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Building your fan base: Email marketing for musicians in 2025

By Sarah Kirkwold Published July 17, 2025

If you’re a musician, you already know that staying connected to your fans is everything. That’s where email marketing for musicians – and the strategy behind it – takes the stage. Whether you’re promoting your next gig, launching a new album, or just keeping your supporters in the loop, having a direct line to your audience is key.

Social media platforms change their algorithms all the time, which can make it harder to reach your audience consistently. But your email list? You own that. And with the right tools, it’s easier than ever to grow, manage, and engage your list like a pro.

In this article, we’ll explore how email marketing is evolving in 2025, why it matters more than ever, and how WordPress and Gravity Forms make it easy for musicians to build stronger fan relationships with every email sent.

Let’s dive in…

Why email marketing matters more than ever

As Bob Dylan famously sang, “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Yes, AI is omniprevalent. And yet, email is quietly becoming one of the most personal tools in a musician’s kit.

While algorithms guess and shuffle your content on social media, email lands straight in someone’s inbox – no middleman, no noise. But remember, your fans aren’t just looking for updates – they’re looking for connection.

Email lets you show up, honestly and consistently, in a way that scales with your growth but still feels one-on-one. So here’s why email marketing for musicians is more essential than ever in 2025:

• You control the message. With social media, you’re one algorithm change away from invisibility. With email, you stay in charge.
• You reach people where they actually check. Fans might miss your posts, but they will check their inbox.
• It builds trust and loyalty. A well-crafted email creates a sense of connection and exclusivity that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
• It helps you monetize directly. Sell merch, offer exclusive songs, or promote tickets without splitting profits or fighting platform policies.

Simply put, email isn’t just a tool – it’s a career lifeline.

How WordPress and Gravity Forms support email marketing for musicians

You don’t need a giant marketing team to launch a professional email strategy. With just WordPress and Gravity Forms, you can grow your fanbase, automate tasks, and keep everything under your creative control.

Here’s why this combo is powerful:

• WordPress is free and flexible. With WordPress.org, you can create a fully customizable website at no cost. All you have to do is pay for hosting. It’s yours to build, grow, and evolve.
• Gravity Forms handles all the sign-up magic. This plugin lets you build sleek, secure sign-up forms in minutes, enabling you to easily collect emails and then send them directly to your email service of choice (more on this below).

Before diving deeper into Gravity Forms, here’s a quick reminder of why WordPress is the best platform for musicians:

• You get full control over your content. With WordPress, you own your website and email list, ensuring long-term access to your fans without third-party restrictions.
• Themes with built-in audio players. Many musician-friendly WordPress themes include built-in players for showcasing your latest tracks while collecting emails.
• Customization at your fingertips. Use plugins and themes to create a website that feels true to your music and brand.
• SEO & growth potential. WordPress supports SEO plugins like Yoast, making it easier for new fans to discover you through organic search.

Together, WordPress and Gravity Forms offer a no-code, high-impact solution to take your email marketing to the next level.

Choosing the right email marketing platform (and how Gravity Forms fits in)

To run an effective email strategy, you need more than just a form. You also need an email marketing platform – a service that manages your contact list, sends your emails, and tracks your campaign results.

The good news? Gravity Forms integrates with the most popular platforms out there, so your forms don’t just collect data, they power your entire marketing workflow.

Here’s how it all comes together:

Step 1: A fan fills out your Gravity Form

They might be signing up for a newsletter, RSVP’ing for a gig, or downloading a free song.

Step 2: Gravity Forms sends that data to your email platform

Using an Add-On, Gravity Forms connects directly to your email tool. You can map fields like Name, Email, City, or Favorite Genre so everything lands where it needs to.

Step 3: Your platform sends an automated response

Once the fan is added to your list, your email marketing platform can immediately send a welcome email, download link, or tour announcement.

Step 4: You track and segment

Your email tool will show open rates, click-throughs, and engagement metrics. You can also create tags or segments based on what fans signed up for, like merch drops or show alerts.

Compatible platforms include:

• Brevo (formerly Sendinblue). Excellent for transactional emails and affordable SMS marketing. More on this one below.
• Mailchimp. Great for beginners and small lists. Known for its templates and analytics.
• Kit (formerly ConvertKit). A favorite among creators. Built-in automation for content-based funnels.
• AWeber. A reliable choice with solid support and list management.
• ActiveCampaign. Ideal if you want more advanced marketing automation or CRM tools.

With these integrations, you’re not just building forms, you’re building a full communication system that helps you grow and nurture your fanbase automatically.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at one of the most versatile platforms for musicians: Brevo.

Common questions musicians ask about email marketing

Do I need technical skills to build email forms with Gravity Forms?
No. Gravity Forms is designed to be beginner-friendly, using a visual builder that anyone can use.

Can I segment my email list by genre or location?
Yes. Use form fields to ask fans about their music preferences or city, then segment your list accordingly inside your email platform.

What email platforms does Gravity Forms integrate with?
Mailchimp, Kit, ActiveCampaign, AWeber, and more.

