During the 2020 lock-ins, creativity within the music industry surged as artists found new ways to create, share, and connect. With live events on hold, musicians adapted by embracing live streaming, digital production, and online networking to stay connected with fans and peers. This period sparked lasting changes in how artists build relationships and share their music.
To help you navigate this evolving landscape, we've compiled a set of simple yet proven strategies on how to network in the music industry.
1. Put yourself in places where music is being made
Although the initial steps of networking often begin from a distance, it's crucial to immerse yourself in spaces where music is being created and shared. While it’s obviously easiest to make connections in the physical music scenes of important destinations like LA, New York, Nashville, Berlin, Seoul, Tokyo, and London, this idea also applies to digital music spaces, including blogs, message boards, and social media channels.
In addition to these online and physical spaces, consider attending key music festivals with prominent conferences and stages for emerging artists, such as Brighton’s The Great Escape, Sonar, Primavera Sound, Oberkampf, and others. Also, don't miss the chance to attend iconic conferences and festivals like SXSW (in Austin, Texas and soon in London), Midem (Cannes), IMS (Ibiza and Dubai), IMX (Shanghai), and Bigsound (Brisbane).
These events provide excellent opportunities to meet musicians, promoters, producers, sponsors, new fans, and industry professionals in general. Remember, being in the right space is important, but actively engaging with others is the key to building a meaningful network in the music industry.
2. Master the art of cold calling/emailing
If the idea of emailing or calling a stranger for the first time feels uncomfortable, you're not alone. Many musicians shy away from this because it can feel forced and inauthentic—and they’re not wrong. However, it’s important to reframe this as an opportunity to share your work and make meaningful connections with others in your genre who may be open to collaboration.
Rather than traditional emails or cold calls, consider reaching out through platforms like Instagram, SoundCloud, or Twitch. Direct messaging (DMing) has become a more natural way to connect with other artists and industry professionals. By engaging on these platforms, you can build genuine relationships and take the first step toward collaborations or securing shows at new venues.
Bonus idea: collaborate with artists on music projects on Pibox
Imagine you've built a few meaningful connections with other musicians and now want to collaborate on a new song or get their feedback on your latest beat. Pibox is the perfect platform for that. It lets you easily invite fellow artists to your project and start sharing your ideas directly on the track's timeline.
No need for third-party plugins—Pibox offers a simple, intuitive interface that lets you focus on creativity and strengthening your connections, without worrying about technicalities. Whether you're just starting out or seeking a fresh approach to making meaningful connections in the music industry, Pibox is your go-to choice. Explore an exciting new way for musicians to connect with Pibox—get started now!
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Pibox is the easier, faster way to collaborate in real-time, collect feedback, manage reviews, share, and finish your projects effortlessly.
3. Support other artists in every way you can
This is probably the most important item on this list. Many artists create music year after year without feeling seen or supported by their local music community. However, many of these same artists never make a real effort to support other musicians by attending their concerts, listening to their music, or buying their merchandise.
No, you shouldn’t support others just for the sake of expecting something in return, but showing up for fellow musicians allows you to experience and learn from the music being made around you. It also helps strengthen the community and supports the artists who are part of it. Buying merch is a simple yet powerful way to show your support. By doing all of this, you naturally expose yourself to new ideas and can build connections in the music industry much faster.
4. Experience as much new and live music as possible
If you’re serious about building connections in the music industry, it’s crucial to be active in both your local and digital music communities. Attend shows whenever possible, but also make time to explore new music by reading music blogs, browsing genre-specific message boards, and seeking recommendations at local stores.
In addition to live and new music experiences, consider joining specific groups on Reddit based on your genre or profession. These communities can open doors to valuable networking opportunities. For a more business-oriented approach, LinkedIn offers a great platform to connect with key industry professionals like artist managers, promoters, agents, label owners, A&R, and publishers.
5. Think about your music objectively and how it can fill needs for others
Networking in the music industry is largely built around your artist profile—your genre, sound, production techniques, and the label you work with all play pivotal roles in how quickly you can make meaningful connections. It’s important to look at your music objectively and identify how it fills a unique need for others. For example, a grime producer in the UK will likely be able to network more quickly on a global scale due to the universal appeal of grime and trap sounds.
On the other hand, a country music producer may need to focus on building relationships within niche markets, where connections might take longer to develop. If you’re a local band that draws large crowds, your music can fill venue needs in your city. If you specialize in composing cinematic music that pairs well with visuals, reaching out to music licensing companies is a great networking strategy.
Wrapping up
Building a strong network in the music industry requires more than just talent—it’s about intentional actions. To stand out, put yourself in environments where music is being created, and don’t hesitate to reach out via cold calls and emails. Platforms like Pibox offer great opportunities for collaborations that can expand your reach.
Supporting other artists and experiencing new live music will naturally open doors, while taking an objective look at your music ensures that your contributions are valuable to others. Follow these strategies, and you’ll be on your way to making the right connections that matter.
