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
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.
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.
Release Sequencing & Momentum Dropped one track every 3–4 weeks to keep engagement steady. Each release layered onto the previous campaign’s momentum.
“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.
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
Metric
Before
After
Growth
Monthly Listeners
2,300
70,400+
+2,961%
Streams (All-Time)
~4,000
165,000+
+4,025%
Followers
1,100
9,800+
+791%
Playlist Adds & Saves Ratio
~1.7%
8.9%
+423%
Notable Playlist Placements
1
15+
–
🚧 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.