Hello, friends!

Every release day I get questions on how to best support me. There are a lot of options for listening to music these days, so I put together this little guide to hopefully answer a few of those questions.

Should I buy or stream?

Buying music is infinitely more helpful to artists as the royalty rate for streaming is abysmally low (between $0.003 and $0.005 on Spotify, for example). Factor in commissions from the distributors, label cuts, and publishing deals, and this is can be reduced significantly.

Where should I buy your music?

The two best places to buy music from me are directly on my website or from Bandcamp (not from places like iTunes, Amazon, etc). Occasionally releases may not be available from these platforms due to various licensing deals, but the majority of my catalogue will reside in both places.

There are advantages to both:

  • When you buy through my website, the only thing that comes out is a very low credit card transaction fee.

  • When you buy through Bandcamp, it helps in a number of ways. For one, you can pay above asking if you’re really enjoying the release. Secondly, Bandcamp is one of the primary discovery and sales avenues for both new and established artists—so every purchase and pre-order bumps my music up in the system making it more easily discoverable by others.

What is Bandcamp exactly?

If you’re new to Bandcamp, it’s an online record store and the leading platform for indie and emerging artists. You can purchase music in digital and physical format (where available), as well as merch, directly supporting creators and in turn offering more exposure to the artist. Here are just a few reasons why I think it’s awesome:

  • You can pay above asking-price if you really enjoy the music.

  • You’re getting high-quality audio. Fun fact: what you hear on streaming platforms is always compressed and of reduced quality. With Bandcamp, you’re hearing the music exactly as the artist intended.

  • You can connect directly with the artist via messaging and read backstory on the releases. Its a much more personal touch and a human connection in the age of the digital.

  • It’s free to create an account, and they have a handy mobile app!

I don’t really want to buy digital music, is there another way I can support you?

Yes! You can buy merch and sheet music through my website or Bandcamp when available, donate through PayPal (you can also access this via the Spotify app when you navigate to my page), buy me a virtual coffee, or simply Venmo me! Every dollar you spend goes directly back into making music.

What’s the best platform for streaming?

Apple Music pays the highest, so we like those guys. Streaming’s not all bad, either—I have a streaming subscription as well! Here are some things that are super helpful when streaming:

  • Pre-save the music before it comes out
    Streaming services respond to the number of people that pre-save ahead of time

  • Save or favorite the release
    Streaming services take note of tracks that are saved, not just listened to—the more saves, the better

  • Follow me on Spotify

  • Add the release to your playlists
    Again, largely a numbers thing—the more playlists you get added to, the better you tend to do on streaming platforms

What about pre-orders?

I love pre-orders. Pre-orders are magical. The best place to pre-order is through my Bandcamp page. I can’t emphasize enough how valuable pre-orders are to an artist! They help get a release established by creating buzz and also help the music begin charting early.

Thank you so much for your support!