Building A Community Instead Of An Audience
Have you ever wondered why your audience or listeners are listening to you? Do you know your audience? Or better yet, do they know you? I find today that a lot of artists around me are so focused on reaching everyone everywhere. They want the whole world to be one big audience. But let me tell you this now, not everyone is going to like our music, and that's okay. Rather than focusing on building our audience, we should shift our focus to the audience that we already have. There's power in understanding.
I decided when I first started making music for myself as a solo musician that this time around I would no longer make music for people that won’t be a fan. I didn’t want to chase listeners any more so to speak. So what I did and what has really been working for me was I started posting online and writing songs with messages that I value and really focused on every single person that was drawn to my music because of my messaging. I thought to myself, rather than build an audience of people I don’t know, I will build a community of listeners that I will treat as if they are my friends. Fast forward 1 year after doing this method and I now have over 10,000 followers across all socials (Spotify and Apple Music included). Now how did I actually put this method into practice? You may be asking. I started by responding to every single comment anywhere that someone reached out. I really made it my goal to know these listeners' names, where they're from, why they're listening, etc. Responding to everyone makes people feel seen in a world where we are separated by screens. I also started a broadcast channel, email list as well as a patreon right away with the thought in mind, these platforms aren’t going to have many people right away. But it is a place I can send people who want to feel like they’re apart of my career as a musician. Rather than be just another listener my community becomes invested through these channels.
To be fair, I’m also shifting my focus to building a community rather than building a mass audience because I find the alternative to be draining. It feels more sincere doing it this way and knowing that my listeners care and want to be a part of this journey with me. There’s an art to knowing your audience and I think everyone should practice this.
With a voice that feels both familiar and fresh, London, ON-born, Windsor, ON-based singer-songwriter Addi John steps confidently into a new chapter with his single “These Walls,” out now.