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
- 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.