Music Marketing Budget Calculator

Single promotion costs range from $500-$2,000 for DIY/emerging artists (playlist pitching, basic social ads) to $5,000-$15,000 for developing artists (PR + playlist + social) to $20,000-$100,000+ for established artists (full campaigns with radio, influencers, and major PR push).

For emerging artists: focus 60-70% on playlist pitching and social ads (highest ROI), 20-30% on content creation. For developing artists: add PR (30%) and reduce playlist spend (40%). For established artists: balanced approach with PR, radio, influencers, and advertising.

Legitimate playlist pitching services cost $200-$2,000 per campaign. This includes editorial playlist submission, indie playlist outreach, and reporting. Beware of services promising guaranteed placements - these often use fake playlists. Budget $500-$1,500 for a solid single campaign.

Typical benchmarks: playlist pitching generates 10-50 streams per dollar, social ads generate 5-20 streams per dollar, PR provides harder-to-quantify credibility and placement value. Emerging artists may see 10-20 streams per dollar overall, while established artists with engaged fanbases see 40-100+.

Music PR campaigns typically cost $2,000-$5,000 for indie/DIY coverage, $5,000-$15,000 for mid-level blog/press coverage, and $15,000-$50,000+ for major publications and extensive campaigns. PR builds credibility and can unlock playlist editorial consideration.

Start marketing 4-8 weeks before release for singles, 8-12 weeks for EPs/albums. Timeline: submit to editorial playlists 4 weeks out, begin PR pitching 3-4 weeks out, launch ads 1-2 weeks pre-release, and sustain promotion 4-8 weeks post-release for algorithmic boost.

TikTok can provide massive exposure but is unpredictable. Budget $1,000-$5,000 for influencer marketing, focusing on micro-creators in your genre. Organic TikTok success is valuable but can't be bought directly. Use it as part of a diversified strategy, not your only channel.