Is Buying Spotify Monthly Listeners a Smart Investment for New Artists?

In today’s music scene, where every click counts, gaining traction on Spotify can feel like a never-ending uphill battle. For new artists, the temptation to buy Spotify listeners might seem like a clever shortcut to boost credibility and get those algorithms to finally play nice. But is it really worth it? With thousands of tracks dropping every day, standing out can seem almost impossible without a little push.

Before you start swiping your card, let’s break down the pros and cons of buying monthly listeners. Is it a smart investment for building your brand, or just a risky gamble that could backfire? In this article, we’ll dive into everything you need to know to decide if this strategy is your golden ticket—or just fool’s gold.

How Many Monthly Listeners on Spotify Should You Have?

Spotify is the top choice for many musicians who want to build their careers and get noticed. With over 100 million tracks and nearly 6,000 different genres, it’s no wonder artists pick Spotify over other platforms like Apple Music, SoundCloud, or YouTube Music. The reasons are simple: Spotify offers free tools to release, promote, and share music, has easy-to-understand ways to make money, and lets you earn more as your streams grow.

When people hear about a new artist they like, they usually head to Spotify to check out their songs and, most importantly, their stats. Musicians know this, so they share their Spotify profiles everywhere, focusing on boosting their numbers. One of the most important stats is monthly listeners. This number shows how many unique people are playing your songs every month and is a huge factor in helping artists grow and look more popular. Naturally, every musician wants to see this number go up month after month.

The ideal number of monthly listeners on Spotify depends on your goals and where you are in your music career.

For emerging artists, having between 1,000 to 5,000 monthly listeners can be a major achievement, showing that your fan base is expanding.

Meanwhile, established artists usually aim for tens of thousands to even millions of monthly listeners on Spotify.

What Do the Stats on Spotify Mean?

What Does “Monthly Listeners” Really Mean?

So, what exactly are “monthly listeners” on Spotify? It’s pretty straightforward: this number shows how many unique people have played your tracks in the past 28 days. If one person plays your song a hundred times, they still count as just one monthly listener. For example, if one listener plays your track every day for two weeks and another plays it just once, they both count as unique monthly listeners.

Monthly listeners matter a lot because they show how big your audience is and help your chances of getting on popular playlists. Plus, more listeners mean more potential earnings. In the next sections, we’ll talk about what a good monthly listener count looks like and share some tips to help you boost that number without using any sketchy tricks. Keep reading!

What Does the “Monthly Listeners” Metric on Spotify Mean?

In simple terms, it’s the count of unique users who have played your tracks within a 28-day period. Even if one person streams your song multiple times, they will still count as just one monthly listener. For example, if one listener plays your track every day for two weeks and another listens only once during that 28-day window, both will still be counted as unique monthly listeners. This metric helps you understand how many different people are actually tuning in to your music.

Why Is the Unique Monthly Listener Count on Spotify So Important?

Tracking the number of unique monthly listeners on Spotify is more than just watching a number go up. This metric gives artists valuable insights into how well their music is doing, how much interest it’s generating, and what the future might hold. By keeping an eye on this stat, musicians can better understand:

1. How relevant is your music?
   The more unique listeners you attract, the more your music is resonating with people. A growing listener count means your tracks are hitting the right notes.

2. What’s your engagement level?
   If Spotify is recommending your tracks to more people, it’s a clear sign that your engagement level is high. More unique listeners suggest that your songs are not only being heard but liked enough to share.

3. What’s your potential reach?
   This stat shows how many different people are coming across your music each month and how many of them actually decide to listen. Understanding this helps you figure out if your promotional efforts are paying off.

Each of these points is a piece of the bigger picture of your success on Spotify. Since the main goal is to grow your audience and get your music out there, identifying what’s working and what’s not is crucial. So how do you improve these numbers? By using the right tools to promote your music, boost engagement, and make your marketing efforts more effective.

How Many Monthly Listeners on Spotify Make an Artist Famous?

There’s no single answer to how many monthly listeners it takes to become famous on Spotify. Fame is influenced by a mix of factors, including listener count, engagement, playlist features, and even genre. However, having a large and growing listener base is a strong indicator of an artist’s rising popularity. Let’s dive deeper into what it really takes to reach fame on Spotify and how different strategies can help you get there.

Building a Steady Listener Base

A steady increase in monthly listeners can be a clear path to fame. For example, Billie Eilish started with just a few thousand monthly listeners but quickly saw that number grow as more people discovered her music. Through a combination of unique sound, consistent releases, and strong branding, her listener count skyrocketed.

Today, Billie Eilish consistently has over 50 million monthly listeners, making her one of Spotify’s most-followed artists. Her journey proves that gradually building a dedicated fan base can transform you from an emerging artist to a global superstar. For most new artists, reaching between 1,000 to 5,000 monthly listeners is a significant milestone, indicating a growing fan base and setting the stage for bigger opportunities. Established artists, however, often aim for tens of thousands to even millions of listeners to maintain their fame and influence.

