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Best resources to learnMusic Marketing

Study sheet

Music marketing involves identifying and reaching an audience for musical works. You will understand digital advertising, audience segmentation, content strategy, and data analytics to build a dedicated fanbase and drive music sales.

Where to start

Start with Music Marketing 101 by Andrew Southworth, a free beginner course on the essentials of marketing your music. If you only use one resource, make it How to Make It in the New Music Business (3rd Edition) by Ari Herstand, a paid book covering distribution, royalties, playlisting, publicity and building a team. For ongoing practical guides on social media, email and release strategy, read CD Baby's diymusician.cdbaby.com.

7 resources · · How we curate

🎓Courses(1)

course

Music Business Foundations

This course has been developed to provide students with the latest instruction on the best way for creators, consumers, and facilitators to navigate the resurgence of one of the world’s most exciting industries: the music business. Three things are clear about today’s music industry: The consumption of music is expanding at the greatest rate in history and from the most portals ever imagined, the cost of producing music is decreasing, and the number of artists creating and seeking to expose their work and develop careers through the Internet has increased dramatically. Whether you’re a music creator, consumer, or facilitator of this process, you’ll want to understand the history, underpinnings, and basics of the music business. Course author John Kellogg—administrator, educator, entertainment lawyer, performer, and radio and television personality—offers students the opportunity to learn the fundamental principles of the developing new music business, for now and into the future. What you'll learn: -- The basic history of the music industry and today's business trends -- How recording agreements are formulated -- The basics of copyright law as it pertains to the music business -- The role of agents, managers, attorneys, and specific business entities

beginner🇬🇧

📚Books(1)

bookPaid

How to Make It in the New Music Business (3rd Edition)

Working musician and artist manager Ari Herstand walks through releasing music independently: distribution, collecting every royalty type, playlisting, touring economics, sync placement, crowdfunding, publicity and assembling a team. Herstand explains what an unsigned artist actually does on Monday morning. Third edition covers the post-2020 landscape.

beginner🇬🇧

🌐Websites(3)

website

Music Marketing Monday

A free weekly newsletter by Andrew Southworth on promoting independent music, covering Spotify growth, short-form social video, paid ads, and fan engagement, with campaign breakdowns that show artists which tactics produced streams and followers and how to test them on their own releases.

beginner🇬🇧
website

hypebot.com

Hypebot is a music-industry blog offering news, insights, and practical guidance on music marketing and the business of music, including streaming trends, tech, social media, and indie-artist strategies.

intermediate🇬🇧
website

diymusician.cdbaby.com

DIY Musician by CD Baby is a practical resource for independent artists, offering blog posts, how‑tos, and guides on music marketing, distribution, and monetization. It covers tutorials on social media, email marketing, release strategies, touring, and building an audience to grow a music career.

intermediate🇬🇧

🎙️Podcasts(2)

podcast

The New Music Business

Interview podcast hosted by Ari Herstand on how independent artists actually earn money: distribution, sync licensing, publishing royalties, touring economics and label deals. Episodes press guests for specific numbers and mechanics rather than general career encouragement.

beginner🌐
podcast

The Punk Rock MBA

Interview podcast hosted by marketer and YouTuber Finn McKenty, talking with musicians, producers and industry figures from punk, metal and hardcore. Conversations cover how bands build audiences, earn money and handle labels and touring, giving working musicians practical insight into music careers.

beginner🌐
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Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start learning Music Marketing?

Start with Music Marketing 101 by Andrew Southworth, a free beginner course on the essentials of marketing your music. If you only use one resource, make it How to Make It in the New Music Business (3rd Edition) by Ari Herstand, a paid book covering distribution, royalties, playlisting, publicity and building a team. For ongoing practical guides on social media, email and release strategy, read CD Baby's diymusician.cdbaby.com.

What are the best free resources to learn Music Marketing?

Dantes has curated 7 resources for Music Marketing, including 1 books, 1 courses, 3 websites, 2 podcasts. All resources are hand-picked for quality — no algorithmic filler. Browse the full list above to find the format that works best for you.

Is Music Marketing hard to learn?

Music Marketing is approachable at the beginner level — there are resources here specifically for those starting from scratch. As you progress, intermediate and advanced material is also available to take your skills further.

What types of Music Marketing learning resources are available on Dantes?

For Music Marketing, Dantes has curated 1 books, 1 courses, 3 websites, 2 podcasts. Each resource type serves a different learning style: videos and YouTube for visual learners, books for depth, courses for structured progression, and websites for quick reference.

How does Dantes select Music Marketing resources?

Dantes is an algorithm-free learning directory. Resources are hand-curated based on quality, accuracy, and usefulness — not engagement metrics or paid placements. The goal is to surface the best learning material for Music Marketing, whether it's a free YouTube series, a classic textbook, or an open courseware from a top university.

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