this to brag or flex, I'm saying this to hopefully inspire someone to stop being scared of investing in themselves. Just.. make sure you believe in yourself, and don't put too much money into the ads. See how people react. If you do a YouTube ad and get a bunch of dislikes, you either are marketing it wrong, or your beats just aren't that good yet. Which is ok, just get better. 💪

Side note though: After those first two back to back sales I got, sales for me slowed down lol. Really I had just gotten super lucky. But, the best way to sell beats online is by building a brand, building your name, and building your face and networking. Not ads imo. Although it did help me to develop long-term relationships with rappers I still talk to till this day, so. 🤷‍♂️ So Curtiss is right, ads don't really work like that, once again, I had just gotten lucky, or at least I think it was luck lol. But if it's something you want to try to do, just don't spend too much.

Side note though #2 lmao: Before anyone tries to accuse me of just being in this for the quick cash, just know that It was never about the money really, more so me just wanting to prove to myself that I could make fire ass music despite having no natural talent. So yeah, thank you to anyone who reads this and goodluck!

Side note though #3: Despite having 1.2k subs on YouTube I don't really get a lot of traction on my beat uploads also. Probably because most of them aren't real fans/buyers they just liked one beat. That's a whole other topic though.

Also, Curtiss you're the man bro, been subbed since like 4, 000 or 14k subs (can't remember which lol).

[vilesky]

*Curtiss has been a real mentor for me....I'll give him a shoutout one day*

[YariBeatsMedia]

I'd recommend to completely focus in developing your sound. The good Lord will broadcast your work when you're ready to go.

[darebdiffmusic]

Appreciate the advice CK. You are one of the reasons I finally started my channel. Keeping your patients in check is real and a must. Celebrate your small accomplishments too. I just hit 50 subs and I appreciate them all and had small 🥃. Been rockin wit you since around 10k followers. Keep doin what you do. Everyone else too!

[StanBanks]

Non rapper or producer, but I think your info relates to all hustlers! Appreciate it!

[tyyt]

amen! I work a lot with younger artists between 16 and 22 and this is exactly what Im trying to convey to them. really most younger artists have no idea how deep the process of making music as asort of long term thing is. it's even ironic that a lot of artists become good way before they have a deeper understanding of their craft, how it affects (or messes) with your personality, your character and your skill set. I've seen it so many times by now how evolving artists actually write good songs, they get super hyped about it and about the hype it creates, that as soon as the feedback they getting from their "fans" and environment is not 100% positive they fall into a whole of frustration or in really severe cases depression just because that one dude who loved your last song is not really into your new song. what you're saying is true and important. so thank you bro!

[DavidtheCrook]

i think a good thing everyone should do it document/show every time they make a beat/song even if it isnt the best so people can see the progression and when you do start marketing/ advertisement you'll have the progress shown.

[BJPREZII]

Watching this video made me realize to stop using my money on facebook ads and use it on something else. Maybe build my website or buy a subscription on beatstars. As long as I build my catalog of music consistently every week I know it will be fine. Thanks for that Curtiss!

[PearlManhattan]

I love it when I ask a question to you in the comments, and you answer it a few days later and it's never the answer I expected, but it's the correct answer and the one I needed to hear. The more you get blessed, the more you bless me. Thank you for all your hard work and congrats on your and your wife's successes!! Kiss dat baby - he's getting so BIG and lookin so sweet!

[GTownBeats]

True that! I made that mistake myself. The best way in the beginning is to grow organically on social media.💪

[bblessedbeats]

Definitely been doing this for a while but it was needed, patience is key.

[miltongarris]

Yo!!! love what you do. You got me excited as hell.

[truthseeka-barringtonnewma]

Much respect key point "patients"
"Growth & knowledge everyday"

[jjharris]

This could not have come at a better time! Thanks for putting this out, Curtiss!

[novembermunoz]

New intro and outtro alert 🚨 wise words man. Appreciate the grind and the humble beginnings 🙏🏽

[oresightmusic]

Beautiful advice bro! This was much needed. I'm in this exact space right now. A beginner at producer, just dropped my first album just to have a good body of work out for people to reference, but still developing my art. And I didn't know if I should focus more on marketing the album, or just focus and making the album I really wanna promote.

Btw, 6:11 - 6:15 had me dying 😂

[Thewhiiiterabbit]

I rarely leave likes because I dont like algorithms, even though they brought me here. But this videp righy here confirmed everything ive been worried about. Good stuff man. Real talk. Im subscribing. Another thing I rarely do because most people on here are just distracting with their content. Thank you man. Great advice.

[gphiproductions]

It's good to hear good words of advice as a music producer! Good one man! Gracias!

[monstalung]

this information came at the perfect time. thanks for sharing game. I appreciate you my brother.