The Power of a Viral Hit

While a steady climb is one way to achieve fame, sometimes all it takes is one viral track. A perfect example of this is Lil Nas X with his song “Old Town Road”. The track’s unexpected virality on TikTok quickly translated into massive monthly listeners on Spotify, pushing him from an unknown artist to a global sensation almost overnight.

Within months, “Old Town Road” had millions of monthly listeners, proving that even one extremely popular track can create a huge surge in listeners and open doors to mainstream fame. Viral success often leads to spikes in monthly listeners that can range from hundreds of thousands to several million in a short period, which can be a game-changer for an emerging artist.

Connecting with Your Audience

Beyond just numbers, how you interact with your fans can significantly impact your monthly listeners. Artists who actively engage with their audience on social media, live streams, and concerts tend to see higher listener retention and growth.

Engagement not only helps keep your existing fans interested but also encourages them to share your music, bringing in new listeners. For example, post-release Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes content, and shoutouts to fans can strengthen loyalty and expand your reach. A loyal and interactive fan base is more likely to support your music consistently, turning casual listeners into dedicated followers.

The Playlist Effect

Getting your tracks featured on popular Spotify playlists like “Today’s Top Hits” can be a game-changer. These playlists have millions of followers, and a spot on them can dramatically boost your monthly listener count. For emerging artists, even being included on a smaller curated playlist can provide a significant bump in listeners and exposure.

Spotify’s algorithmic playlists, such as “Discover Weekly” or “Release Radar”, also play a crucial role. If your songs perform well, the algorithm will push them to more users, creating a snowball effect that can rapidly increase your monthly listeners. Being featured on playlists not only raises your listener count but also signals to Spotify’s algorithm that your music is worth promoting further.

Genre and Audience

Your music genre and target audience can also influence how many monthly listeners you need to be considered famous. For example:

• Mainstream Pop Artists: Often aim for millions of monthly listeners due to the broad appeal of their music.
• Niche Genres: Artists in less popular genres might find that 50,000 to 100,000 monthly listeners can already make them quite well-known within their niche.
• Indie Artists: Reaching 10,000 to 50,000 listeners can be seen as a big success, especially if they have high engagement and strong community support.

Understanding your target audience and setting realistic goals for your genre can help you focus your marketing efforts more effectively. Tailoring your strategies based on what appeals to your listeners can make it easier to increase your monthly listeners steadily.

Should New Artists Buy Spotify Monthly Listeners?

For emerging artists aiming to enhance their presence on Spotify, the idea of purchasing monthly listeners might seem like a quick route to success. However, it’s crucial to weigh the potential benefits against the inherent risks associated with this approach.​

Potential Benefits

1. Enhanced Social Proof

Purchasing Spotify listeners for artists can create the impression that your music is already popular, which can influence real users to check out your tracks. When potential fans see a high listener count, they may assume your music is worth listening to. This effect is particularly strong for new artists trying to break out of obscurity. A profile with a higher count of Spotify listeners for artists appears more credible, potentially encouraging organic followers to hit play. If a user stumbles upon your profile and sees 5,000 monthly listeners instead of 50, they are far more likely to give your songs a chance. Social proof can act as a psychological trigger, making people curious about what they might be missing out on.

2. Boost to Spotify’s Algorithm

Spotify listeners for artists play a crucial role in how Spotify’s algorithm promotes music. An increased number of monthly listeners might signal to Spotify’s system that your tracks are gaining traction, which can lead to more frequent recommendations on playlists like Discover Weekly or Release Radar. If your listener count suddenly increases, Spotify’s algorithm might push your tracks to more listeners, helping you reach new audiences organically. This effect can be especially useful for getting featured on user-generated playlists, which can significantly boost your exposure.

3. Increased Perceived Popularity for Gigs and Labels

For new artists looking to secure gigs or attract the attention of record labels, having a higher count of Spotify listeners for artists can serve as a form of validation. Promoters and labels often use these metrics to assess an artist’s potential drawing power and marketability. A robust listener count can make you look more established and appealing for collaborations or contracts. An indie label browsing Spotify might be more inclined to reach out if they see that an emerging artist already has a steady base of monthly listeners.

Significant Risks

1. Detection of Inauthentic Activity

Spotify has strict policies against artificial streaming and uses sophisticated detection algorithms to spot unusual streaming patterns, such as spikes from unfamiliar locations or repetitive plays from a limited number of accounts. If these patterns are detected, Spotify can remove your songs, reduce their visibility, or even ban your profile permanently. In 2018, several artists had their tracks removed from Spotify for suspected use of paid streams, leading to a drop in credibility and potential revenue loss. This kind of penalty can be devastating for new artists who rely heavily on Spotify listeners for artists to build their careers.

