Every artist wants that one song to take off. The one that gets playlisted, goes viral and puts their name on the map. But here’s the harsh truth—if you’re only making a handful of songs and banking on just one or two to change your life, you’re playing a losing game.
The real strategy that separates artists who blow up from those who never gain traction is simple: volume.
Most independent artists aren’t making nearly enough music. They write a few songs, tweak them endlessly, release one or two, and then wait. Meanwhile, the artists who are actually breaking through have 30+ radio-ready songs locked and loaded before even thinking about releasing.
Why? Because when you’re creating at that level, you increase your odds of success, you never run out of content, and you learn way more than someone who only finishes a song once every few months.
Let’s break it down.
More Songs = More Chances to Win
Not every song you make is going to be a hit. In fact, most won’t be. But in a batch of 30 songs, there’s a much higher chance that a few will stand out.
This is exactly how major labels operate. They sign an artist, put them in the studio for months, and then pick the best songs from dozens of demos. But as an independent artist, you have to be your own A&R. That means putting in the work upfront and creating a massive catalogue before deciding what to release.
Think about it like this: If you take 30 shots at a target, your chances of hitting it are exponentially higher than if you only take 3.
How to Test What Works (Without Wasting a Release)
Releasing music is expensive—both in time and money. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to release every song officially to see if it works.
Instead, use social media as your testing ground.
- Create multiple creative shorts (TikToks, Reels, YouTube Shorts) using snippets from different songs.
- Post them consistently and track engagement.
- If a song starts getting traction, double down on it—create more videos around it, engage with the comments, and keep pushing.
- The songs that resonate the most? Those become your official releases.
This way, you’re not just throwing music out blindly—you’re letting your audience tell you what they want. The market decides your hits.
Albums Should Be Built From Hits, Not Hopes
Once you’ve tested 30+ songs, some will clearly stand out. These become your lead singles—the ones you officially release, promote, and push to playlists.
But then comes the real power move: curating an album.
Instead of making an album first and hoping people like it, you’re reverse engineering success. You’re taking the best-performing songs, adding a few mid-performers to fill out the story, and releasing a project that already has momentum.
It’s the difference between throwing a party and hoping people show up vs. throwing a party that’s already packed because the crowd built itself.
Why Most Artists Won’t Do This (And Why You Should)
Let’s be honest—this strategy requires a ton of work.
Most artists won’t do it because:
- It’s overwhelming – Writing, recording, and producing 30+ songs takes serious time and dedication.
- They’re afraid to “waste” songs – Some artists get attached to everything they make, but the truth is, not every song needs a full release.
- They want instant results – This strategy is a long game. It’s about building a system, not just chasing a viral moment.
But here’s the thing—even if you don’t blow up, you still win.
- You’ll be a better artist simply from writing and recording that much music.
- You’ll have a massive portfolio—which can open doors for sync licensing, collaborations, and other revenue streams.
- You’ll gain real experience in music marketing by running your own experiment.
- You’ll develop resilience and discipline, which will serve you far beyond music.
Most people quit because they don’t see immediate success. But the artists who stay in the game keep creating and refining their craft. They’re the ones who eventually break through.
So stop waiting for one perfect song to change your life. Instead, make 30, test them, and let the hits reveal themselves.
That’s how you actually set yourself up to win.