10 Ways Indie Artists Can Crush December

The music industry slows in December. Real hustlers don't. Here's how to best utilize the last month of the year.

Photo by Olia Danilevich @danilevich_olia

1. Update your Assets

When you're in between release cycles, take the time to spruce up your website, freshening up the photos and adding any new press features or streaming numbers you've gained. You should also update your Artist Bio if you haven't done so in a while (I would recommend hiring a professional bio writer if you have a little holiday cash; they make such a difference! Email me if you'd like some good recommendations.) And of course, update your EPK (electronic press kit), so when your next release is done, your pitching assets are ready to go.

2. Take new press photos + videos

Most artists and photographers take a break from touring in December, so use the time to get together and shoot some new high-res photos for press or just out-and-about photos for social content. This is also a great time to shoot a music video or short clips for socials. Get creative!

3. Get ahead on content creation

When January comes, and life gets busy again, you're going to wish you'd used this time to get ahead on some social content. If you write blog posts like me, or email newsletters, graphic designs, or just killer captions, get a batch of content ready and in the cannon.

4. Brush up your skills

No matter how proficient or experienced you are in your craft, it never hurts to brush up on the basics or level up your game. This could mean taking advanced lessons in an instrument you already play, learning a new instrument, taking a Skillshare course on photo/video editing or digital marketing, or even something non-music-related that you've always been curious about but never had the time for. Knowledge is power, so get educated!

5. You need a budget

If you fell off a little on tracking your income and expenses this year, now's the time to get organized before we file taxes in January and plan the budget for 2022. I like using Bonsai, a finance-tracking site specifically designed for freelancing creatives. Others use QuickBooks or Mint or FreshBooks, whatever works for you. Budgeting is super important for indie artists working with a limited budget, so get help from a pro if you need it.

6. Write, write, write

Turn off that phone, take some alone time, and get the creative juices flowing. Now's the time to write songs, blog posts, newsletters, poems, letters for Christmas cards, even just journal entries. It's all good for your mental health and creative acuity. A solid brain dump now will give you source material for when you're stuck with writer's block later down the road.

7. Re-connect

Get together with friends you don't get to see often, or just pick up the phone and call. Update your industry contact lists and send everyone who's supported you this year, both personally and professionally, a Holiday Thank-You email (or better yet, an actual card in the mail!) It'll really mean something special, and we're nothing without our tribe.

8. Clean house

Chances are, you probably have tons of old audio, photo, or video files on your iCloud or Google Drive that you don't need anymore. Take a couple hours to clean out your digital clutter so you don't end up paying for storage space you don't need.

9. Anybody read?

I've got an email folder called "To Read" that I fill with industry articles and interesting stuff throughout the year that I want to read but don't have time for. Now's the time to catch up on blogs, books, news, and how-to's.

10. Plan January + February releases

Music journalists are planning their editorial features for January NOW, so if you're planning to release any music in January or February, now is the time to pitch. If you're promoting your own single and have a limited budget, you can read the best way to do that here, and if you're planning for an album release in the spring, shoot me an email and let's work together :-) Happy holidays, y'all! -M