The holidays move fast, and this time of year offers a huge opportunity for musicians to boost engagement, push out new content, and connect with fans in a meaningful way. 🎁 ⚡️ As the season ramps up and everyone’s timelines get busier, a little planning can go a long way. To help you stay ahead of the game, here are some of our favorite tips for artists looking to prep for the holidays…
Tips, Tools, and Tactics to Make the Most of the Holiday Season
Promote Like Crazy
The holidays are one of the best times to remind fans what you’ve got going on. People are actively looking for gifts, cozy vibes, and anything that feels personal or meaningful, which makes it the perfect moment to spotlight your music and merch. Just avoid posting the same thing in the same way everywhere. A little creativity goes a long way. Try things like:
- Reminding fans that your latest vinyl or CD makes an easy stocking stuffer.
- Posting a cozy photo in your own merch with a link to your store.
- Offering limited-time discounts or holiday bundles.
- Pairing your music with exclusive holiday-only extras (handwritten lyrics, limited prints, etc.).
- Sharing a festive playlist or an acoustic cover of a classic holiday song.
- Posting a simple holiday message thanking fans for their support.
- Reposting fan photos of them enjoying your music or wearing your merch throughout the season.
Use these as a starting point, and think about what you’d genuinely love to see from your favorite artists. Then, put your own spin on it to make it your own.
Brainstorm Holiday-Themed Content
The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative and give your fans something special. Whether you’re planning to release an entire holiday album, one badass single, or just want to embrace the festive spirit, creating holiday-themed content can make a huge impact. Think about offering something exclusive to capture your fans’ attention and make them feel part of the celebration. For example, consider things like:
- Livestream a different holiday cover every week leading up to the holiday of your choosing.
- Create exclusive holiday merch.
- Try a themed contest on socials where the winners get exclusive access to your upcoming holiday single before anyone else.
- Do a merch giveaway.
- Do holiday-themed collabs with other artists.
Need some ideas for more exclusive content? 🤔 This post offers 6 ideas for exclusive content that any artist can try right now.
AI Tools to Speed Things Up
The holidays are busy for everyone, and any edge you can get with content creation is worth it. AI tools can help you save time while keeping your visuals and posts looking polished. Use tools like Canva for quick holiday graphics, ChatGPT for brainstorming captions or email copy, and Runway or other AI video tools for short clips or teasers.
Even a few minutes with these tools can free up time to focus on recording, engaging with fans, or just keeping your sanity intact during the holiday chaos.
Short-Form Holiday Content
Short-form video is where a lot of the holiday buzz happens, so don’t sleep on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. Quick, festive clips can reach new fans, showcase your personality, and drive engagement without eating up your whole day. Here are some ideas to get started:
- Show behind-the-scenes moments of recording a holiday cover or prepping merch.
- Share cozy, seasonal vibes. Wrapping presents, sipping cocoa, decorating the studio.
- Tease your holiday releases or exclusive merch with 15–30 second clips.
- Jump on trending holiday sounds, memes, or challenges and make them your own.
The key is to keep it fun, fast, and shareable. Even small clips can make a big impact when fans are scrolling through holiday feeds.
Release A Holiday Cover Song
With all the holiday music out in the world, it may seem almost impossible to create an original hit that will blow the socks off the masses. Luckily for you, there are tons of songs in the public domain that you can cover for free without fear of musical prosecution. Not to mention, the holidays are all about blasting your holiday guilty pleasures when it comes to music. Releasing holiday songs of your own is a great way to get in on the action at this time of year. Music that is in the public domain isn’t restricted by copyright and doesn’t require licenses and fees to use. This gives you unlimited creativity to mash whatever you want into your new holiday masterpiece. We did a post that covers 30+ songs in the public domain you can cover for free right now.
On the other hand… Through our partnership with Easy Song Licensing, Symphonic clients can easily obtain the mechanical licenses required to legally sell and distribute cover songs in any format (download, CD, vinyl, etc.), right through our Client Offerings page in SymphonicMS, for $16.99 (+ royalties).
