How to Get Your Music Heard (Without Selling Your Soul)
Let’s be honest—getting your music heard in 2025 is both easier and harder than ever. There are more platforms than you can keep track of. You can drop a song on Spotify in your pajamas. You can post a clip on TikTok and wake up with 20,000 plays.
But the flipside? Everyone else can too.
So how do you stand out without becoming a content machine or compromising your sound?
At Soundcheck, we hear a lot of submissions from independent artists—some polished, some raw, and some completely surprising. Here’s what we’ve noticed works best if you’re trying to cut through the noise and actually connect with real listeners, tastemakers, and curators like us.
1. Put care into your recordings—even demos
We’re not expecting major-label studio work, but we can hear when a track has been thoughtfully produced and arranged. Even lo-fi tracks can sound intentional.
Pro tip: A clean vocal, decent mix, and a track that starts strong will keep your submission from getting skipped 15 seconds in.
2. Tell a story
Your music should stand on its own—but a compelling backstory can elevate it. Why did you write this track? Was it the result of heartbreak, a conversation, or an accident at a dog park?
You don’t need a PR agent. You need a paragraph of honesty.
3. Submit directly to shows that care
There are hundreds of curated playlists and radio programs that want to hear from emerging artists—especially those who still believe in the emotional value of music, not just viral hits.
Soundcheck is one of them. So are dozens of college and community stations, podcast music features, and newsletter curators.
You don’t need 1,000 submissions—you need 10 good fits.
👉 Submit your music to Soundcheck →
4. Keep your links and assets clean
When you send music, make it easy for the person on the other end to listen and learn about you. Include:
A streamable link (SoundCloud, Bandcamp, unlisted YouTube, etc.)
Your artist name exactly as it appears on platforms
A short, clear bio
A downloadable or high-quality press image
Social links or a simple link-in-bio page
It takes 3 minutes to prep—and it makes a huge difference.
5. Don’t overthink the numbers
Plays, followers, and likes are not the only currency. Sometimes the best music we hear comes from artists with fewer than 100 followers.
Just make good stuff. Keep submitting. Stay weird. The right people will find you.
🎙️ Got something we should hear?
Soundcheck is open for submissions. We air new music from indie and emerging artists every Tuesday at 8pm and Sunday mornings at 9.
If you’re making something honest, we want to hear it.