Join Charlotte and Jasmin (p.k.a TĀLĀ) of Ellevate as they tackle one of the biggest financial dilemmas for any emerging artist: where should you actually spend your marketing budget?

As an early-stage artist, every pound or dollar counts. You're constantly pitched various services, but which ones offer a real return on investment, and which are just a drain on your resources?

In this crucial episode, Charlotte and Jasmin weigh the pros and cons of common marketing services, including:

• Paying for playlist pluggers
• Running digital ads
• Hiring a PR specialist or a social media expert

Charlotte offers a reality check, emphasizing that there are no guarantees with PR, making the investment feel unpredictable and high-risk for artists. She also exposes the limitations of so-called 'social media gurus' who can inflate follower counts, but rarely translate those numbers into actual streaming revenue or show ticket sales.

They also discuss the dramatic shift in the press landscape. Jasmin recalls a time when she first released music and independent music blogs were abundant, noting that today, fewer blogs exist and their overall impact on streaming numbers is significantly smaller.

This episode is a vital listen for any artist looking to spend their marketing budget smartly and focus on strategies that build a real, sustainable career.

If you want to submit a question for our Q&A episodes send them to community@ellevate.studio

Listen now to explore:

• The pros and cons of investing in playlist pluggers, ads, PR, and social media specialists.
• Why the unpredictability of PR can make it a risky early-stage investment.
• The difference between a large social media following and genuine audience engagement that drives streams and sales.
• The changing power of music press and blogs in the current streaming-driven landscape.

Find out more about ellevate: https://ellevate.studio/ ellevate TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellevate.studios ellevate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellevate.studios

Jasmin's Socials https://www.tiktok.com/@talatheduchess https://www.instagram.com/tala_official/?hl=en Find her on all streaming platforms by searching TĀLĀ

Charlotte's Socials https://www.instagram.com/charli_caleb/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-caleb/