The Quiet Giant

While Spotify and Apple Music get the most headlines, Amazon Music has grown into a massive ecosystem, largely thanks to the prevalence of Alexa-enabled smart speakers. For independent artists, Amazon Music offers a unique way to be discovered by families and "casual listeners" who consume music by voice command.

How to Claim Your Profile

1. Download the App: Unlike other platforms, you primarily manage this through the mobile app: "Amazon Music for Artists" (available on iOS and Android).
2. Identify Yourself: Search for your artist name and select it.
3. Verification: Like Spotify, you'll need to link your social media or wait for your distributor to confirm your identity.
4. Access Granted: Once approved, you can start customizing your presence.

Key Features of the Dashboard

• Voice Stats: This is a unique feature. You can see how many people asked Alexa to play your music. This is incredibly valuable for understanding your brand resonance.
• Milestones: Amazon tracks things like your first 1,000 streams or your first global playlist placement.
• Amazon Music Spotlight: A feature that lets you record a short audio introduction for your profile or a specific track. It's like having your own radio intro.
• Physical Sales Link: If you sell vinyl or CDs on Amazon, you can link them directly to your artist profile so fans can buy them with one click.

The Alexa Factor

Successful Amazon Music promotion often centers on voice search optimization. Keep your song titles simple. If a song title is long and complex, people won't ask Alexa for it. Catchy, single-word titles often perform better on this specific platform.

Conclusion

Amazon Music is a vital piece of the streaming puzzle. By claiming your profile and using tools like Spotlight, you cater to a massive audience of smart speaker users who might never find you on Spotify. Don't leave this audience behind!