How to Build Your Fanbase of 1000 True Fans and Grow Revenue Streams in 2023 – Part I 

What would it feel like to be regularly performing to thousands of people singing the words to your songs and supporting your career by the end of this year? Come join our Artist Sanctuary and find out how

Here is my list for How to Build Your Fanbase of 1000 True Fans and Grow Your Revenue Streams in 2023, Part I of III

In Part I I’m going to start with the list of things you need to have in place in order of importance to be successful with building your list of true fans and growing revenue streams. In Part II next week, I’ll get into the 1000 True Fan building and in the week after in Part III I’ll get into revenue streams. 

1. Become an Undeniably Good Singer, Songwriter, Performer and Musician

As John Mayer says: 

Get comfortable watching other people make it and be cool with it. 

Get good the boring way. The obsessive way. 

Train. Train. Train. 

Become an undeniably good musician, singer, and songwriter. It’s everything your career stands on. Continually push the envelope on your skills as a musician, singer and songwriter. Push your evolution with each record. You can’t rest on accomplishments to continue to be excel. With 100,000 songs being released on Spotify each year, you can’t afford to rest on your laurels. Stay hungry to be a master of your craft. 

2. Write an exceptional collection (catalog) of songs that are:

1. An artist can only go as far as their songs can take them. 
2. Write songs that are honest, vulnerable and authentic to you —it’s a really important foundational piece of your brand. That have your truth baked into them. One of the big myths in our culture is that we need to change ourselves to fit in. But as artists, when we write music that we think others want, the most precious and powerful parts of ourselves are hidden away. As a musician —have a great privilege —music asks that we remove the veneer and share our guts with the world. Rip off the veneer and show us your insides. 
3. Written at a high level of skill (the competition is fierce). Workshop them. Get professional feedback. Listen to it. Tweak your songs. Rewrite. Keep going until they are masterpieces. Don’t worry about how long it takes. It’s a masterful craft. 

To get private A&R Direction join the waitlist for our next Signature Songwriting Circle.  

Or work with me privately – grab an A&R Session

Use the coupon code: 50off for $50.00 off your session. 

3. Get A&R Direction for your next record 

What is A&R? Artist & Repertoire. 

What does that mean? 

Oh yeah – the development of an artists message, mission, sound + direction.

Why is that important?

Because in a world where 100,000 songs are being uploaded to Spotify every day, you need to be better than what’s out there.

One of my favorite hats I wear as an A&R Director is to help artists make records that skip them ahead a few years of their climb. Having a record that aligns with who you are with a sound that is developed and honed before it’s released will help stand out above the sea of artists trying to get heard.

Your sound and your message on your record needs to be developed and clearly defined. It’s important that you know who you are, know what you want and how to get it.

To get private A&R Direction join the waitlist for our next Signature Songwriting Circle. 

Or work with me privately – grab an A&R Session

Use the coupon code: 50off for $50.00 off your session. 

4. Make Music that Connects with People.

Making music that connects with people, blows up your phone and really moves your career forward is an art —and a process. Most artists it takes several records, even a decade before things really get moving. The artists that spend more time perfecting their songwriting craft tend to shoot ahead. It’s really the song that will carry you forward the fastest. 

Not all of you will be with me here but for those that are I would say: Stop making music for the industry, and start making music for the people. The industry with it’s towers on Park Avenue is on it’s way out. Make the music for the people. They are the ones that support your music today.

5. Build a Magnetic Artist Brand 

Build a magnetic and undeniable brand that is mission driven and authentic.

Brand is the perceptions and feelings people have toward you. A brand is a set of perceptions, ideas, and feelings that a fan has about an artist and the music. It’s intangible. It’s how we feel emotionally, whether that’s positive or negative. It’s the equivalent of a reputation– what you are known for and known to be. When you can connect on a strong emotional level with a fan, you are building a brand. This connection is key; it’s what makes people trust, believe, and love you.

The tangible side of your brand is your Brand Identity: what we can see and hear, the design and voice of the brand. Brand identity is the tangible expression of your brand. It includes common elements like your brand’s name, tagline, logo, colors, images, your music and experiences surrounding your music. It’s what your customers can see and hear…it’s the design and voice of your brand. The stronger and more cohesive your brand identity is, the better chance you have to shape a brand that is recognized and trusted. Being consistent will win out. All the elements of a brand identity come together in a brand guide, which contains your visual brand assets such as logo, fonts, and color palette, brand narrative, mission, messaging, and differentiators, amongst other things.

