Welcome [back] to another week of your weekly dose 🎶

Every Tuesday, I’ll be sharing tips, updates, and must-know music marketing insights to help you get your music heard!

By Finch Bergling 🙂

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Hey you! 👋

I've sent 46 newsletters this year - the most consistent I've ever been with anything in my life 😅

What keeps me going? You. Over 55% of you open these emails every single week. That's insane. You showing up in my inbox stats every Tuesday makes this whole thing worth it.

Quick note: All past newsletters are now organized by date here if you want to binge-read over the holidays.
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But I need to ask you something:

Here's the weird thing - tons of you open these emails, but almost nobody replies.

I genuinely can't tell: Are these tips actually helping? Is the weekly reel idea useful or just taking up space?

I'm considering cutting the reel section in 2026 unless you tell me otherwise.

So please, take 30 seconds:

• Reply and tell me what's working (or what sucks)
• Or click your choice in this quick poll below

I love writing for you, but speaking into the void gets lonely. Help me make this newsletter exactly what you need.

Talk to me. I promise I read every single reply 🙏

What content helps you most? Weekly reel ideas (keep or cut?) Step-by-step marketing guides Personal stories from my journey Industry news and platform updates

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Your Weekly Reel Idea

In the last quarter of 2025, something weird happened - carousels started outperforming reels.

Before, you needed a viral reel to reach millions. Now? I'm seeing basic carousels with text on photos getting 2-3M views regularly.

Here's the twist: These aren't your grandma's photo dumps. Musicians figured out how to turn carousels into music promotion machines.

📝 Content Summary: A band creates a 3-slide carousel with simple photos and strategic text overlays following a hook → introduction → call to action structure, with their song playing in the background.

🎦 How to create a similar Reel:

1. Find 3-5 photos from your music journey - studio sessions, live shows, or even selfies with bandmates (they don't need to be perfect)
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2. Write text for each slide:
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   ​Slide 1: Hook ["Too bad nobody listens to indie rock anymore, so you'll probably scroll past this"]
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   ​Slide 2-3: Introduction ["Hey, I'm Sarah, been making music in my bedroom for 3 years"]
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   ​Last slide: Call to action ["My new song 'Midnight' is out now - link in bio"]
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3. Use Canva to add text - pick a bold, readable font and high contrast colors.
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4. Critical step: Add your song as background audio when posting. This pushes your carousel into the Reels feed, multiplying your reach by 10x

🤔 Why does it work so well?

1. Adding music makes Instagram treat your carousel like a reel, giving it access to the Reels feed's massive reach while facing less competition than actual video reels.
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2. Starting with "nobody listens to X anymore" or "you'll probably skip this" triggers reverse psychology. People HAVE to prove you wrong by engaging.​
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3. Unlike reels that fly by in 15 seconds, carousels let viewers control the pace. They spend more time per slide, increasing watch time and boosting your reach even more.
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4. Raw photos with honest text feel less "promotional" than polished video content. Viewers trust it more and are more likely to actually check out your music.

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Your Weekly Tip

Let me tell you about one of the worst songs I thought I'd ever heard.

7 months ago, walking through Tokyo, I was listening to a pop editorial playlist when THAT song came on.

"Gnarly" by KATSEYE.

The lyrics were absurd. The sound design was weird. The structure made no sense. I thought it was a joke.

Spoiler alert: It actually IS a joke (the song parodies modern pop music).

But that's not my point. I hated this song. It made me hate pop music.
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Fast forward one month.

I'm in Seoul, South Korea - the capital of K-Pop. Music everywhere, dancers on every corner.

The first song I hear? "APT." The second? "Gangnam Style" (they love their clichés).

And the third? You guessed it - "Gnarly."

That horrible song, blasting on Seoul's main streets?

I stopped to watch a dance group perform it. And then it hit me.

My foot started moving. My body felt the rhythm. My eyes locked onto the choreography. The song wasn't meant to exist alone - it was made to be DANCED to. Combined with movement, it suddenly worked.

Later, Googling in my hotel room, I discovered it was written as a parody. A catchy, brilliant parody.

They nailed it.

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Here's why this story matters for 2026:

AI has won. Everyone can make music now. 2x more songs on Spotify daily. Your production quality matters less than ever.

What you DO with your music? That matters more than ever.

In 2026, music without context will die fast.

How can you save it?

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Step 1: Tell your story (everywhere)

Every song has a story - even "Gnarly." Make sure people know yours.

• Film yourself explaining the story behind each song. Pin it to your profile. Uncomfortable on camera? Make a carousel instead.
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• Upload your lyrics and their meaning to Genius - so when someone Googles your song, they find YOUR story.
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• Spotify's launching "SongDNA" in early 2026 - a section for song meanings next to credits. When it drops, use it immediately (and please, write it yourself - no AI)

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Step 2: Connect your music to something visual

Have you watched K-Pop: Demon Hunters? It's a Netflix movie about a K-Pop group topping Billboard. The soundtrack ACTUALLY topped Billboard in real life 😅

Music + visuals together make something memorable.

• Are you a good dancer? Dance to your songs
• Good actor? Act out your lyrics
• Good at comedy? Make it funny

You have something AI doesn't. Use it or lose it.

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Step 3: Work on visibility (because invisible music is pointless)

• Get on quality playlists (not bot ones)
• Run targeted ads to specific audiences
• Create reels with viral potential

Most people who find you won't care. But a small percentage will check your profile, see your story, watch your content, and become actual fans.

That's the whole point, right?

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Look, sometimes good music works without marketing. In 2020, Dua Lipa's album made me buy concert tickets without knowing any backstory. I just loved the music.

But Dua has millions behind her production. And I bet she doesn't need my newsletter.
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Here's the brutal truth:

99% of people can't tell AI music from human-made anymore. So what's the point of making "real" music?

YOU are the point. Your story, your movement, your vision.

Give your music meaning beyond the sound waves. Make it undeniably human.

In 2026, it's the only way.

Finch
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P.S. I've written 46 newsletters into the void this year. For 2026, help me write FOR you instead of AT you. Reply with literally anything - what's working, what's boring, what you need. I'd love to read your thoughts and talk with you!

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Let's work together 🤝

• ​Submit your music to my Spotify Playlists.
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• Grow your music career with Your First Hit Song 2026.
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• ​Book a 1-1 consultation.
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• Learn how to become a professional playlist curator.

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Discounts & Links 🔗

• Get 10% off on SubmitHub​
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• Get ​7.5% off your first campaign on Playlist Push - use code finch
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• Get 40% off your first month on PlaylistSupply - use code finch40
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• Get 40% off your first month on Booking-Agent.io - use code finch40
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• Get 40% off your first month on RadioPromo.io - use code finch40​
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• Get 7% off on DistroKid​
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• Get 7-day free pro on Hypeddit​

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That’s it for this week! Hope today’s email gave you something useful to work with.

Until next week, Finch 🎶

P.S. Newsletters aren’t social media - I can’t see what you’re enjoying unless you tell me. Hit reply and let me know what you liked (or didn’t) - I’d love to hear from you! 😊

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