How to Start a Successful Music Podcast in 2024

As a music podcaster with over 7 years of experience running my own show, I often get asked by aspiring podcasters how to start a music podcast that stands out. Read below about “How to Start a Successful Music Podcast in 2024”.

The podcast landscape has exploded in recent years, with over 2 million active shows and more popping up every day. While this shows the medium’s popularity, it also means standing out from the crowd is harder than ever.

But have no fear – with the right strategy and commitment, you can absolutely start a music podcast in 2024 that finds its audience. I started my show with no connections in the industry back in 2017, and now have over 50,000 dedicated listeners tuning in twice a week.

How to Start a Successful Music Podcast in 2024

Here are my best tips for launching a successful music podcast this year:

Choose a Unique Niche and Angle

Don’t just make a general music podcast reviewing top 40 hits. With so many of those out there already, yours likely won’t stand out. Instead, niche down.

For example, my podcast focuses specifically on the alternative rock scene in my local area. I profile up-and-coming bands, review shows, and discuss trends in the regional scene.

Other potential niches could be:

• A specific music genre like jazz or metal
• Music from a certain decade – 60s, 70s, 80s, etc.
• Music that fits a lifestyle or interest – fitness music, coding playlists, hiking songs
• Music from your local area or college campus

Think about your unique interests and perspectives related to music, and build a podcast around that. This will instantly help you stand out.

Line Up Engaging Guests

Interviews and co-hosts are key for music podcasts. Sitting alone and talking at listeners gets old fast.

Reach out to bands, musicians, music journalists, producers, and other industry figures who would make interesting guests. Don’t just go for the biggest names – often up-and-coming local artists lead to better conversations.

Come prepared with good questions that go deeper than the typical interview. Find out your guests’ inspirations, challenges, creative processes, and stories beyond just their latest album or single.

The more you can connect with listeners and humanize your guests, the more engaging your show will be.

Also watch: https://www.instagram.com/damiankeyes1/reel/C17P8-MSnMT/

Have High Production Value

One advantage of audio is you don’t need fancy video equipment or sets. But that doesn’t mean production value doesn’t matter.

Invest in a good microphone like the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica AT2020. Pick up some sound dampening foam panels to treat your recording space. Use editing software like GarageBand or Audacity to polish episodes with intros/outros, transitions, and effects.

Having clear audio without background noise or echo makes a huge difference in coming across as professional. Pay attention to mic technique while recording too.

And of course, play full song snippets during your podcast! Licensing podcast music has gotten much easier with services like Soundstripe. Don’t just talk about the music – let listeners hear it.

Promote Like Crazy

Once you have a few episodes recorded, it’s go time for promotion. Don’t expect listeners to stumble onto your podcast – you have to put it front of them.

Leverage your personal social media, asking friends and family to subscribe and share. Reach out to niche Facebook Groups and Subreddits to introduce your podcast. Try posting on music forums.

Also, don’t underestimate real-life promotion at local concerts and events. I printed up stickers and flyers with my podcast name/handle and passed them out constantly in the early days. I struck up conversations about my show with anyone who would listen at venues and festivals.

You have to hustle as an unknown podcaster. But if your show is delivering value, eventually your audience will start to compound as listeners share it organically.

Monetize Smartly

I’m a big believer in focusing on value first before trying to make money. But once you build an engaged following, you can (and should) monetize it.

Ads are the obvious route – services like Megaphone and AdvertiseCast can put mid-roll audio ads into your podcast. Just don’t go overboard with ad density.

Affiliate marketing also works very well for music podcasts. Recommend services you actually use like Spotify, Pandora, Soundstripe, or concert ticket vendors, making a percentage on each referral.

Some podcasters also offer Patreon accounts for fans to support their work, or paid subscription bonuses like exclusive episodes. Get creative with offerings once you have loyal listeners.

The Key Is Consistency

The #1 mistake I see first-time podcasters make is not having a consistent release schedule. Fans will quickly forget about you if new episodes only trickle out sporadically.

Commit to a set release cadence – whether that’s weekly, biweekly or monthly – and stick to it rigorously. Record a backlog of episodes if possible so you don’t ever miss a drop date.

Consistent episodes equal consistent growth over time. Be reliable for your fans and they’ll reward you with their ongoing listenership.

It’s an exciting time to enter the music podcasting space as consumer adoption continues rising. While you’ll face more competition, the sheer size of available audience is far larger too.

Conclusion

By focusing on a specific music niche, booking great guests, producing high audio quality shows, and promoting to the right communities, you can absolutely start a music podcast in 2024 that finds its tribe. I hope you like reading “How to Start a Successful Music Podcast in 2024”.

It takes consistent work, but the payoff of having your own platform to discuss your passion is so rewarding. Wishing you the best as you start your audio journey!