DIY Musician Toolkit: Selection List

Now, let’s talk about the tools. The exact selection will depend on your project and needs. In this post, I’ve collected all the tools I’ve tried and found effective. We’ll cover it all, from necessities to marketing. As you grow, you might need more of them, but even at the start, it’s good to have a heads-up list. Let's get into the DIY Musician Toolkit.

ESSENTIALS

Your Royalty Streamline System

As presented extensively in one of the previous posts, think of this as your personalized dashboard for music income. Whether you’re collecting publishing royalties through BMI/ASCAP, digital performance royalties through SoundExchange, or sync fees from licensing deals, having a clear, streamlined system prevents money from slipping through the cracks. Use spreadsheets and royalty dashboards to track every revenue stream, especially if your music is registered across multiple platforms.

Social Media

Love it or hate it, social media is a non-negotiable tool for building your presence as an artist. Instagram can showcase behind-the-scenes and main content, TikTok can amplify your latest release with trending audio or fun memes, and YouTube Shorts can introduce you to new fans. Consistency and storytelling are key—use platforms not just to promote, but to connect with people emotionally through your creative journey.

TuneSat [tunesat.com]

TuneSat is an audio fingerprinting tool that monitors TV broadcasts and digital platforms for unauthorized uses of your music. If a brand uses your track in a web ad without proper licensing, TuneSat can detect it. For artists and composers in sync licensing, this powerful watchdog ensures you're getting paid for placements—even the ones you didn’t know about. The best thing is that there is a free version of this valuable tool that covers all your needs.

EasySong [www.easysong.com]

Releasing a cover of a favorite classic? EasySong takes the headache out of licensing. Instead of manually tracking down rights holders for mechanical licenses, the platform streamlines the process so you can legally release your version on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. It’s especially handy for singer-songwriters and cover artists putting new spins on well-known tracks. However, if you release covers only on YouTube, they have a special agreement around covers so you can release them there, and go to EasySong only in case that’s needed, which sometimes still happens.

MusicXray / SmashHaus [musicxray.com]

MusicXray connects your music with industry professionals—think music supervisors, playlist curators, and A&R reps—offering submission opportunities with guaranteed listens and feedback in return. It also provides fan-targeting tools, allowing you to attract new listeners based on similar artists. For example, if your sound is like Bon Iver, you can specifically target fans of that artist to grow your audience. Remember, you do need to research the opportunities and people before submitting. Not all of them are transparent, legit, or simply worth it. With some preparation, this platform introduced me to some of the best deals to date, so it’s possible for you, too.

TAXI Music A&R [www.taxi.com]

TAXI has served as a bridge between independent musicians and the sync industry for decades. For an annual fee, you gain access to exclusive briefs from music supervisors and publishers seeking specific types of tracks. Whether you create cinematic instrumentals or radio-friendly pop, TAXI offers a pathway to high-level placements in TV, film, and advertising while also providing feedback. There are opportunities for record deals and label signings, although these are rare. Ultimately, if your focus is on production music and sync opportunities, TAXI is an excellent choice. Furthermore, their annual conference for members has proven to be one of the best ways to secure deals and find collaborators, so if you can afford it, it's worth considering. Keep in mind that your music needs to be of very high quality to achieve results there. TAXI’s quality control is no joke. And statistically, to see tangible results, you need to be ready to stick to it for at least 3 years.

DJ

Beatport / iTunes

If you're a DJ, buying your tracks from official sources like Beatport or iTunes is not just about supporting other artists—it’s about staying legally covered. Clubs, radio stations, and streaming platforms increasingly expect DJs to use properly licensed music. Purchasing tracks instead of ripping them from YouTube or SoundCloud ensures your sets are above board and safe from copyright disputes. Beatport is particularly valuable for finding high-quality files and exclusive remixes tailored to club and festival performances. If bringing music to the party is your main gig, you might find some of the more advanced options, such as www.traxsource.com, www.djcity.com, or bpmmusic.io/supreme/home, interesting.

Mixcloud [www.mixcloud.com]

Mixcloud is the go-to platform for DJs, radio hosts, and curators who want to share full-length sets legally. Because it has licensing agreements with rights holders, you don’t have to worry about takedowns when uploading mixes that include copyrighted material. Whether you're running a weekly radio show or uploading live sets, it’s a reliable way to keep your mixes online and discoverable. A true home for EDM lovers, so it’s a must for any DJ!

CueUp [cueup.io]

CueUp is an awesome platform that helps DJs connect directly with event planners and venues, opening the door to real performance opportunities. While platforms like Mixcloud are great for sharing your mixes online, CueUp takes things a step further by helping you get those mixes heard where they truly shine — live, loud, and on the dance floor. It’s not just about streaming anymore; it’s about turning your online presence into actual gigs and meaningful connections in the DJ world.

SOCIALS

Grammarly [grammarly.com]

Grammarly helps you write and communicate like a pro—whether you’re emailing a label, writing social captions, or crafting your artist bio. It catches typos, grammar issues, and even suggests tone adjustments. For example, if you're announcing a new release, Grammarly can help you sound confident and enthusiastic without being overly formal or casual. And the free plan provides just enough for most cases.

ChatGPT [chatgpt.com]

ChatGPT is a creative co-pilot, especially when it comes to social media. Use it to generate Instagram captions, brainstorm press release ideas, write ad copy, or even develop a posting strategy. Stuck on how to explain your new single? Ask ChatGPT to help shape your message for different platforms, from Bandcamp to TikTok. Use it responsibly. It's a great tool for supportive tasks, so you can focus on your creative projects and bring your best.

