How to Never Run Out of Content Ideas: My System for Musicians

I used to spend hours staring at my phone, trying to think of what to post.

Then I'd finally create something and post it, and the next day I was back to square one.

This went on for months. I posted maybe once a week because I kept running out of ideas, and my engagement was terrible because I wasn't consistent.

Sound familiar?

What changed for me

When I was learning music production, I watched endless YouTube videos. So I started doing the same thing with content, but smarter.

Instead of just consuming, I started collecting.

The system I use now

1. Scroll with intention.

When a video makes me stop scrolling, I save it immediately. I don't save it to copy it. I save it to understand why it worked.

For example, the Belgian singer LUNA covered Billie Eilish's Birds of a Feather in Dutch, and it blew up to 1 million streams in weeks. Why? She took something familiar and made it her own. That's an idea you can adapt by covering popular songs in your native language. I broke that one down in 5 psychology principles for selling your music.

2. Follow musicians one step ahead of you.

Find artists in your genre with 10,000 to 50,000 followers. Skip the ones with millions, because content from artists closer to your size is more relatable and easier to adapt.

3. Train your algorithm.

This one is crucial. Like and save only content that fits your brand, and within 2 weeks your feed turns into a content idea machine.

I learned this the hard way. I used to watch random stuff, and then I wondered why my feed showed me nothing useful for music content (and funny cat videos instead).

4. Use search on purpose.

Search hashtags like #indieartist, #bedroomproducer or #unsignedartist on TikTok and Instagram. You'll find endless ideas from musicians at your level.

A tip: sort by recent instead of top. That way you see what's working right now, and not what worked 6 months ago.

What happens when you don't have a system

I worked with a band who released a single with zero content plan. They posted twice, ran out of ideas, and the song went nowhere. All that studio time, mixing and mastering was wasted because they couldn't keep the momentum going.

Now look at someone like Marc Rebillet. He built his whole career on one content format, loop videos where he improvises songs on the spot. It's the same idea with endless variations, and that's the power of having a system.

Your action plan

• Create a "Content Ideas" folder on your phone right now.
• Spend 15 minutes on TikTok or Instagram searching your genre.
• Save 10 videos that grabbed your attention.
• Write down why each one worked.
• Adapt one idea this week. Don't copy it, make it yours.

Stop asking "what should I post today?" and start asking "which saved idea fits my goals and my energy today?" That's a big difference.

If you're stuck, here's a ChatGPT prompt I use: "I'm a [genre] artist releasing a song about [topic]. Give me 10 content ideas that don't require expensive equipment." It works every time.

And if you want a head start on your folder, I collected 308 content ideas with examples in The Content Vault, with a planner to schedule them.

A content idea to try: name it based on my look

Want people to engage before they even hear your music?

Show off your look, your vibe and your persona, then ask your audience for their opinion on it. In the example I love, a band poses in front of the camera and asks people to name their album based on how they look.

How to make one:

• Think of something visual that reflects your artist persona. It can be your clothes, your hair, your makeup, props, or how you pose with your instrument.
• Film a simple clip that shows it off.
• Add a caption that invites people to answer, like "Based on my hairstyle, what should I call my next EP?" or "What genre do you get from this look?"
• Pin the best comments. It can encourage other viewers to join in.

Why it works so well:

• It's simple and low effort, with no performance or big production needed.
• It gets people talking directly in the comments.
• It puts your identity front and centre, and points people to the details of your style that help them connect with you.