Analytics: I Am Their Product AND You Are My Product

Two songs are out in the wild (What’s Next? and We Run), and it’s time for the analytics I promised. Here we go:

1000+

Yes, 1000+ streams . . . Each

That is SO cool. And it gets cooler. That number ties back to over 500 unique listeners across 50 countries (yes, the Seychelles has a listener). We’ve also popped up big in cities like Warsaw (22), Stockholm (21), and Calgary (21).

My listeners skew male (not by design, I promise), and they land in an age range that feels "fitting." (See how I avoided an ageist comment?)

“What’s Next?” did very well on SoundCloud (over 2/3rds of the listens). Lots of word of mouth. It benefitted from early testing with friends and family. Most men, women, and children within a five-mile radius of my house have heard What’s Next?

Oh yeah—and 91X made sure of that. Even Tijuana got in on the action (music knows no borders). Still one of the coolest parts of this whole endeavor.

It hasn’t done as well on Spotify (and Spotify is where all the reach lives).

Why? Because it didn’t trigger the algorithm.

Besides sounding vaguely dirty, the “why” isn’t clear. Because it was the first song (no history)? Not enough pre-saves? Weak play listing? Who knows. There are more theories for why not than why.

“We Run,” on the other hand, is having a moment.

I thought all was lost when the initial release on May 25th went… let’s just say, not well. Single-digit stream counts on release day, even with excellent press, kinda sux. Perhaps a bigger coming out party was needed.

Then came Release Radar Friday—Spotify’s algorithmic playlist for users who follow an artist. Except I only have two dozen followers (yeah, I’m looking at you . . . nicely in a way that says, "hey, I do love his music. I'm gonna follow him. Let's do it!").

But that Friday? Boom. Over 200 streams in a single day.

I thought bots were messing with me. Nope. Spotify later confirmed it—I made $0.60!

The algo must have done its algo thing and told folks that you HAVE to listen to this RiF guy. And then it didn't ask, it just served me up on a silver platter to unsuspecting listeners. I have to say it is much cooler when someone (something) else takes charge and does what you can't. Completely rude (and impossible) for me to do the same.

That was the big spike, but we’ve been riding a solid 60–80 streams/day on We Run since. More importantly, the world map is opening up—fans in unexpected places. As I said, I hear the Seychelles is lovely.

Okay, yeah yeah yeah.

Streams are cool. But what do they tell you about real people?

Sadly, not much. That information is locked away in a corporate vault in Stockholm.

Social media (IG, FB, TT) might help, but there’s no direct correlation between streams and the names of followers on those social platforms. Plus, in a funny twist of modern etiquette, people get annoyed when you reach out unannounced. We like our bubbles nicely curated. No looky-loo creators on the lawn, thank you very much.

Now, if you should get a visitor on your lawn - how about you give me a 5 second head start before you start the sprinklers?

What about here?

I love chatting with all of you, but I genuinely don’t know who’s here for the music, who’s here for the second-act philosophical ramblings or the fascination of seeing a once high flying lawyer do something completely . . . different.

Also, let me say this again: I have 700+ connections, and LinkedIn seems to think the number is closer to 200 . . . tops.

I keep performing for the algorithm, and the response is… nonplussed.

So, what have we learned?

  • The algorithm controls a large percentage of a creator’s fate.

  • Substance and depth are still all human.

  • Every listener is sacred (if I only knew who they were)

Call to Action:

DM me your email address if you want the real RiF newsletter.

I can only do so much here. But if you want to follow or support this thing—join the direct conversation. It comes twice a month and it will give you the INSIDE scoop.

Bonus: The What’s Next? origin story—way too incendiary for LinkedIn - could be in your inbox right now!

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We Run and a Gut Check