Can I trigger automated emails based on form submissions?
Yes. You can set up automated email notifications, or use tools like Mailchimp automation or Zapier to customize your flow.

Can I collect payments on the same form with Gravity Forms?
Absolutely. Gravity Forms supports Stripe, PayPal, and Square, so you can sell music, collect donations, or bundle downloads with email signups.

Gravity Forms offers such powerful customization options that the possibilities (and forms) for capturing valuable email addresses are nearly endless. Here are a few creative ways to get started:

5 of the best forms for growing your email list

1. Newsletter signup form

This is your must-have form. Keep it short and sweet.

Ask for a name and email, and maybe one preference (like music genre). Embed this form on your homepage, blog posts, and tour pages.

Bonus tip: Add a free song download as a reward for signing up.

2. Event registration form

If you’re hosting a concert, workshop, or livestream, this form collects RSVPs and adds people directly to your segmented list. Include fields like location, attendance status, and optional email opt-in.

Gravity Forms can also auto-close registrations once you hit a cap.

3. Exclusive content download form

This form is ideal for offering free tracks, sample packs, or behind-the-scenes videos. Once someone submits their info, you can automatically email them the download link.

Use conditional logic to ask follow-up questions or offer related content.

4. Fan request form

Invite fans to request songs, shoutouts, or tour locations. These forms are great for boosting engagement while quietly adding to your list. Route entries to your inbox, or segment them in your email marketing platform of choice (like Brevo).

Bonus: After submission, redirect users to a signup form for your newsletter.

5. Merch checkout form with email capture

Build a merch form using Gravity Forms and connect it to a payment gateway. At checkout, offer a checkbox to join your mailing list – especially for first-time buyers.

This helps you stay connected with your most invested fans.

Advanced strategies: segment, automate, and grow

As mentioned, email marketing doesn’t stop at collecting addresses. Here are a few next-level tips you can implement using Gravity Forms and an email provider like Brevo:

Use the Gravity Forms Brevo Add-On to run your email marketing and segment by fan type

If you’re looking for an all-in-one tool to handle your email campaigns, transactional emails, and even SMS marketing, Brevo is a standout option for musicians in 2025.

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is an email marketing platform known for its affordability, ease of use, and flexible automation. With the Brevo Add-On, you can connect your Gravity Forms directly to your Brevo account and run your entire email strategy without switching between tools.

Here’s how the Brevo Add-On supports email marketing for musicians:

• Automatic list building. Every time a fan submits a form on your site, Gravity Forms adds them to the appropriate Brevo list with the tags and attributes you define.
• Trigger automation based on form data. Want to send a welcome email after a form submission? Or drip a tour promotion campaign over several days? Brevo’s automation builder makes it easy.
• Segment and personalize. Use fan-submitted data (like city or genre preference) to send targeted campaigns that resonate.
• Track performance. Monitor open rates, click-through rates, and email engagement directly from your Brevo dashboard.
• Send transactional emails. From order confirmations to event RSVPs, Brevo ensures your most important messages land reliably in your fans’ inboxes.

If you want a streamlined, affordable solution for sending newsletters, merch promotions, or exclusive track announcements, Brevo is a great fit, and integrating it with Gravity Forms takes just minutes.

Then you can use form fields to tag fans as:

• “Local” or “Touring audience”
• “Guitar enthusiast” or “Vocal fan”
• “Frequent buyer” or “First-time listener”

Segmentation also helps you personalize your emails and boost open rates.

As an added bonus, if you own a Gravity Forms Elite License, you also get the incredible value of Gravity SMTP, so you can be absolutely sure your emails are being delivered.

Automate confirmation emails

When a fan submits your form, send a thank-you email or display a custom confirmation message that includes a link to your tour calendar, discount code, or social follow button.

You can do this right inside Gravity Forms using Confirmations and Notifications.

Use Gravity Flow to extend automation

With Gravity Flow, you can go beyond simple notifications:

• Send reminder emails for unconfirmed RSVPs
• Route VIP inquiries to your booking manager
• Approve or reject song submissions automatically

These workflows reduce your manual work and create a smoother fan experience.

Elevate your music career with smart email marketing

Your music deserves an audience that listens and responds. With an official email marketing for musicians plan in place, and with the right tools, you can turn casual listeners into loyal superfans who support your work, buy your merch, and show up to your shows.

By combining WordPress, Gravity Forms, and your email marketing provider of choice, you gain complete control over your email marketing system. It’s easy to set up, flexible enough to grow with you, and powerful enough to make an impact.

Here’s your checklist for getting started:

• Build a mobile-friendly newsletter form.
• Offer a free track or discount in exchange for signups.
• Segment fans based on interests or location.
• Use conditional logic to create dynamic forms.
• Connect with tools like Brevo or Mailchimp.
• Automate your follow-ups with Gravity Flow.

Remember, the best time to start growing your list was yesterday. The next best time is today.

Let Gravity Forms help you build smarter forms, grow your list, and stay focused on what you do best – making music. Try a free demo today!