Back

Instagram for Musicians: Ads, Music Use, and Whitelisting Made Simple

Are you excited to get your tracks in front of more people? If yes, it’s important to know how to promote it on Instagram. Regrettably, just posting your tracks will not make you Instagram’s next viral sensation.

To really make Instagram work for you and your music, you’ll need to create a standout profile, plan engaging content, and make use of features like Instagram Stories and Reels.

No problem, if you’re not familiar with Instagram ads. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of the platform’s potential.

 Simple Steps on How to Run Instagram Ads for Musicians

As a musician, social media advertising can boost your music promotion if done appropriately. If you’re looking to run a successful ad campaign, this beginner’s guide will give you the steps you need to create and manage ads on Instagram.

Set Up an Instagram Business Account: Before running ads, you’ll need to convert your personal Instagram profile to a business account. This will grant you access to Instagram’s ad tools and insights.

If you already use Instagram regularly, just log in to your profile, go to the ‘Settings and privacy’ tab, then choose ‘Account type and tools’. From there, select ‘Switch to a professional account, and boom, you’re set’.

Connect Your Instagram Account to Facebook: IG ads are managed through Facebook’s Ad Manager, you’ll have to link your Instagram account to your Facebook page. Only after completing this, can you promote your ad posts and stories directly on Instagram and create more detailed campaigns using Facebook Ads Manager.

Define Your Goal: Define what you want your IG ads to accomplish. Are you interested in increasing followers, driving streams to your new single, or promoting a live show, having a specific goal is essential.

 To get started, go to the Ads Manager login page. Here, you can create, track, and manage your ads across Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger. Start by clicking ‘Create’ to set your campaign name and choose the main objective for your ad.

Choose Your Audience: Take advantage of Instagram’s targeting features to target your audience. You should focus on demographics such as age, location, and interests.

After setting your ad budget, it’s important to narrow down your target audience. For instance, if you’re a rapper, you might target your ads at hip-hop and rap fans aged 18-35 in areas where your music is popular and has a strong following.

 Create Engaging Content: Your ad content needs to be visually captivating and connect with your targeted audience. Use high-quality images or videos, and ensure your message is clear and straightforward. A catchy call to action like “Listen Now” or “You’re Missing Out!” can make a big difference.

Once you’ve picked your ad placement, upload your eye-catching content aimed at drawing in new fans. Add relevant text to each media piece that suits the specific placement. In the formatting section, decide whether you’re using an image or a video ad.

The format is not relevant, ensure you select content that stands out and encourages your audience to interact. After everything is uploaded, review the ad, hit Publish, and kick off your ad campaign!

Monitor and Adjust: Once your ad is live, use Instagram’s analytics tools to keep an eye on its performance. If it’s not delivering the results you hoped for, you can tweak the audience, content, or budget as needed.

Are you ready to take your music career to the next level? Do you want your music to have nationwide exposure? Our team offers top-notch paid ads and billboard marketing services just for musicians like you. Let’s make your music heard by millions!

 Are Instagram Business Accounts Permitted to Use Music?

The use of music on Instagram can be a bit of a gray area, particularly for business accounts. Here’s all you need to know:

Understanding Instagram’s Music Policy:

  1. Instagram has explicit rules about music use in posts, stories, and ads due to copyright laws. Personal accounts have more freedom, allowing them to use tracks from Instagram’s licensed library. However, business accounts face stricter rules.
  2. Business accounts can only use music that Instagram has licensed, so you can’t just use any song in your posts or ads without the right permissions. In place of using censored music, Instagram has provided a library of royalty-free tracks for business accounts
  3. If you use unlicensed music, your posts could be muted, removed, or even your account for violation of Instagram’s terms of service. To avoid this, use music from Instagram’s library or royalty-free tracks.
  4. However, if you’re a rap artist or musician, you can share your own original tracks in your Instagram content. This is a great way to showcase your music and stay within Instagram’s service terms.

Whitelisting As An Alternative:

If you’re partnering with a brand or another artist, make sure the music you use is whitelisted. Whitelisting grants permission to use specific content, such as music, in your ads or posts without running into copyright issues.

Guidelines on How to Whitelist on Instagram

Whitelisting on Instagram is a useful tool for musicians working with brands or other artists. It lets brands promote content that includes your music or image, while you still maintain control over how your work is used. Here’s how you can whitelist your content on Instagram:

Partnering with Brands: When you are in partnership with a brand, you agree to let them promote posts that include your music or image. This is called whitelisting. It gives the brand the legal right to use your content in their ads.

Setting Up Whitelisting: To whitelist content on Instagram, the brand will require access to your account via Facebook’s Business Manager. This access, however, doesn’t give them control over your account, but it does allow them to promote the specific content you’ve agreed on.

Control and Transparency: As an artist, whitelisting lets you control how your image and music are used in ads. You can set limits on the length of the ad campaign, the regions where the ads will appear, and the specific content that can be promoted.

Benefits of Whitelisting: Whitelisting has many advantages, such as increasing your exposure and helping you reach new audiences. When a brand promotes your content, it can greatly extend your reach beyond your organic followers.

Legal Considerations: Always make sure that any whitelisting agreement is clear and legally binding. It’s a good idea to have a contract that details the terms of the agreement, including the scope of the ad campaign and any compensation involved.

Whitelisting is a valuable tool that helps you expand your brand while keeping control over your creative work. When used effectively, it can result in successful partnerships and greater visibility for your music.

 Wrap-up: Instagram for Musicians

Instagram as a platform offers music artists a robust chance to grow their brand and connect with their audience. By understanding how to run ads, use music legally, and utilize whitelisting, you can maximize your impact on the platform.

Remember, each of these elements requires careful consideration and planning to ensure you stay within Instagram’s guidelines and make the most of your efforts.

Teslim Ademola
Teslim Ademola
https://soundisruptr.com/
I've loved writing and music since I was a kid, blending these two passions led me into writing music related articles. My connection to music drives my commitment into helping music artist succeed. I spend my free time partaking in sporting activities, reading books, and watching movies.

Keep up with our daily and weekly newsletters

Get the latest updates, exclusive insights, and special offers delivered straight to your inbox weekly.