I teach this in Module 3 of my Step Up to the Spotlight Kickstart Artist Development Program (available here.)  I teach the 22 Essential Elements of a Magnetic Music Brand. 

6. Build a Magnetic Fan Funnel  

Build a magnetic fan funnel that invites people along the journey of your music, getting to know you with CTA’s and Offers along the way (at the appropriate time). Study relationship marketing to build fans for the long term. 

A fan funnel is comprised of: 

• Website
• Email list 
• Free music download opt-in (email form to subscribe to get free music download)
• Thank you page
• Monthly newsletter 
• Email nurture series 
• Free Livestreams (so people can come hear you online and leave tips, buy merch etc.) 
• Monthly residency at a local venue (to build your local following) 
• Community – once you have a list size of 2500 you can start a community (but only if they are an engaged list). Before then is too difficult to keep it going. 

Learn more about the Fan Funnel inside our Artist Sanctuary Monthly Membership where I teach all of the marketing and career building pieces of creating a successful and sustainable career in music. The Artist Sanctuary Monthly Membership for Musicians click here to learn more.

7. Build Magnetic Merch Line that Matters 

Musicians make money mainly from live performance and merch. 

Always have merch available on your website. .

Point to it from your Livestreams – have sales and giveaways. 

I work with artists to develop a merch product line that aligns with their brand that sells. 

Create merch that matters to people. Stuff they want. 

I’m working on several artist product lines at the moment. 

One is an artist from Finland. We came up with several ideas. One is a candle with a unique scent from Finland. The other is a hat and jewelry line (because that is all you see all over his Instagram).

Another artist I work with – her mission is mental health. She has original art prints of a bi-polar person that sells really well for $50. She also hand crochets beanies that she sells at $75 a pop.  

Learn more about developing a product line and and getting the support you need to grow your artist brand inside of our The Artist Sanctuary Monthly Membership for Musicians.

Or work with me privately – grab an A&R Session

Use the coupon code: 50off for $50.00 off your session. 

8.Build Your list of 1000 True Fans

The most important thing you do as an artist is to build your list. Your email list. Yes, your email list is still king. Followers on social media are not fans. The goal is to build your list of true fans. But how do you do that. 

True fans are the ones who believe in you. Your music has rescued them from some dark places. That’s an intimate kind of thing. They feel close to you. And being close to you makes them feel connected to themselves. They listen to your music, share your music, they come to every show, to your Livestreams and buy all of your stuff. They are the biggest supporters of your music. They provide the sustenance that allows you to make your music and continue to be the musician you’ve dreamed of being. So how do you build your list of true fans? That is the million dollar question. 

9. Build Your Career Plan + Strategy – Set Yourself Up to Receive Revenue Streams

Building a fanbase of 1000 true fans and growing revenue streams is the goal for every artist. When I start working with an artist I put on my manager hat to get all of the above set up and be sure we are legally set up to get all of the revenue streams flowing to us. 

To set yourself up to receive royalty streams you’ll need these basics set up: 

• Register Copyrights on released music
  • PA for published authorship 
  • SR for sound recordings 
• Join Performing Rights Organization:
  • register song titles
  • submit live performance venue show lists (as they happen)
  • cue sheets for licensing (as they happen) 
• Register released records with Sound Exchange 
• Set up Distribution: we recommend CDBaby 
• Register with the MLC (in the US): The Mechanical Licensing Collective for mechanical royalties 
• Set up bank account + bookkeeping platform to track expenditures and income
• Find entertainment attorney

Then we work on designing career steps + strategies that fit the artists goals to build their career and career opportunities. Every artist has completely different set of goals. Some artists are going for a label deal, and some artists want to build their own brand. Some artists want to tour nationally or internationally, and some want to stay regional. The plan is built to support the artist’s goals. 

Work with an experienced mentor who knows the business to help design your strategy and direct decisions on your path to the right people and opportunities. 

Stay tuned for Part II and Part III in the next two blogs! 

