Scrolling through social media, you feel overwhelmed by the pressure to post content and stay active. Sound familiar? “I can’t stand doing social media,” you say, and believe me, I totally understand. I’ve been there, and I know plenty of artists who feel the same way. Here’s the thing: You don’t have to do social media to be an artist. You really don’t. But what you do need to do is be honest with yourself about what you want from your music and what you’re willing to do to achieve it.
Let’s address a common pattern I see among musicians and creatives. You get inspired, tell yourself you’re going all-in on music, start pushing your art, and dive into promotion and marketing. Then, after a few months, the burnout sets in. You stop posting, you stop engaging, and you convince yourself that maybe music isn’t your thing after all. You step back, go back to your day job or other life commitments, and a few months later, the cycle repeats.
Sound familiar? If it does, think about how exhausting it feels to get caught in this loop—the initial excitement, the relentless push, and then the inevitable crash. It takes an emotional toll, making you question your passion and your purpose. But here’s the good news: this cycle isn’t sustainable, and you don’t have to keep repeating it. It’s creating unnecessary stress and emotional trauma for you. It’s also making music—something you love—feel like a burden instead of a joy. You don’t have to live like that. You don’t have to choose between going all-in or giving up completely. The truth is, you can find a middle ground that allows you to keep creating music without feeling trapped by the business side of things.
There’s this myth out there that if you’re not on social media 24/7, you can’t succeed as an artist. But consider artists like FKJ, who focus on crafting their sound and live performances while maintaining a minimal, authentic online presence. It shows that success can come from honing your craft and building meaningful connections rather than chasing algorithms. But that’s not true. Yes, if your goal is to build a massive following, sell products, and make a career out of music, then marketing and promotion are part of the deal. But if your goal is simply to create, express yourself, and share your art occasionally, you can absolutely do that on your own terms.
It’s important to recognize the two main types of social media users: content creators and consumers. Content creators are there to build a brand, share their art, and connect with an audience. Consumers are there to scroll, like, and watch. If you’re not interested in building a brand and selling a product, you’re better off limiting your time on social media or avoiding it altogether.
But what if you want to be a creator without feeling like you’re chained to the platform? You can. The key is finding balance—and that balance looks different for everyone. You don’t have to post every day, and you don’t have to be on every platform. You can choose a schedule that works for you, keeps things light, and makes the process enjoyable rather than overwhelming.
Here’s an encouraging reminder: You’re likely being much harder on yourself than anyone else is. Most people aren’t paying as much attention to your social media presence as you think. So, stop putting so much pressure on yourself to do things a certain way. Find a pace and a process that feels good for you.
If you’re someone who loves creating music but hates the hustle of marketing, I’ve got a solution: the 2-Song-Per-Year Strategy & Plan: A Practical Solution for Artists Looking to Balance Their Creativity and Marketing Efforts. This is a balanced, low-pressure approach that allows you to create and share your music while keeping the process fun and sustainable.
2-Song-Per-Year Strategy & Plan
Goals:
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Release 2 high-quality songs per year.
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Maintain a growing and engaged fanbase.
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Focus on creativity and fun rather than aggressive marketing.
Time Commitment:
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Light production work.
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Casual social media interaction.
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Enjoyable and stress-free schedule.
Yearly Breakdown
First Song Release:
Months 1-2: Songwriting and Early Production
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Creative Flow: Dedicate some time each week (2-3 hours on weekdays and weekends) to songwriting and experimenting with ideas. This can include jamming with friends, revisiting old song ideas, or starting fresh.
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Casual Instrument Practice: Play your instrument regularly but keep it low-pressure. Aim for 30-60 minutes of casual practice 3-4 times per week.
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Start Early Production: Once you have a song idea that you’re excited about, start working on a basic demo in your DAW. Focus on creating a simple but effective arrangement.
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Capture the Process: Record 1 short video and take a couple of pictures with each studio session. Make it easy, light, and fun. We just want to be In Real Life (IRL).
Month 3: Recording & Mixing & Final Cover Art
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Recording the Final Track: Set aside time (maybe a couple of weekends) to record the final version of the song. Keep the recording process fun and casual, without the pressure of perfection.
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Mixing: If you enjoy mixing, do it yourself over a few weeks. If not, hire a freelance mixer to handle it.
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Artwork & Visuals: Create simple artwork for the song—whether it’s a fun DIY photo or an illustration that matches the song’s vibe. Use a service like Canva or hire a freelance designer.
Month 4: Distribution Upload & Pre-Release Promotion
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Upload to Distribution: Pick a distributor like Distrokid. Upload your song and artwork, and set a release date four weeks out. Create a pre-save link.
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Teasers on Social Media: Share snippets of the song with your audience on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Two to three posts over the month are enough to build some casual excitement.
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Pre-Save Campaign: Encourage fans to pre-save the song. You can even incentivize them with a small giveaway (like personalized thank-you notes).
Month 5: Release the First Single
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Release Day: Share the track across streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Post on social media to let your fans know the song is out. Keep it light and fun.
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Music Video (Optional): Shoot a DIY music video or lyric video. Keep it simple and enjoyable.
Month 6: Post-Release
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Casual Promotion: Share fun and organic content around the release, such as fan reactions, live acoustic versions, or behind-the-scenes clips.
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Engage with Fans: Reply to comments, do a few live sessions on Instagram and TikTok, and chat with fans about the release in a laid-back way.
Second Song Release:
Follow a similar structure for the second half of the year. The idea is to keep things manageable and enjoyable while continuing to create and share your art.
This plan allows you to balance life with music in a way that feels sustainable and fun, while still pushing your artistry forward. Remember, the goal isn’t to stress yourself out—it’s to make music and share it in a way that feels good for you. Find your balance, and stop the cycle of burnout and self-doubt.
If you need help or a deeper understanding of how to manage life and music, you might be a candidate for my mentorship program. Grab a consultation appointment here https://KjSawka.as.me/student-consultation