Artist career

How to start a music career

Start with a date. Without a release date, all work is rehearsal — you can polish a track forever and never put anything out. Set a date two months ahead, commit to it, and the rest becomes concrete: a master, artwork, three sentences about yourself, and one place to send people.

What a first release needs

• A finished master and 3000×3000 artwork.
• A name spelled the same way everywhere.
• Three sentences about yourself — for the site, for media, for the description.
• One page every link points to.
• Rights and splits, if anyone else is on the track.

What you do not need yet

• A logo, a year-long strategy, paid ads, a manager, or a 90-day content plan. Those arrive once there is something to promote.

The first year

• Two or three releases, each prepared slightly better than the last. A career is built on repetition, not on one perfect launch.

In short

• How many tracks do I need to start? One. A single is a normal first release and far easier to finish than an EP.
• Should I build an audience first? No. An audience gathers around releases, not before them. Without a release there is no reason to follow.

Next

• When to release your first single
• Do independent artists need a label
• A music career without a budget
• The independent artist's career