How to Build Your Fanbase of 1000 True Fans and Grow Your Revenue Streams in 2023, Part I, Part II, Part III

• Blog Part II: Building Your List of 1000 True Fans *released 6.21.2023
• Blog Part III Building Your Revenue Streams to Monetize Your Music *released 6.28.2023

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If you’d like to get my eyes and ears on your brand, your career and your music the best (and cheapest) way to do this is to join our Artist Sanctuary Membership for Musicians. 

Come try it for a month! You can cancel at any time. Plus you get immediate access to our past content. Each month comes with a 2 hour Mastermind, a 90 min Coaching Call where participants can ask questions and get coaching live, Artist Spotlight opportunities to be showcased as well as Bi-monthly Sounding Boards + Listening Sessions and Special Music Industry Guest Speakers. 

Past content you have immediate access to: 

• April: Theme: TRANSFORM: 

* Mastermind, Coaching Call and Sounding Board: Music Marketing: Best Methods + Strategies to Transform Your Marketing and Grow Your Audience

• May: Theme: ELEVATE. 

* Mastermind, Coaching Call and Special Guest Expert Interview with Steven Scharf (Sync Agent):  Branding: Working the 22 Elements to Building a Magnetic Music Brand 

• June: Theme: CONNECT. *dates listed haven’t happened at the release of this blog

*  Mastermind, Coaching Call (6/15) and Sounding Board (on 6/29): How to Connect With New Fans, Grow a Dedicated Audience and Build a Sustainable + Successful Music Career. The Artist Success 1000 True Fans Blueprint + Fan Funnel

“When the pandemic hit and derailed all of my plans, I was feeling lost and defeated. My management deal was in jeopardy and I was ready to abandon my dream of pursuing music altogether. But then, in the midst of my despair, I stumbled upon Cari Cole, and everything changed. With newfound confidence and a fresh perspective, I started making music once again. I ended up being featured in some of the biggest alternative magazines and music media outlets in Germany with a nod from Rolling Stone magazine. Now, my latest single is streaming like crazy, and I’ve had the opportunity to perform at showcases abroad. In fact, my album hit number one on iTunes’ rock genre in Finland. All of this is thanks to the kind, firm, empowering, and just plain perfect mentorship of Cari Cole. Her expertise and encouragement have been invaluable to me, and I am forever grateful for our collaboration.

~ Sam Shaky 

“If you want to find yourself as an artist and learn about the music business, I highly recommend checking out Cari Cole. Cari’s approach towards artist development, the programs she leads and the level of talent you get to work with is amazing! I cannot believe how far I’ve come in the past year!”

~ Sarah Waller 

“Cari has made me a better musician is all ways possible. She’s helped me release my singles, helped me with my voice, and is a great mentor. Couldn’t recommend her enough!! She’s amazing.”

~ Tiffany Howig

“Working with Cari is the single most influential choice I have made on my path to becoming a professional recording artist.  Since I was very young I have had dreams of becoming a ‘pop star’- envisioning myself on a big stage, with bright lights, singing my guts out.  But illustrious fantasies are nothing without the right guidance.  Luckily for me, I found Cari Cole. Cari saw and believed in my potential, I think, even more than I did.  She has helped me put together my band, and been there to guide me while I find my sound and style as an artist.  She has awesome connections, and with her council I showcased for labels, formed relationships with music managers and became a signed artist.  I know if it weren’t for Cari, I would still just be dreaming of what could be. When I started working with her I expected to improve vocally- but I got so much more than I bargained for.  She is a friend, and a mentor, and her steadfast commitment has changed my course as an artist for the better.”

~Rainsford

“Working with Cari Cole and her incredible team has been the most valuable experience of my music career. When I came to Cari and the CCVM team I was confused and frustrated. I was without a clear plan that I felt passionate about in releasing my next music project. Through Cari’s guidance, development and connection to this community of talented writers and artists, I found myself in my art again. I also found beautiful and lasting relationships with other artists and writers in the international music community. If you are feeling stuck and alone in your artistry or music career START HERE. The resources, connections and industry professionals provided to you through Cari Cole’s programs are priceless. Whether you want to improve your vocal performance, songwriting, artist direction, catalog development or work on a solid business plan that’s aligned with you, Cari and her team will get it done with you. Thank you so much Cari Cole, for everything.”

~Alexayndra