- Let’s say you’ve gone into the studio and produced an amazing version of a song by an artist such as Beyonce, Guns N’ Roses, or even U2. With Easy Song Licensing, you can obtain a License and legal permission to be able to release that song through Symphonic. No lawyers, no major expenses, you simply pay the Easy Song Licensing fee + the number of units you intend to sell, and then you are all set.
Think About Sync
There aren’t many things more satisfying than hearing your song on the radio or on TV. As fulfilling as it is to see your hard work pay off, the royalties you’re racking up every time it plays aren’t bad either… That money can go towards new gear, new merch, new anything you may need in the new year to make it as fruitful as possible. If you haven’t considered applying for sync licensing through Symphonic’s in-house sync licensing division, Bodega Sync, now is a good time to get up to speed while you’ve got some time off… To help you out, check these out:
Create a Holiday Playlist
Playlists are one of the easiest ways to give fans a personal touch this holiday season. Instead of just sharing songs you like, think about creating a vibe, cozy cooking tunes, mellow dinner-party jams, or upbeat festive hits. Your fans will appreciate the thought, and it’s an easy way to keep them engaged.
Make it interactive: invite fans to suggest songs, or collaborate with another artist to create a joint playlist. Then share clips or highlights on TikTok, Reels, or Shorts to drive streams and give people a reason to follow. You can also post it everywhere your audience hangs out (Instagram Stories, X, Facebook groups) and tie it into your other holiday content like merch drops or cover releases.
A playlist can be a fun, memorable way to bring fans into your holiday world and give them something to return to again and again.
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📚 Feed your brain…
What Every Artist Should Know About Playlist Pitching in 2025
How To Create a Social Media Content Calendar for Musicians
The Best and Worst Months to Release Music
Holiday Marketing Tips for Musicians on Instagram in 2025
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Go Local
The holiday season is the perfect time to connect with your community. Spirits are high, people are out and about, and local venues, markets, and businesses often need live performances, curated playlists, or creative content. Reach out to bars, cafes, shops, or community spaces to see how you can get involved.
You can also collaborate with other local artists, participate in holiday markets, or support local charities with your music. Check community apps, Facebook groups, and Instagram pages to discover opportunities. A small local effort can create big exposure and lasting connections with fans in your area.
🚨 Be Aware of Holiday Deadlines 🚨
The holidays bring busy schedules for everyone, including streaming platforms and distributors. To avoid last-minute stress, plan ahead for your releases.
SOME KEY 2025 DATES TO REMEMBER:
- Music releases: Submit by Nov 7 for late November releases, Nov 21 for mid-to-late December releases, and Dec 12 for early January 2026 releases.
- Office closures: Nov 27–28 (Thanksgiving) and Dec 22 – Jan 1 (Holiday Break).
- Normal approvals resume Jan 2, 2026.
For the full list of deadlines, video cut-offs, and year-end tips, check out our 2025 Holiday Hours and Content Cut-Off Reminders post.
Please be proactive with your team! Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your holiday releases.
Get Ahead
With the new year just around the corner, it’s a great time to review the past year and see what worked (and what didn’t) so you can plan smarter moving forward. Look at which platforms drove the most engagement, which types of posts performed best, and how your audience grew across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more. If you’re a Symphonic client, you have access to analytics for all major platforms. Take advantage of them.
Pay special attention to how your holiday campaigns performed. Seasonal content often behaves differently, and these insights can help you plan more effective releases next year. Knowing where you stand and where you have room to grow is the key to excelling in this industry. To help you truly understand your stats and streamline your efforts, check these out:
In Conclusion…
The holiday season is hectic, competitive, and full of opportunity. From November through December, major labels are dropping big releases, fans are hunting for the perfect gifts, and artists across all genres are sharing holiday music and content. If you’ve got a New Year, Christmas, or other holiday track ready, now is the time to get it out there.
The market may be crowded, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stand out. With a mix of smart promotion, engaging content, local connections, and analytics-driven planning, you can maintain momentum and make this season count. Follow these tips, stay creative, and own your holiday strategy… your fans will notice, and your 2026 plans will thank you.
Good luck!
🎁