Buffer [buffer.com]

Buffer enables you to plan, schedule, and post across all your social media platforms from a single dashboard. Batch-schedule your content for the week so you can concentrate on music creation without constantly worrying about what to post next. It’s particularly helpful during a release cycle or tour when maintaining a consistent online presence is crucial. Moreover, the free plan is generally manageable and provides significant assistance. If you reach a point where it makes sense to upgrade to a paid plan, things improve even more, allowing you to focus on living and creating while your online presence is fully automated.

VidIQ [vidiq.com]

For YouTube creators, VidIQ is like having an SEO coach in your corner. It helps you choose the right video titles, keywords, and thumbnails to improve visibility and engagement. Say you're posting a music video or studio vlog—it can suggest tags and strategies to help you rank higher in search results and reach more viewers organically. If you pick YouTube as your main platform and post videos regularly, this tool is a must-have.

MARKETING

FeatureFM + Show.Co

Both tools are powerful for music marketing. Use FeatureFM to set up pre-save campaigns, smart links, and ads that target fans on streaming platforms. Show.co offers similar tools with a strong focus on Spotify growth and email collection. These platforms make it easy to turn curiosity into streams, follows, and fan engagement. You can pick just one, but in my experience, they work best together on different goals.

SymphonyOS [www.symphonyos.co]

SymphonyOS is music marketing on autopilot that focuses on growing Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube audiences by running ads that are tailored specifically to musicians. The campaign is simple to set up, and it starts to show your posts to the audience that fits your music genre and style. Unless you have a dedicated Facebook/Instagram ad campaign run by a professional, using this platform is considered way more effective than boosting your Instagram posts by yourself.

Playlist Push [playlistpush.com]

This service helps you pitch your music directly to real playlist curators on Spotify and other social media platforms like TikTok creators. You upload your song, select your genre, and Playlist Push does the legwork of matching you with curators who might add it. It’s a great way to boost your track’s visibility and discoverability in a crowded market. And it’s one of the rare legit playlist services out there!

Groover [groover.co]

Groover ensures your music reaches tastemakers, blogs, playlist curators, and label scouts. You pay a small fee for each submission and receive feedback within a few days. Even if your track isn't selected, the insights you receive can help you enhance your production, mix, or positioning. It’s a smart investment for independent artists seeking exposure. What distinguishes this platform is its focus on building connections while creating opportunities. The features and deals you may find there are of a higher quality than those found elsewhere.

CONTENT

Canva [www.canva.com]

Canva makes it easy to design polished visuals without being a graphic designer. Whether you're creating single artworks, YouTube thumbnails, or EPKs, it offers drag-and-drop simplicity with professional results. Use templates to keep a consistent brand look, especially helpful for maintaining a cohesive social media grid or release rollout. It’s a nice and easy-to-use alternative to Adobe apps.

Opus Clip [www.opus.pro]

If you create long-form content—like vlogs, interviews, or livestreams—Opus Clip saves time by automatically chopping them into short, vertical videos perfect for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. It uses AI to detect highlights, so you can post more consistently without spending hours editing. And even if you have your content prepared, its AI caption generation is top-notch and will make your process even smoother.

Envato Elements [elements.envato.com]

A goldmine for musicians creating video content or expressing themselves in design. Envato Elements offers unlimited downloads of stock footage, animations, fonts, music visualizers, and more with a subscription. It’s especially useful for crafting music videos, lyric videos, or promo content without hiring a full production team. This platform will help your creativity flourish like never before, reimagining your approach to videos and social media content. It’s worth it if content creation and design are something you are interested in.

Adobe [www.adobe.com]

In addition to Envato, if content creation and design are up your alley, the Adobe Creative Cloud suite includes industry-standard tools like Premiere Pro for video editing, Photoshop for artwork, and many others. While there’s a learning curve, the flexibility and depth of control make it worth it for musicians who want full creative authority over their visuals and content.

ADVANCED

Your Team

Going beyond technical stuff, at some point, you’ll need trustworthy allies by your side. Even as a DIY musician, building a solid team is a game-changer. Whether it’s a mix engineer, manager, virtual assistant, or publicist, surrounding yourself with the right collaborators allows you to focus on your strengths while professionals handle the rest. A small but effective team can amplify your career faster than going alone.

Fiver Pro [pro.fiverr.com]

Fiverr Pro connects you with vetted, top-tier freelancers for everything from cover art design and social media content to press releases and SEO. Unlike the standard Fiverr marketplace, Pro features experienced professionals, giving you peace of mind when outsourcing key creative tasks. At this moment, it’s the best place to find collaborators for your side tasks and content-creation-related projects, and to build a team to bring your vision to life. Just remember to have your contracts prepared for every specialist you hire there to keep things in order.

Motion [www.usemotion.com]

Motion is an AI-powered calendar and task management app that schedules your to-do list based on your availability and priorities. For musicians juggling production, marketing, content creation, and administrative tasks, Motion ensures you stay on track so nothing slips through the cracks, like missing a release deadline or a sync submission. If you work with a team, all the features support collaboration as well, offering everything you need to manage a project without switching between different platforms. It's all there! Once your career is growing, this tool is one of the few with an AI stamp on it that makes a difference and improves the workflow.

When compiling your personal toolbox, it’s important to know what kind of project you are creating. Trying different options and adjusting when necessary is also part of the process. Not every instrument is required to achieve your goals. These are just tried and worthy (at the time of writing) options to consider. Explore what clicks and try some analogs for the listed ones. Always do your research and make educated choices, especially when signing up for something in the long run.

The tools are vital. They can make or break your process or the project itself. While sometimes limitations are good for fostering creativity, you also need to stay realistic and recognize that without proper tools, some results are simply unachievable. Take it slow, expand gradually, try different things, and find the ones that work for you. I hope this list was helpful for your journey.

Be well, stay tuned!