Little things you can do to help local music-makers
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Apr. 17, 2025) — You don’t have to go to shows to support local music.
Sure, catching a live performance is a great way to engage with the local music scene and to back up those venues that help it thrive, but a lot of folks just don’t have the time or availability. Fortunately, there are a number of effective things you can do to support local bands and songwriters that might be more compatible with your lifestyle than trying to make it out to a weekend show.
Buy music and merch
Most music today is consumed via online streaming services, yielding next to nothing for the artists. Spotify, for example, pays out between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream. If a band manages to muster an impressive 5,000 streams of a new single, they’d only be compensated $20, give or take $5.
If you find yourself routinely streaming the work of a local artist, consider purchasing that song, EP or album online. Check to see if their music is available on bandcamp.com, an Oakland-based company known for higher artist payouts compared to Apple, Amazon, etc.
Many artists release music in a physical format as well. In this post-CD era, that’s predominantly classic vinyl records. In Concord, you can find a few local records at Tone Army Records. In Walnut Creek, Up the Creek Records has an impressive array of local offerings. Whether ordering online through the band or picking up locally, you can expect to spend $20-$30 on a new local record.
And, don’t forget the merch. Bands who sell T-shirts, hats and other merchandise often have online stores through the band website or Bandcamp page. Buying merch isn’t just a great moneymaker for the band, it also helps with exposure. When someone at the supermarket points to your T-shirt and asks, “What the heck is a Sabertooth Unicorn?” you’ve already done a solid for that band.
Support online
Today’s DIY musician tends to have a love/hate relationship with social media. Many find the demand to continually create content to be exhausting, but most also recognize the tremendous value in online engagement.
Love it or hate it, social media is how performers are able to communicate directly with their audience off-stage, informing them of upcoming shows, upcoming releases, new merchandise and more.
If you’re on social media, it’s likely you can find some local acts on your preferred platform. It costs nothing to give them a follow and to periodically share their content. If they have a YouTube channel, hit that subscribe button. If they’re on Facebook or Instagram, give them a follow.
And if you’re not sure which bands to follow, you can find links to more than 500 Instagram accounts of local artists through the Artist Directory at thebeatofdiablo.com.
Streaming services may not be lucrative, but with your help, they can still be impactful for independent artists. If you create and share playlists, remember to include some local music whenever possible. Being on public playlists is one of the best ways for independent artists to expand their reach.
Additionally, some streaming services offer promotional incentives for a certain number of follows, pre-saves and playlists adds. These little things really do help.
Tune into local music programming
I’d be remiss not to remind you that you can always demonstrate your support of local music by tuning into 90.5 KVHS at 7 p.m. every Sunday (rebroadcasts on Thursdays) for your weekly dose of incredible original music from all around the greater Bay Area.
If you’re already listening, tell your neighbors and coworkers about the show and consider giving a follow on Instagram @thebeatofdiablo or Bluesky at @thebeatofdiablo.bsky.social.
Music is a major part of our region’s identity, both historically and culturally. It’s up to each of us to do what we can to ensure that never changes. Thank you for whatever part you are playing.
Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.
Dave Hughes
Dave Hughes is a local music advocate with an extensive network of independent artists. He produces and hosts a local music program on KVHS called The Beat of Diablo, every Sunday at 7:00 PM on 90.5 FM. Dave also catalogs local music releases at ConcordRockCity.com.