How to get 55 MILLION streams without a record label

Supported by @hardwell and @TimmyTrumpetTV and played at Tomorrowland, I interview DJ and producer - @JoshLeTissier - on how he's grown a huge fanbase from a small, remote Island in the English Channel - and been able to play at some of the world's most respected clubs - WITHOUT the help of a record label.
Josh has mastered the art of Spotify growth, and harnessed Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook to help him.
In this interview, Josh shares some of his best production tips, advice for new producers and some Spotify and social media hacks that you can use in your own journey to success.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed interviewing Josh. Here are some links that we mention in this conversation:
IG: / joshletissier
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/69pPb...
Playlist: open.spotify.com/playlist/5nd...
00:50 - A brief introduction to Josh leTissier
03:00 - The power of bootlegs
04:45 - Taking part in the music industry from remote places
07:40 - How important has Spotify been in your growth?
08:00 - Releasing on labels vs self-releasing
10:35 - Music production: Art vs Science
11:50 - Josh’s biggest influences
13:18 - Getting out of writer’s block
14:28 - Focussing on one sound to grow a brand
15:30 - Imposter syndrome
16:52 - What opportunities come from having a large Spotify following?
18:09 - Spotify growth strategies (and things to avoid)
21:05 - Facebook and Instagram ads for music producers
23:50 - Following trends?
25:28 - The power of cover versions
26:50 - Tips for new producers
27:48 - Plateau-smashing production tips
30:05 - Social media music marketing
30:39 - Production vs. Social Media
32:30 - The best social media platforms for musicians
33:50 - Final thoughts
💪 [MUSIC PRODUCTION COACHING]
Learn how to produce chart-topping electronic dance music and make money from it in a matter of weeks not years.
www.edmtips.com/accelerator
👥 Join our community here! / edmtipsofficial
….AND SAY HI ON THE SOCIALS, BRUH:
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📌Instagram: / edmtipsoffi. .
📌Web: www.edmtips.com
Cheers, and happy producing!
Will
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#edmtips #joshletissier #musicproduction

[@EDMTips]

Let me know if you want to see more interviews on EDM Tips, and with whom!??

[@quickdraw-di6yi]

Yes! Maybe someone from the hardstyle scene?:)

[@JulieCharme]

Ummet Ozcan, please!!!!!

[@phillipturner]

Studio looks GREAT!!!!!! love that shot!

[@campervan_hackers]

For someone like me who is now doing your Radio-Ready programme, it would be great to see an interview from someone who's gone through the programme, come out the other side and is doing good. (btw… There is goss going around that you will be playing at the festival this year?)

[@AllOneKind]

Terrific interview! Honest deep questions, loved this one! Could you please hunt down and find a way to interview Chris Cowie! His amount of experience with creating labels and using monikers and remix production tricks would do wonders for your audience and help teach them the proper ways of the oldschool! Peace

[@JoshLeTissier]

Thanks for the invite, Will! Was great to catchup with you again. I hope this provided some value 👍

[@XzhaustedJR]

I am glad you did this interview and its amazing to see your side of things and experience. Especially for a newer producer like me its refreshing to see that as an analytics professional I can still work towards my goals like you did. Juggling a day job and this passion is definitely a true test of discipline.

[@EDMTips]

An absolute pleasure! Looking forward to our secret upcoming collaboration, too ;)

[@threethievesmusic]

Are you by chance related to Southampton footballing legend Matt Le Tissier?

[@JoshLeTissier]

@@threethievesmusic I get asked that a lot 😅 No relation.

[@HenningUhle]

I'm curious how you handle those copyright things. I'm from Germany, and when I asked the copyright holder to use a small part of "Adagio For Strings" by Samuel Barber, they opened their hands demanded a bigger amount of money without giving the permission to monetize my re-arrangement. 😄 But it's interesting that you can make in the business without a label in the background. I've had discussions on Discord whether or not working together with them. You proove that it's not required. And thank you, Will, for this intersting interview.

[@BrandonPenningtonMusic]

Thanks for all your videos! You've helped me so much over the last 2 years. Excited to dive into this video! 🔥🔥

[@EDMTips]

You're very welcome indeed - thanks for watching!

