Best Hashtags for Musicians to Boost Engagement

Learn the best practices for choosing the best hashtags for musicians to elevate your online presence and engagement.

by Lauren Davish of Disc Makers Blog

We’ve all heard of a hashtag (formerly known as the number sign, the pound sign, or by its formal name: the octothorpe). In the world of social media marketing, hashtags have become an essential tool for musicians — both independent and signed — looking to increase their visibility, promote their music, and build a real fanbase.
Whether you’re pushing a new single, sharing behind-the-scenes content, or engaging with fans, the right hashtags can significantly boost your reach. Understanding the basics of a successful social media strategy for musicians — such as relevance, specificity, and trending topics — can help you navigate the crowded online space and ensure your music gets the attention it deserves.

Table of Contents:
• Crafting your hashtag strategy
• Top hashtags for musicians on Instagram
• Leveraging hashtags on TikTok
• Exploring hashtags on X
• Avoiding common hashtag mistakes
• #GetStartedToday

Crafting your hashtag strategy

Creating an effective hashtag strategy starts with using hashtags that are relevant to your content and audience, rather than simply loading your posts with popular tags that may have little to do with your music. Effective hashtags should be specific, memorable, and aligned with your artist brand. They should also be both general and more personal. For example, if you’re a rock band releasing a new album, different hashtags like #RockMusic, #NewAlbumRelease, and your local music scene, like #PhillyMusic, can help target the right audience while keeping your branding consistent.

Understanding the balance between popular and niche hashtags is also important in maximizing your reach. Popular hashtags like #MusicMonday or #NewMusic can help you tap into larger conversations and attract new followers. However, because these tags are so widely used, your posts may quickly get lost in the shuffle. On the other hand, the best music hashtags with a niche, such as #FemaleBassist or #SynthwaveCommunity, might have a smaller audience, but they often lead to more engaged followers who are genuinely interested in your genre. A well-rounded hashtag strategy should include a mix of both popular and niche tags to ensure you’re reaching a broad audience while also connecting with those who are most likely to become dedicated fans.

Top hashtags for musicians on Instagram

Instagram has become one of the biggest platforms for music promotion, and utilizing the right hashtags can significantly enhance your reach and engagement. Some of the most effective hashtags for musicians include #NewMusic, #MusicVideo, #LiveMusic, #Band, #Singer, #Songwriter, and #MusicLover. These tags help you tap into broad communities of music enthusiasts and better promote your music on Instagram.

Additionally, genre-specific hashtags like #RockMusic, #HipHop, #Jazz, and #ElectronicMusic can connect you with fans who have a specific interest in your type of music. Using these hashtags allows your content to reach users who are actively searching for new music and artists in your genre.
Blending trending and specific hashtags is ideal for maximizing your visibility on Instagram. Trending hashtags in the music industry like #InstaMusic and #NowPlaying are great for capturing the attention of a wide audience, as they are frequently used and searched. However, relying solely on these can cause your posts to get lost in the vast sea of content. To combat this, incorporate specific hashtags that are aligned with your sound and audience, such as #AltPunkRock or #AcousticSessions. This combination allows you to engage with broader trends while also honing in on niche communities that are more likely to become fans of your music.
Be sure to monitor the performance of your hashtags and adjust as needed. And while you can use up to 30 hashtags in a post, don’t overdo it — Instagram advises using just 3-5 hashtags per post. Tools like Instagram Insights can also provide valuable data on which hashtags are driving the most engagement. Experiment with different combinations and keep an eye on the latest trends in the music scene to stay relevant.

Leveraging hashtags on TikTok

In order to be seen and get your music on TikTok, a platform where viral trends and challenges often dictate the success of content, you’ll also want to make use of hashtags. Choose hashtags for musicians on TikTok include #MusicTok, #NewMusic, #TikTokMusic, and #OriginalSong, all of which are widely used by creators and can help you tap into a broader audience. Additionally, just like on Instagram, genre-specific hashtags like #IndieMusic, #HipHop, #PopPunk, and #CountryMusic allow you to connect with users who have specific musical tastes, making it easier for your content to reach fans who are likely to enjoy and potentially share your work.

To get the most out of your hashtags on TikTok, it’s important to integrate them into content that has the potential to go viral. TikTok thrives on trends, so incorporating trending hashtags such as #ForYou, #FYP, or hashtags related to popular challenges can significantly boost your visibility. Once again, be sure to balance these broad hashtags with more niche tags that reflect the unique aspects of your content. For example, if you’re participating in a trending challenge, add hashtags that not only connect to the trend, but also highlight your specific genre or musical style.
You’ll also want to use between 3-5 hashtags on TikTok so that your posts don’t appear spammy. Strategically placing hashtags in your video captions and participating in popular TikTok challenges can help your content get noticed by the algorithm, increasing your chances of going viral. You can also engage with other users by using duet and stitch features, and you can include relevant hashtags to tap into existing communities and conversations.

Exploring hashtags on X

If you’re trying to gain visibility on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where content discovery is heavily influenced by user engagement, you’ll need a good hashtag strategy. On this platform, hashtags are not just tools for categorizing content; they are basically how users search for and discover new posts. Users search hashtags to find whatever it is they’re looking for — like your music genre, for example.
X recommends using no more than two hashtags per post, so it’s important to continue that balance between broad, popular hashtags and more specific, niche ones. You can use one general hashtag, like #Musician, and one niche hashtag, like #AltRock.
It’s also a good idea to stay updated on hashtag trends specific to X. This might include seasonal hashtags, event-related tags, or even platform-specific memes. Regularly revise your hashtag strategy to align with current trends on X and see how they can be relevant to your music to get your content seen.

Avoiding common hashtag mistakes

Using hashtags effectively can significantly boost your social media presence, but common mistakes can undermine your efforts. One major pitfall is overloading your posts with too many hashtags, which we see often. While it might seem like more hashtags increase visibility, using too many can make your content look cluttered and spammy, potentially turning off your audience. Instead, focus on a few well-chosen hashtags that are highly relevant to your content and audience. Here’s a quick review on the recommendations for each platform:

• Instagram: 3-5
• TikTok: 3-5
• X: 2

Another common mistake is failing to research the hashtags you’re using. Not all popular music hashtags are suitable for every post. Using a trending hashtag unrelated to your content can confuse or mislead your audience, leading to lower engagement and a loss of credibility. It’s essential to be sure that the hashtags you choose are relevant to your content and resonate with your target audience. Additionally, avoid using banned or overused hashtags, as they can limit your post’s reach or even get your account flagged by the platform.

#GetStartedToday

Getting creative with your hashtags is an important part of any musician’s social media strategy. By balancing popular and niche tags and avoiding common mistakes, you can significantly increase your visibility and engagement across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X. Using the right hashtags can help you connect with your audience, grow your fanbase, and leverage your music marketing strategies effectively.

Ready to elevate your social media game? Disc Makers is here to support you with expert insights and music promotion services specifically for independent musicians. Visit us today to discover more tools and strategies that can help you succeed in the digital world. Let’s take your music to the next level … #GetStartedToday!

Lauren Davish is a writer, singer/songwriter, yoga instructor, and voice coach. She received her MA in Creative Writing with a focus on creative nonfiction in 2019. Her favorite types of writing include blog posts and song lyrics.