If you're an independent artist looking to boost your music career, you've likely come across Burstimo. With their slick YouTube channel and promises of comprehensive music marketing services, they've certainly caught the attention of many aspiring musicians. But is Burstimo worth the hype - and more importantly, the hefty price tag? Let's dive in.
Burstimo is a music marketing company run by music marketers who claim to have helped hundreds of artists grow their music careers. They offer a range of services aimed at boosting an artist's presence in the industry, with a particular focus on Spotify promotion.
One artist shared their experience with Burstimo's playlist promotion service, which gives us some insight into what you might expect:
Campaign duration: 6 weeks
Cost 😳: Approximately £4,500 (including an extra £500 for a Facebook campaign)
Results: Around 12,000 streams, primarily from Burstimo's own playlists
Burstimo's Services:
While this campaign may have been on the lower end for their Spotify playlisting estimates, one thing that is consistent is artists say Burstimo is QUITE expensive for what you get.
They now offer a new, lower priced membership model as well, but it is vague on what exactly you are getting with the playlisting options.
Here is what is described on their website:
Playlisting and Press Opportunities: Members can submit to Spotify playlisting opportunities and press features on music blogs like Wonderland, Notion, and Earmilk.
Professional Feedback: They bring in industry professionals like A&Rs, songwriters, and Spotify editors to provide personal feedback to members.
Masterclasses: Video masterclasses on topics like TikTok, Spotify editorial playlists, music sync, and music law.
Social Media Trends: Weekly PDFs with updates on TikTok and Instagram trends.
Q&A and Guides: Access to answered questions and comprehensive guides on various music industry topics.
Consultancy Calls: Members can request calls with Burstimo's founders at a reduced cost.
Resources and Databases: Access to templates (EPK, press release, emails) and databases of influencers and music blogs.
Exclusive Discounts: Partnerships with industry companies for discounts on various services.
Comprehensive service: They offer a wide range of marketing services beyond just playlist pitching.
Industry connections: Access to feedback from music industry professionals could be valuable.
Educational resources: Masterclasses and guides could provide useful knowledge for emerging artists.
VERY high cost: At around £4,000-£5,000 for a campaign, Burstimo is out of reach for many independent artists. Even with their new membership model, the lowest cost is around $60/month and it is unclear how valuable the playlisting opportunities are.
Limited reach: Unlike other agencies, Burstimo isn't pitching your music to a vast network of playlist owners. This may limit long-term growth.
Questionable value: The cost-per-stream ratio seems high based on the example provided.
Mixed reputation: Despite their visibility, some artists have reported less-than-stellar experiences. To be fair to Burstimo, you'll get mixed reviews with every service because artists are, well... people. Not everyone's music will perform the same. Nevertheless, the price tag for Burstimo makes it less appealing than others.
While Burstimo offers a broad range of services, there's a more cost-effective and powerful tool available for Spotify promotion: Playlist IQ by Recordlabel.ai.
Playlist IQ finds contact info for thousands of dominant Spotify playlists & gives you advanced data about each list BEFORE you pitch to them.
Cost-effective: Playlist IQ offers plans starting at a fraction of Burstimo's price, making it accessible to artists at all levels.
World-class, Data-driven approach: Playlist IQ uses real data from hundreds of playlists to provide accurate stream estimations, allowing you to make informed decisions about where to pitch your music.
DIY empowerment: Instead of relying solely on a company's playlists, Playlist IQ gives you the tools to find and pitch to a wide range of relevant playlists yourself.
Customizable search: Filter playlists by genre, follower growth, estimated streams, language, and more, ensuring you're targeting the most suitable playlists for your music.
Integrated pitching: With built-in pitch templates and an email system, you can streamline your outreach process right from the platform.
Long-term growth: Playlist IQ's lifetime pre-save feature helps you build a compounding fan base over time, potentially leading to more sustainable growth.
Extra features included at no cost: With voice-to-voice and voice-to-instruments features, you can even create music for multiple artist projects, increasing your chances of success.
While Burstimo offers a comprehensive suite of services, the high cost and mixed results reported by some users make it a questionable investment for most independent artists.
Playlist IQ, on the other hand, offers a more affordable, data-driven, and empowering approach specifically tailored to Spotify promotion. By giving you the tools and knowledge to manage your own playlist outreach, it not only saves you money but also helps you build valuable skills and connections in the industry.
Remember, success on Spotify isn't just about short-term streams or having access to a wide array of services - it's about building a sustainable career. With Playlist IQ, you're investing in your long-term growth and independence as an artist, with a focus on what often matters most: getting your music heard on Spotify.
Ready to take control of your Spotify success? Give Playlist IQ a try and see the difference for yourself.
From the most advanced Spotify playlist database in the world to our state-of-the-art Voice-to-Instrument tool, ALL our products are free to try!
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