Chappell Roan Marketing Strategy: Promoting Your Album Post-Release
Who is Chappell Roan? And why is her music everywhere?
Chappell Roan is a rising star in the music industry, known for her bold pop hooks and honest songwriting. Her music style is characterized by its unique blend of catchy melodies and raw, emotional lyrics. With her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan has established herself as a talented singer-songwriter with a distinctive voice. Her music has resonated with fans and critics alike, earning her a reputation as one of the most exciting new pop acts in the industry.
This year, Chappell Roan and her team have crafted a brilliant post-release strategy that has maintained momentum for her album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Through bold pop hooks, honest songwriting, and creative marketing, Chappell Roan and her team created an approach that resonated with people and set a new standard as an emerging artist entering the pop scene. By studying her journey, you can apply similar tactics to your music career to tell your story.
Chappell Roan Debut Album Release
(September, 2023)
Chappell Roan Strategy: The release of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, last year was highly anticipated, mainly due to the viral success of her single, "Pink Pony Club." The album's bold pop hooks, honest songwriting, and relatable themes and focus on relationships helped it gain millions of views on TikTok, which fueled excitement for her debut album. Chappell Roan carefully built anticipation through social media teasers and countdowns to engage with her audience.
Artist Takeaway: Utilize social platforms to build momentum ahead of your album release. Teasers and personal stories behind the music can help create excitement for your work.
Midwest Princess Tour Kickoff (September, 2023)
Chappell Roan Strategy: In the same week, just days after she released her debut album, Chappell Roan kicked off the Midwest Princess tour. Dressed in memorable costumes that fit the theatrical, fun elements of her persona, she captivated audiences across different venues. This tour, which featured the fan-favorite "Pink Pony Club," was critical to the album in the spotlight. She even invited drag queens to open for her shows, by inviting having these local queens open for her, she showcased her dedication and connection to her community.
Artist Takeaway: A tour or live performance following your album release can be vital to engaging your audience in person. Chappell Roan used these shows to bring the world of Midwest Princess to life and continued connecting with her audience.
VEVO DSCVR and High-Quality Music Video Release (November, 2023)
Chappell Roan Strategy: To continue building excitement for her debut album, Chappell Roan released a high-quality music video featured on VEVO's DSCVR Artists to Watch series. The video showcased the visual world she created with her album. The glitter-filled visuals perfectly fit her pop-driven sound and further reinforced the story she was telling with her album.
Artist Takeaway: High-quality music videos are crucial for expanding your reach. Chappell Roan used visuals that aligned with her album's themes, engaging her audience in the world of Midwest Princess.
Late Night Debut (February, 2024)
Chappell Roan Strategy: Chappell Roan performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, showcasing her live performance skills with tracks from her debut album. Songs like "Pink Pony Club" and others demonstrated her ability to combine bold pop hooks with honest songwriting, capturing a wider audience. This national TV appearance also helped her album rise in recognition across the music scene.
Artist Takeaway: Press opportunities, such as TV appearances, are vital for gaining exposure. Chappell Roan took this into account and used her national platform to present her music to a broader audience, maintaining the momentum from her album release.
Opening for Major Artists: Guts Tour (February, 2024)
Chappell Roan Strategy: Chappell Roan further expanded her fan base by opening for Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour. This high-profile collaboration introduced her to an even larger audience. The tour featured a heavy dose of fun outfits and her most popular tracks from Midwest Princess, ensuring her debut album stayed relevant well into 2024
Artist Takeaway: Collaborations and tour opportunities with other artists can introduce your music to new audiences. Chappell Roan strategically used these shows to strengthen her presence in the pop world. Opening for a bigger pop act can be a significant strategic move to perform new music in front of much larger audiences and boost recognition.
Acoustic Versions and Stripped Performances (March, 2024)
Chappell Roan Strategy: Her NPR Tiny Desk performance highlighted the versatility of Chappell Roan's music. Stripped-down versions of her debut album tracks allowed her to showcase a heavy dose of emotional depth, focusing on the honest songwriting that defines her work. Fans appreciated the raw, acoustic rendition of her songs like "Pink Pony Club" as it demonstrated another side of her artistic identity.
Artist Takeaway: Acoustic or stripped-down versions of your songs offer a new way to engage your audience. Chappell Roan used these versions to reconnect with her audience.
Festival Performances (April 2024)
Chappell Roan Strategy: At Governors Ball 2024, Chappell Roan made a bold entrance by entering dressed as Lady Liberty. Additionally, she covered Lady Gaga, demonstrating her range and paying homage to one of her key influences. This performance, alongside her Coachella appearance, helped Chappell Roan cement her position in the festival circuit, bringing the glitter and spectacle of her Midwest Princess persona to the stage.
Artist Takeaway: While you don't need to come out as Lady Liberty, festivals offer the perfect platform to create memorable moments. Chappell Roan used her participatory music and dramatic visuals to leave a lasting impression on festival-goers.
What Emerging Artists Can Learn From The Chappell Roan Marketing Strategy
Chappell Roan's post-release strategy for the Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess emphasized creativity, consistency, and engaging with fans. She went outside the box of traditional marketing and used her music and creative visuals (with a heavy dose of glitter) to maintain momentum and boost sales long after her debut album was released. By combining engaging live performances, high-quality content, and well-timed media appearances, she ensured that her music made an impression on people week after week.