Why Memes are Your Secret Weapon for Music Promo in 2024

Thinking of becoming a professional musician in 2024? Get ready to join a battlefield of artists fighting tooth and nail for relevance, streams, and attention. It’s not 2003 anymore. The music magazine is dead. Even music education magazines are going down, with three of the biggest guitar magazines recently announcing their closure. Even Facebook is becoming obsolete (though still a powerful tool for musicians, as we posted about here). You’ve got to hustle. You’ve got to find new ways to promote yourself.

Sure, advertising your music on the radio is still important, and if you can get your music on TV, that's amazing. But we all know the best place to promote your music: the internet. And on the internet, you need to stand out. And to stand out, you need to be relevant. And to be relevant, you need to be part of the culture. 

And that means memes. 

Trust us, memes are now the most effective and organic promotional tool for musicians. The impact of memes isn’t just about making people laugh; it’s about creating a viral buzz that gets your music into the ears and minds of listeners in ways that traditional marketing usually fails.

Let’s break down exactly why memes are the key to music promotion in 2024.

1. Memes Are the New Word of Mouth

It's clear that memes are the internet’s answer to word-of-mouth marketing. Someone shares a meme, their followers laugh, and boom – your track is now part of the conversation. Whether it’s a funny moment from your music video or a meme about your band’s "ridiculous" style, memes allow your music to take on a life of its own. 

Just to be clear – when we’re talking about memes, we are basically talking about any humorous trend that spreads over the internet. It’s hard to define exactly what a meme is, but it’s the kind of thing where you know one when you see one.

Let’s take a look at an example: The Pinegrove Shuffle.

The Pinegrove Shuffle was a TikTok trend that Garrett Lee started in June 2023. The formula was simple: an ironically brash, arm-swinging, leg-shuffling dance backed by the emo stylings of Pinegrove’s (at the time) fairly underground, emotional track “Need 2”. 

It’s a recipe for an effective meme: Irony, humour, a lack of sincerity, and an opportunity to get involved.

It became huge. There’s even a video of DJ Khaled dancing along to the number. According to a Rolling Stone interview with Pinegrove's frontman Evan Stephens Hall, the song had a 96% spike in streams, leading to the band re-releasing the song along with a sped-up and slowed-down version – perfect for reposting on social media.

Memes make your music more accessible, more relatable, and more shareable. They help you tap into a community of fans who get your vibe and are more than happy to spread it around. Got a unique dance to one of your own tracks? Start filming yourself or your friends doing the dance on TikTok. It could spread and get more ears on your music.

2. They’re Quick, Cheap, and Super Effective

Not every musician has the budget to blow on huge advertising campaigns or flashy marketing strategies. But memes? They’re free. And the best part is, they don’t require an MBA in marketing to create. The genius of memes is that they’re often simple, user-generated, and quick to spread.

You don’t need a high-end production team to create a viral meme. It could be a behind-the-scenes clip from a studio session, something funny that you did on stage, or a snippet of a live performance that's so good (or so bad) that people can’t help but share. Or, even better, just see which memes are being used right now and create your own version to post on your socials using this free meme generator.

You don’t even need to make a meme yourself – your fans can do the heavy lifting for you.

Take inspiration from artists like Lil Nas X. He has mastered the art of meme culture. Whether it’s creating absurdly shareable moments on TikTok or turning Twitter into a meme playground, Lil Nas X has become a meme creator as much as a musician. His ability to tap into meme culture has kept him at the top of the conversation.

3. Memes Build Fan Engagement

When people engage with your music through memes, it’s not just a click or a casual listen. It’s a conversation. Fans love to be in on the joke, and they want to feel like they’re part of something bigger. Memes provide access to the inner workings of your brand – whether it’s an ongoing inside joke or a recurring meme format that fans can participate in.

Think about it this way: every time someone shares a meme related to your song, music video, or personality, they’re not just promoting your work. They’re telling their followers, “Hey, I get this. This is my thing now.” Memes build a sense of community – and when people feel connected to your brand, they’re more likely to support your music, buy tickets to your shows, or stream your album.

4. Memes Create a Sense of FOMO

Memes are about one thing above all else: attention. The more people see your music being memed, the more they feel like they’re missing out if they haven’t listened yet. It’s the ultimate social media trick – memes create a cycle of “if you’re not in on this, you’re out.”

This fear of missing out (FOMO) is potent. When your song starts popping up in memes on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, it signals to potential listeners that your music is part of a larger cultural moment. Whether it’s a viral dance challenge or a witty meme based on your lyrics, FOMO drives curiosity. If people see others laughing or enjoying your content, they want in on the joke – and they’ll stream your music to catch up.

5. Memes Humanise the Artist

Memes make you more relatable. They make you human. Musicians who lean into meme culture are seen as more approachable, more fun, and more “down to earth.” It’s easy to get lost in the polished, curated image of the modern pop star – but memes break that facade. They show the personality behind the music, and that’s something audiences crave in 2024.

When you create a meme or respond to a fan-made one, it’s like inviting your audience into your inner circle. It’s not about selling your music; it’s about creating a bond with your fans. And that connection? That’s what makes people want to follow you, listen to your album, and share your work.

Get in touch today to find out how we can promote your music even further through social media, radio plugs, and ads.