Music promotion attracts its fair share of scams and can be a real bummer for aspiring artists. The music world is brimming with eager talent and passionate creatives, which unfortunately makes musicians a prime target for fraudsters looking to take advantage of hopeful people. 

Finding a trustworthy promotion service may seem like solving a complex puzzle you can only see half of. But, with some practical awareness and knowing what to look for, you can confidently distinguish between the legit music promotion companies and deceptive ones. By the end of this article, you’ll know the basics of what to look for in a music promotion service to avoid costly mistakes when navigating music industry pitfalls. 

Promises of Overnight Success

Sure, we’d all love to be an overnight sensation, but scammers know that and take advantage of it. They often lure artists in with the promise of instant fame and success using bots to boost streams or followers. Remember, building a sustainable music career takes time and effort. Success in the music industry requires hard work, talent, connections, and genuine music promotion tactics. 

Look for companies that focus on realistic growth strategies and long-term success rather than empty promises or quick fixes, and you’ll be one step ahead when avoiding music industry scams. 

Lack of Transparency 

Is a promotion service vague about their strategies and results when you consult with them? That can be one of the red flags in music promotion. Services should be able to describe exactly what the promotion includes and address your specific needs. Music promoters should also be able to help you track the success of your campaigns in real-time.

Also, be sure to check out the website of any promotion service to see if it’s legit.

• Do they have an about page?
• Does the company have a LinkedIn profile?
• Do they name the head of the company?
• Do they show past clients?
• Do they have case studies?
• Are there testimonials on their website?

 If it is vague and has no mention of any staff in particular, or seems to not have any actual people at the head of the company, it could be a scam. 

They’ll Take Just About Anyone

Another thing to watch out for that may point to a music promotion scam is if the promoter isn’t concerned about the quality of work. If they’ll work with anyone willing to pay, or they don’t have a quality screening process to evaluate if a song or artist is ready to be marketed, stay far away. Trustworthy music marketing companies care about quality – they won’t just take anyone because their reputation is at stake, too. If everybody gets accepted, it probably means the playlist quality isn't that good either.

Sketchy Managers or A&Rs

Managers and A&Rs (Artist and Repertoire) are responsible for scouting and discovering new talent, as well as helping artists shape their sound and direction. They’re kind of like a talent scout and musical mentor rolled into one, helping you navigate the twists and turns of the music industry. It’s easier to find hopeful and trusting musicians in a vulnerable position, as they don’t know a lot about the music industry yet. Recognizing fraudulent music deals is a lot harder when you’re fresh on the scene. 

Be wary of people posing as managers or A&R representatives who promise great opportunities but don’t look to have legitimate connections or intentions. Remember, ask questions! Lots of questions. Especially follow-up questions. Who have they represented in the past? What kind of connections do they have? How long have they been in the industry? With enough information, this scam is easier to spot. They often overpromise right away. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

Lack of Data-Driven Strategies

While it's not necessarily a scam if a company doesn't use data-backed strategies, it can be a bit of a red flag. Companies that rely solely on intuition or gut feeling are not leveraging valuable insights that data provides, which can lead to disappointment as your song doesn’t reach its full potential. You wouldn’t buy a high-quality item on vibes alone – you’d do your research and look at the data. So why would you do that in your career?

Data-driven strategies signal a commitment to transparency and measurable results -- which is what you should look for when investing your money.

Fake Followers and Engagement

Some playlist promotion scams use scripts or bots to inflate numbers artificially. The image below shows how these can show up in Spotify:

Spotify invests heavily in detecting, preventing, and removing the royalty impact of artificial streams, so if they flag your song, it’ll make things a lot harder in the long run. 

It may cost you a little more up front, but look for companies that guarantee music promotion authenticity with genuine growth. This means they have connections with playlist curators which will get your song on a playlist without artificial streams or bots and can ensure results based on past campaigns. Curated playlists and targeted promotion services should engage real listeners and build meaningful connections between you and your audience. This can help you with safeguarding your music investments as the algorithm never forgets!

Remember, you get what you pay for. Streaming packages that list extremely low rates may look attractive but will cost you more in the long run if your song gets removed from Spotify.

Promotional Services That Stand Out

Unlike a lot of promotional services out there, Members Media provides genuine and effective promotion services tailored to each artist’s needs.

• Trusted by Industry Leaders: Our testimonials from industry professionals such as VP Recordings and Tooth & Nail Records speak volumes about the quality of service we provide. We are committed to excellence and dedicated to helping indie artists like you succeed in the digital landscape. Check out our case studies to see some more examples of who we’ve helped. 
• Data-Driven Strategies: We offer winning strategies based on our experience with major artists, including organic promotions for playlists, monthly listeners, TikTok, YouTube videos, and Facebook and Instagram ads. Our goal is to provide indie musicians and agencies with the tools and knowledge to navigate the ever-evolving music industry effectively.
• Zero-Risk Policy: If you’re worried about investing in a promotion service that might not deliver results, our zero-risk policy ensures client satisfaction. We only charge your credit card after we secure approval for your campaign. Your success is our priority.

In a world where scams are aplenty, it's essential to choose a music promotion service that has your best interests at heart for protecting your music career. If you are ready to get started, drop us a line. 

Here's to your success and your music reaching its full potential!