2. Low Engagement Metrics

While buying listeners might inflate your monthly count, these listeners typically do not interact authentically with your music. Metrics like saves, shares, playlist adds, and overall engagement might remain low, which can make it obvious that the boost was artificial. Spotify’s algorithm also prioritizes tracks with high engagement rates, so a lack of genuine interaction could limit your music’s reach. An artist with 10,000 monthly listeners but very few saves or playlist adds might raise red flags to both Spotify’s algorithm and savvy users, undermining the credibility gained from a higher listener count.

However, these drawbacks can be avoided if you choose to buy Spotify monthly listeners from reputable providers like BuildMyPlays. Known for their genuine reviews from real customers on reliable sites, BuildMyPlays focuses on delivering high-quality, authentic listeners who engage naturally with your music. By opting for trusted services, you can boost your listener count without raising red flags or risking your profile’s credibility, allowing you to focus on making great music and reaching a wider audience.

Are There Other Ways to Increase Spotify Listeners for Artists?

Absolutely! There are many effective ways for artists to grow their Spotify listeners without buying them. Here are some simple and specific strategies to help you reach more people and build a loyal fan base:

1. Optimize Your Spotify for Artists Profile

Making your Spotify profile look professional and interesting is one of the first things you should do. This includes:

• Choosing a Great Profile Picture: A high-quality photo that represents your style.
• Writing a Catchy Bio: A short, engaging description about you and your music.
• Adding Social Links: Connecting your Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok accounts.
• Highlighting Playlists: Pinning your best playlists or tracks to the top of your profile.
  When your profile looks good and has all the right information, it’s easier to turn casual visitors into followers and regular listeners.

2. Release Music Consistently

Regularly putting out new songs keeps your current listeners interested and can attract new ones. It’s a good idea to:

• Plan a Release Schedule: Aim to drop a new single every 4-6 weeks if possible.
• Build Hype: Use social media to tease new songs with short clips or behind-the-scenes posts.
• Release EPs or Albums: If you have enough material, releasing a small album can give your listeners more to explore.
  Consistency not only keeps your audience engaged but also helps Spotify’s algorithm notice your activity, which can lead to more recommendations.

3. Promote Your Music on Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool to get more Spotify listeners for artists. Some tips to make the most out of it:

• TikTok Challenges: Share short, catchy parts of your songs for TikTok challenges. Many songs have gone viral this way.
• Instagram Stories and Reels: Post clips of your music or behind-the-scenes videos with swipe-up links to Spotify.
• YouTube Shorts: Create simple lyric or visualizer videos with links to your Spotify in the description.
  Engaging with your fans on social media can drive them to your Spotify profile and encourage them to share your music.

4. Collaborate with Other Artists

Teaming up with other artists can introduce your music to their fans, helping you get more Spotify listeners for artists. Here’s how to do it:

• Feature on Each Other’s Songs: Trading features is a simple way to share audiences.
• Cross-Promote: Share each other’s music on social media.
• Collaborative Playlists: Create a playlist featuring both your songs and theirs, then promote it together.
  Collaborations are a win-win: you expand your audience, and so do they!

5. Create and Share Playlists

Making your own playlists that include your tracks along with popular songs in your genre can attract new listeners. Tips for effective playlists:

• Pick a Theme: Create playlists based on moods, activities, or genres (like “Chill Vibes” or “Workout Hits”).
• Add Popular Songs: Mix in popular tracks to help your playlist show up in searches.
• Promote Your Playlist: Share it on social media and in your Spotify bio.
  This strategy not only gets your songs more plays but also helps Spotify’s algorithm take notice.

6. Use Spotify’s Promotional Tools

Spotify offers several built-in tools to help artists grow. Some of the most useful are:

• Playlist Pitching: Submit new tracks directly to Spotify’s editors for a chance to be featured on official playlists.
• Marquee: A paid tool that shows your new releases as a full-screen recommendation to targeted listeners.
• Discovery Mode: Allows you to boost certain tracks in radio and autoplay, helping them reach more listeners.
• Showcase: Displays your music on Spotify’s home page with clickable banners.
  Using these tools can significantly increase your visibility and attract more Spotify listeners for artists.

7. Perform Live (Even Online!)

Live performances can be a powerful way to gain new fans. Consider these options:

• Instagram or TikTok Live: Perform a few songs live and encourage viewers to check out your Spotify.
• Virtual Concerts: Platforms like YouTube Live or Twitch can help you reach a wider audience.
• Local Shows: Playing at local venues or open mics can help you connect with new listeners directly.
  After each performance, make sure to mention your Spotify profile so new fans know where to find you.

Final Words