The 22 Essential Elements of a Magnetic Music Brand

First impressions are influential and key to music discovery. You have only seconds to hold someone’s attention, so you need to make a lasting first impression. Brands can be powerful that way. Once you do the work to identify yours, it will broadcast who you are effortlessly and effectively. It will work for you while you are sleeping. 

When we have all of these elements in place, magic happens. The trick is to get all of the elements in place stemming from Your Mission. When we weave the message of the brand deliberately and clearly throughout the music, the visuals, the content, and the copy it works together to tell a story and broadcast a clear message. When the message is inherent and authentic in the artist—it is often the determining edge of success. 

It is said that your brand in music is as much as 80% of your success. A brand is not created overnight but this list will give you a good head start. 

To learn more about these 22 Essential Elements of a Magnetic Brand, you’ll find a full module on it inside my newly revised Step Up to the Spotlight Artist Development Program 3.0. I go into great depth and detail in each of these elements to hit a total reset on your artist brand. 

For full details on each of these 22 Essential Elements, register for my Step Up to the Spotlight Artist Development Program here.

1. Your Name

A strong name rolls off the tongue. The right name can help you hit reset with your brand. For help with naming set up a Brand Review or visit Module 3 in Step Up to the Spotlight. 

2. Your Logo

A logo is an instant brand identifier. Most artist logos today is the font they use for their name. Most are custom made but not all. To get started, go to Googlefonts and play around with fonts in your name. 

3. Your Fonts

Choose the fonts you use on your website and on social posts that you create. Fonts project an image. Choose the fonts that align with yours. Choose a Font for your name, album or single titles

•  Main font for your website 
•  Secondary font for your website 
•  Use both on socials for brand recognition 
•  Third font for socials

4. Your Color Palette

Colors also tell a story, exhibit a mood, a feeling. A brand has identifiable brand colors. This creates consistency in your visual brand.

5. Your Artist Identity – Artist Persona

The set of characteristics by which a person or thing is definitively recognizable or known. What are the components of your artist identity or persona. Examine well known artists to see what they have done. When artist persona is done well, it’s not something slapped on top but rather aligns with your inner artist. Once we find her, we magnify her!

6. Your Differentiator

Your differentiator is your unique qualifier in your brand. A unique quality. A signature something (message, sound, look). Contrast, edges, something unsual, or only you can do. It can be an unexpected edge. In marketing we call it your “unique selling proposition”. 

7. Your Core Values

What are your core values? Core values are an important part of a brand. Core values are an individual or organization’s fundamental beliefs and highest priorities that drive their behavior. 

8. Your Mission

Your mission statement is the driver of your brand. Think of it as your “why”. 

9. Your Bio

Your artist bio should be written by someone other than you because it’s hard to be objective about yourself—and it needs certain components. You’ll need a long form bio and then make an excerpt for the short form. You’ll use both in a variety of ways. 

For more information on writing a bio, visit Step Up to the Spotlight or set up a Brand Review where I can review yours and give you pointers or help you rewrite. 

10. Your Social Media Bio

A strong social media bio is not so easy to write with limited characters. Start with “singer, songwriter, producer etc.” as these are used in searches. Then a sentence or two that hits to the heart of what you are about so people can connect with you. 

11. Your Social Media Description (DSPs, Spotify, YouTube, Other)

Your description on Spotify, YouTube, or where you have an opportunity for a longer About section should we an excerpt from your bio. Make it the same across all platforms.

12. Your Message 

Your Mission and your Message overlap. Your Mission is what you want your music to do for others, your message is what you went through that you want to help others with. Slightly different but both are important. 

13. Your Artist Story

Your story is a big part of your brand. People love a good story. It’s how we bond. Remember how Jewel lived in her car, or Lizzo was homeless? Strikes the heart strings and makes you human. Write it out. Refine it. Look for the treasure.

14. Your Elevator Pitch

A good elevator pitch is a few sentences you would say to describe your music to someone on a brief elevator ride! 

15. Your Copy (website copy, social post copy)

They say if you can write, you can make a million dollars. As a songwriter, you have that skill! So put it to work when writing all of the copy surrounding your music. Great copy is extremely important. Visuals get people to click, copy converts! Sometimes it can be one line or phrase. (Rick Rubin is great at those!)

16. Your Professional Photos 

Professional photos will bring a shine to your brand. Find the best local photographer. Look at their work. Create a vision board, build your style, work with a stylist. Image is a huge piece of the equation!

17. Your Image (style, brand)

Your overall look or style isn’t going to change that much over time—but details may vary from album to album. We are looking for an image that represents the essence and projects the overall essence of YOU.  An image that extends through time.

18. Your Visuals (graphics for socials, Single, EP, LP graphics etc)

Your brand is your music at first glance. Tell a story, create a character that is an extension or amplification of who you are through your images.

19. Your Website 

Yes, you need a website. Use Squarespace. Cheap and drag and drop. Easy to manage. Keep it updated and clean and uncluttered. Make a statement.

20. Your Album / Singles Cover/s

Your album or single art reflects your brand. Using all of the elements in your brand (font, colors, visual side of the brand, create images that align with your core brand.

21. Your Merch

Create unique merch that aligns with you as an artist. The most revenue that comes in for an artist is primarily touring and merchandise. Create unique merch that people want that they can only get from you. 

22. Your Brand Guidelines

Once you gather all of your 22 branding essentials and copy elements you might want to put them all together in one brand deck (use Canva). 

Enroll now in our Step Up to the Spotlight Artist Development Program. Step Up your music, your mindset, your brand and your plan! Module 1 in your inbox with registration! Hit reset on your music now!