8 Smarter Way to Link to Your Music...

... because otherwise you're wasting clicks!

Stickiness is kind of a gross word. But in the attention economy, it’s everything.

Every time you share a bad link for your music, you’re leaking fan attention. And by "bad" links, I don’t mean broken links. I mean lazy links: ones that help Spotify, YouTube, or Linktree more than they help you.

If attention is the new currency, then every click should help you expand the visual or psychological surface area of your music — today and tomorrow.

Here are eight smarter ways to link people to your music so your clicks compound attention.

1. Stop Linking to Single Songs

Never again link to one lonely track on Spotify.

Instead, link to a playlist — ideally one full of your songs. Put your new single at the top, or use a deep link to start playback right there on a specific track within the playlist.

Why? Because if someone plays your standalone track, Spotify takes over and feeds them someone else’s music. But if they’re in your playlist, they’re in your world longer — like tuning into a personal radio show all about you.

→ Here's how to make a Spotify deep link.

2. Capture the Moment on YouTube

YouTube wants to whisk people away with “Recommended Videos” in the sidebar that don’t have your face on the thumbnail.

So don’t give it the chance!

Before you share any video link:

Always link to a playlist, not a single video.
Fill your video description with something that matters: a call to subscribe, a link to your lead magnet, or info about your next show.
Add a branded watermark so every viewer has a one-click path to your channel.
If it’s a talking or process-style video (not a music video), use verbal CTAs to ask viewers to subscribe.
If you’re using YouTube Shorts, always connect them to your full-length content with the related links feature.
Consider building a dedicated landing page on your own website and embed the video.

Each of these things is small on its own, but together they can multiply your “surface area” — the amount of visible, clickable, memorable you that appears on YouTube.

3. Stop Using Linktree

Around 2017, everyone decided to direct their fan traffic from Instagram to a generic page covered in another company's branding.

It’s time to unlearn that habit.

Build your own damn link page — on your own damn website.

It can be as simple as yourname.com/links, with your latest video, new song, newsletter signup, and tour dates all laid out. You control the look, the experience, and — most importantly — the data.

Add your Meta Pixel or analytics tracker so that every visitor becomes someone you can re-target later with ads or updates. That’s attention you own, not attention you rent.

4. Use Contextual Links, Not "Smart" Ones

“Smart link” services like ToneDen, LinkFire, or Hypeddit have their place, but let’s be real: they still look like 3rd-party services to most fans.

You can build the same thing, customized, on your own site!

If you’re running an ad campaign that drives Spotify streams, don’t send people to a general link page full of Apple, Amazon, and Deezer buttons. Make a specific landing page: yourname.com/spotify — with one clear button.

Every campaign deserves a context-appropriate link.

Less clutter. More conversions. And a URL that actually builds trust in your brand, instead of making fans scratch their heads and wonder, "What the hell is Hypeddit? Should I click this?"

5. Stack Attention Moments

You don’t win by asking people to come back later. You win by extending the attention they’re already giving you right now.

Think of it like an encore: The crowd’s already clapping. It’s easier to keep them there for one more song than to drag them back to the venue for a future show three weeks from now.

Online, this means stacking your calls-to-action:

Add a P.S. in your emails linking to your merch or behind-the-scenes content
Add upsells at checkout (“Get the T-shirt for 20% off!”)
Use YouTube end screens and cards to guide viewers to the next video
Pin a comment on Instagram and reply with a follow-up link

The trick is to meet attention where it already exists — not chase it down after it’s wandered off.

6. Gate Some Content Behind an Email Capture

Don’t give everything away instantly.

Some songs, videos, or stories just have certain sense of mystery or hookiness. Use those pieces of content to grow your list.

Instead of linking straight to the content, link to an opt-in page that unlocks it. You can overdo this, of course — nobody wants to sign up for everything. But once in a while, holding something back creates curiosity and a real sense of membership in your creative world.

7. Make Your QR Codes Context-Aware

If you’re using QR codes at gigs (merch table, banners, postcards at tables, etc.) — that's smart! But make them smarter.

Use one consistent QR code that always points to the same URL, but update the destination page based on context before or after every show:

Mention the city or venue they just saw you in
Offer something special that ties into the live experience

That small touch of personalization makes it feel intentional and exclusive — not like a static marketing prop.

8. Don’t Be Too Clear (Sometimes)

This last one’s for the artists who like a little mystery: Easter eggs.

Not every link has to be obvious or transactional. Hide some gems for the curious — demos, bloopers, lyric sketches, or secret livestream invites. Reward the fans who explore the corners of your world.

These hidden links don’t build reach — they build depth.

They make your most devoted fans feel like insiders, part of a secret club.

The Bottom Line

Every link you share is an invitation. The question is: who benefits from that invitation — you, or another platform?

Before you hit “share,” ask yourself:

Am I owning what happens beyond this click?
Am I controlling the journey and telling a story?
Does this link bring fans deeper into my world, or send them somewhere they’ll forget me in thirty seconds?

If you can answer yes to those three questions, you’re doing it right.

Otherwise, you’ve now got eight ways to fix it.