Evanic Freelancing Solutions

🎧 Case Study: jxme5c – From Underground Buzz to 70K+ Monthly Listeners

Artist: jxme5c
Platform: Spotify
Campaign Duration: 3 Months


🎯 Objectives

  • Amplify visibility and reach for a highly underrated emerging artist
  • Grow Spotify monthly listeners from 2,000+ to 50,000+
  • Build an engaged, returning fanbase through intentional, organic tactics
  • Secure placements on targeted playlists and improve saves/adds ratio

📊 Starting Metrics

  • Monthly Listeners: 2,300
  • Streams: ~4,000
  • Followers: 1,100
  • Saves/Playlist Adds: ~1.7% of total streams
  • Playlist Presence: Minimal (1–2 small user-curated playlists)

🧩 Strategy Breakdown

  1. Aggressive Playlist Outreach
    Reached out to over 150 independent Spotify curators and influencers in ambient, emo trap, and chill-hop niches. Secured placements in 15+ playlists with loyal audiences.
  2. Marquee + Social Ads
    Launched low-budget but high-precision campaigns using Spotify Marquee, IG Story ads, and Reels promos to drive streams and saves during new releases.
  3. Release Sequencing & Momentum
    Dropped one track every 3–4 weeks to keep engagement steady. Each release layered onto the previous campaign’s momentum.
  4. “Save + Share” CTA Campaign
    Ran short, native-style video CTAs encouraging fans to “save, follow, and share to unlock new drops.” These were integrated into Stories and Spotify canvas visuals.
  5. Data Monitoring + Retargeting
    Monitored listener drop-off rates, geo hotspots, and playlist retention to refine ad targeting and focus push efforts where results were highest.

📈 Results After 3 Months

MetricBeforeAfterGrowth
Monthly Listeners2,30070,400++2,961%
Streams (All-Time)~4,000165,000++4,025%
Followers1,1009,800++791%
Playlist Adds & Saves Ratio~1.7%8.9%+423%
Notable Playlist Placements115+

🚧 Challenges Faced

  • Budget Constraints: With limited funds, ad spend was tightly optimized to focus on new release windows and retarget high-intent listeners.
  • Algorithm Visibility: Initial performance needed to hit the right engagement triggers (saves, repeats) to get picked up by Spotify’s Discover Weekly and Release Radar.
  • Brand Awareness: Being relatively unknown, jxme5c had to break through noise with emotionally-resonant visuals and consistent storytelling.

💥 What Worked

  • Consistency + Quality Drops: Frequent, well-timed singles kept fans interested and rewarded Spotify’s algorithm with active user signals.
  • Laser-Focused Playlist Pitching: Instead of mass emails, we focused on relevant micro-curators with real engagement.
  • High-Converting Visuals: Spotify Canvases and social Reels with a dark, moody vibe that matched the sound helped increase saves and shares.
  • Pre-Save Growth Loops: Small rewards for pre-saves (e.g., early access, shoutouts) helped drive early traction.


🧠 Takeaway

This campaign proves that even without a major label or massive budget, the right blend of targeted playlisting, release strategy, and engagement-driven promotion can skyrocket an independent artist’s audience. It’s not about hype, it’s about resonance, consistency, and the right strategy.