[@jaysoniq]

Very insightful interview, thank you. Josh is a very cool guy - really humble and straightforward 👌🙂 btw I too am in a very small town, in the Pacific Northwest USA ... I am most certain that I'm quite literally the only person in the entire town who actually owns Ableton Live Suite w/ the Push 2 controller... Kinda surreal & funny to think about! 😊

[@EDMTips]

Totally feel you! Online there's a ton of us but offline hard to find. haha Glad you enjoyed the video - thank you for the comment! :)

[@justincase6365]

What a superb interview and what a well down to earth well rounded lad, Will' Picking up on a part of this video around 14 minutes where Josh mentions reusing a track moving it to the right and picking out good elements, whats the chance of a video on this method im having trouble getting my head around using an existing track to make a new one that sounds unique, I gonna show my age here, I have visions of shakin stevens, Green door, blue door, red door same song different coloured door :), on that analogy alone you need to make a video now :),

[@EDMTips]

Really glad you enjoyed it, Justin, and found it helpful! Now onto making a track :)

[@laktostops1245]

Hey Will, you’re doing an amazing job with your videos!! I really get to learn something new every time. Could you maybe do a video where you show exactly how you use the reverb on your instruments and how many you use? Sometimes I really get confused when I see you using build in reverbs from serum, because I thought that was an absolute no go (I thought too many different hall reverbs would lead to a muddy mix). At the moment I’m just using four sends (room, ambience, plate and hall…) Best regards:)

[@EDMTips]

Great suggestion, I will add this to my to do list. For now, thanks for watching and supporting the channel 🙂

[@paulgarner3364]

Great interview and Josh is a really cool guy. I’ll look up his music for sure. I have one question for Josh; Which distributor do you use to put your music out on the streaming sites? I have used the same one for years and want to change but not sure on which is the best after my research. Lots of Distrokid fans but fists can spiral with the extras, CD Baby also seems popular so any advice would be appreciated thanks.

[@EDMTips]

Great question, Paul, I will ask him next time I speak to him :)

[@paulgarner3364]

@@EDMTips thanks Will. I’ve just looked at Landr could also be an option :)

[@lerbjanlucaj8612]

We got a lot of info from this interview...Thanks mate🙂 But my question just curiosity is ,the fisrt one is Spoty or Beatport?

[@EDMTips]

Glad you liked it! Good question, I will need to ask Josh about it :)

[@curtronis]

Thanks a lot for this tips! 😊 It's great interview with realy helpful infos. Keep going on! Cheers, Curtronis

[@EDMTips]

Appreciate it! 🙌🙏

[@suzannealdridge1404]

EXCELLENT interview thankyou sir and excellent advise,,,😁

[@EDMTips]

Happy to hear! You're welcome! 😃

[@Algo2.0]

I really enjoyed this type of interview. Please more of this!

[@EDMTips]

Thank you, and I am glad you liked it! 🙂

[@EDMTips]

Thank you for the support! There's a good chance for more! :)

[@charliegould7421]

He says that coaching and getting other people's opinion helps, so what are the best ways to get this? Thanks.

[@EDMTips]

A few options: 1. If you know any producers that live near to you who you can just sit in the studio with, that's ideal. 2. Joining online communities on Discord, Facebook or Reddit - where you can get and receive feedback. 3. Seeking more formal ongoing mentorship in something like my Accelerator program (www.edmtips.com/accelerator).

[@thedj5914]

Great interview 👍

[@EDMTips]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

[@hamzamarc7004]

Man Thank you , u r trying ur best im new in the industry but one day we gonna have feat together

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome :)

[@RolledInARaw]

Its amazing I'm on the right track making the steps I am. Thank you both so much for this intel !!

[@EDMTips]

Thank you, I am really glad you found it helpful 🙂

[@ameer6168]

Really inspiring ❤️

[@EDMTips]

Stoked to hear that! Thanks for watching and supporting the channel 🙂

[@ElectroFlightExplorer]

You are not impostors ! Cheers from Paris

[@EDMTips]

Appreciate it! 🙌🙏

[@MichaelTmusic]

Cool stuff

[@EDMTips]

Appreciate it! 🙌🙏

[@yaxtro]

55 million?! Dropping everything to learn the secrets! Hoping my new track "Kick It" catches even a smidge of that magic ✨ #independentgrind #kickit

[@EDMTips]

Hell yeah! Go for it and good luck! 🙂

[@maxscordel8328]

Grand merci!

[@EDMTips]

Appreciate it! 🙌🙏

[@user-tb8oq5ny2r]

Learn how we use on edm piano modes

[@EDMTips]

Eh?

[@chent]

LOL, as you from Isle of Wight? Do you know Lauren?

[@EDMTips]

I am sure there are many Laurens on the Isle of Wight 😁

[@dj_Davepz]

My immediate question would be if Josh has 55mill streams, gigs, labels, that he's still working his day job?.. surely that means there is no hope for the rest of us grinding. 👍 does 55mil Spotify streams even result in any wages? The digital industry is a mess tbf.

[@jhm8614]

Spotify alone pays around 0,003 cents per stream so 55 mil gets you around 165.000 (euro in my case). Most monetary gain comes from the live gigs. It all depends on how much money you need to sustain and if you like your regular job I gues. In my perfect world I would do music in the side and work 3 days at my normal job.

[@dj_Davepz]

@@jhm8614 165k would be more than enough to focus on music full time, dude.

[@producaomusical4324]

NICE🌎

[@EDMTips]

Appreciate it! 🙌🙏 Thanks for watching and supporting the channel 🙂

[@EDMTips]

Cheers! :)

[@djrobincooper]

Had never occurred to me to reuse a previous project 😂

[@EDMTips]

Then we all learned something new today 🙂

[@Highervibesofficial]

will your from the isle of wight? i live there mad shshhs

[@EDMTips]

Represent! Which town?

[@Highervibesofficial]

shanklin im one of the top artists on the island right now ! @@EDMTips

[@Highervibesofficial]

shanklin @@EDMTips

[@BryantAvant]

Record kabels decided a while ago that they want investments that are as safe and easy as possible. Which means, you create your own following or viral hit snd then they will sign you. Even then they put minimal to zero effort in to developing an artist. So it's backfired and people have adapted to doing it all without them.

[@EDMTips]

I don’t think it applies to all the artists and producers I’ve met

[@AutPen38]

In recent times it seems to be the case that record labels rarely sign an artist unless they've got a social media following, or have a big viral hit. It used to be that artists had to go to the labels, but now it seems the labels go to the artists, and it's pointless trying to get signed until you've got some success that came without a label! Spotify has really disrupted the music industry.

[@boronoro]

Cheers, Will!!!

[@EDMTips]

Cheers man! :)

[@JoyfulWAVE]

Capaldi? I made one myself...just for fun...😉🤘❤️☮️☯️❤️☮️☯️❤️

[@EDMTips]

Hell yeah! 😎

[@vincentscholtes]

White lucas and Steve from the Netherlands the are best dj,s ❤

[@EDMTips]

Thanks for letting me know!

[@scottadams7820]

Backwoods, hicks-in-the-sticks, BFE gang where yat?!?!?!!

[@Bthelick]

In other words, go watch as many Seth Godin videos as possible, and learn what a brand is.

[@EDMTips]

Also, skills matter.

[@OfficialSiriusmusic]

DNB 4 EVER

[@EDMTips]

Hell yeah!

[@EDMTips]

DnB is awesome for sure! :)

[@MichaelTmusic]

😂

[@EDMTips]

What's so funny?

[@andersrydingdaugaard]

Great interview - for s complete noooob - please break it simple down… doing a cover - is that just with no limitations regarding royalty and no violations of the artist - as long as nothing is sampled and everything is recorded again by your own ? But a remix is as I understand much more complicated if etc using acapella voices or other stuff from the original artist.

[@AutPen38]

You've basically got it right. With a cover version, you have to pay royalties to the songwriters (the names that appear in brackets on an actual record, like Lennon and McCartney), but sampling is much more complicated, because performers, publishers, and other rights owners will argue about money and can just say no. But anyone (including the band at the local pub) can do a cover version, as long as the songwriters get paid, by one way or another.

[@darklichtbloodreeker8113]

No comments? Let me fix that

[@EDMTips]

Cheers! Thanks for watching and supporting 🙂

[@TheGaspertt123]

Surely he got streams by covering other songs ;)

[@EDMTips]

Not only, but thanks for watching!

[@TheGaspertt123]

@@EDMTips no problem i just admire more real artists that put their own imagination and creativity into song. Dont get me wrong it is still good.

[@AutPen38]

For the first few years of their career, the Beatles were basically a covers band. It's a great way to learn the art and science of music-making.

[@MbeezySheesh]

the guy has 154.000 monthly listeners. that’s absolutely nothing. sure, it’s more than i have, but still… a ridiculous example on how to grown an audience 😅 Edit: i just listened to his top 5 songs and they’re all super generic trash. This is the kind music only super drunk people listen to and then ask „Is ThIs TeChNo?“ The pathetic thing also is, this guy makes giga mainstream music but even the mainstream doesn’t seem to know him 😂

[@EDMTips]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@AllanChristo]

Well, he’s living out life pretty good, ministry of sound approached him.. who gives an eff about you again? You know how hard it is make it as an artist, he’s putting in the work and try to make it happen anyway possible.. stfu and stop hating for no reason at all