🎓 Artist Promo School – Learn the Game, Win the Game

Welcome to the TopHotHitsUSA x DJ Smoke Indie Artist School 101 — the place where independent artists get real results, not fake followers or broken promises.

We’re here to help you move smarter, faster, and louder in a crowded music world. This isn’t about chasing clout — it’s about building a career with strategy, structure, and tools that actually work.

Whether you’re just getting started or leveling up your grind, you’ll find:

🎯 Straightforward promo breakdowns
📚 Real-world artist knowledge (no fluff)
🧠 Tips to avoid scams and fake “opportunities”
💼 When to hire a DJ, promo company, or PR firm — and why
💡 Tools to help you grow your brand, build momentum, and stay in control

Soak it up. Take notes. Use what fits your vision.
And when you’re ready? Let’s build.

🧠 Who We Are

DJ Smoke (aka @DjSmokeMixtapes) is a Chicago-based DJ, mixtape host, music promoter, and founder of TopHotHitsUSA.com & Smoked Out Radio. For over 15 years, he has aided indie artists in reaching bigger audiences. He has done this through mixtape placements, Spotify playlists, blog exposure, YouTube uploads, and curated influencer campaigns.

We’re hands-on, transparent, and focused on real results not bots, not scams, not fake engagement. Just strategy, exposure, and access to powerful platforms.

We don’t just promote your music we help you build a brand, gain real exposure, and grow strategically. Whether you’re a first-time client or a seasoned artist, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.

📚 What Artists Need to Know Before They Buy Promo

🎭 How to Spot a Fake Promoter
If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.
Watch out for:

“Guaranteed streams” with no receipts
No screenshots, no client proof, no portfolio
Fake playlists that don’t even have real listeners
Weird Cash App names with no real business presence

Pro Tip: Ask for examples, results, or a simple track record. Real promo leaves real footprints.

📣 Promo vs Marketing vs Ads – Know the Difference
They’re not the same. Use all 3 but for different reasons:

Promo = Visibility (blog features, playlists, mixtapes)
Marketing = Strategy (building your brand long-term)
Ads = Targeting (paid boosts to attract more eyes)

If you only run promo with no marketing game or ads, you’re only half playing the field.

🔎 What Promo Can and Can’t Do
Promo can help you:

Get seen by the right people
Build momentum
Improve your digital footprint

Promo won’t:

Make you go viral overnight
Replace talent, consistency, or hustle
Fix a bad song or weak rollout

You still gotta show up and show out.

🎨 Presentation Matters
Your music might be dope. Your artwork should not look like a meme. Make sure your bio is more than one sentence. Otherwise, you’re not giving people a reason to take you seriously.
Make sure you have:

Clean cover art (no blurry photos!)
A short, professional bio
Proper spelling & formatting
A working linktree or EPK

This is your digital first impression. Make it hit.

🎧 Real Playlists vs Fake Playlists
Not all Spotify playlists are created equal.

Real playlists = engagement, new fans, possible algorithm traction
Fake playlists = ghost streams, no saves, no repeat listens
Some fake ones even get your track flagged 👎🏾

Pro Tip: Always ask: “Where’s the audience coming from?”

🔁 Why Follow-Up Matters
Promo doesn’t stop when you get posted — that’s just the beginning.

Share your links on IG, Threads, and Twitter
Tag the blogs, DJs, and curators who posted you
Pin your placements, thank your supporters, and build off that momentum

Be your own hype man. Nobody else can push your wave like you.

📣 What Artists Need to Know Before Hiring a DJ

🎛️ Types of DJ’s
Mixtape DJ’s are compilation creators. They are also brand curators.
Club DJ’s are turntable beasts with live influence.
Radio DJ’s are power players who break new music on air.
Each has a role. Know what exposure you’re after.

🕒 When to Hire a DJ
You want your music on a mixtape.
You need a co-sign.
You need a street-level boost. You’re ready to get spins at events.
You’re ready to get spins on radio. A DJ can help you move through real channels.
They can do this if you’re ready for it.

🚫 When Not To
You’re still experimenting with your sound. You don’t have a finished track. Your branding’s not ready. Don’t jump to DJ’s before you’ve got something tight to deliver. Don’t expect them to do all the work for you.

💡 Funny but Real
Don’t DM a DJ like “Yo I got $20 let’s work.”
DJ’s are professionals.
Would you try to buy a new mic for $6? Then don’t try to book a pro DJ with gas station change. 😆

🚀 How to Run Effective Ads (Without Wasting Your Budget)

Running ads can boost your music — or waste your rent money. Here’s how to keep it tight:

💸 Don’t Just Boost Posts
Those “Boost” buttons? That’s the basic lane.
Instead, run actual ad campaigns using Meta (IG/FB) Ads Manager or YouTube Ads dashboard.
You can target:

Age, gender, and location
Spotify users
Fans of similar artists

🎯 Start Small and Test
Don’t drop $500 on Day 1. Start with:

$5–10/day
Test 3 versions (different artwork or videos)
Run them for 3–5 days and compare results

📹 Use the Right Content

Short vertical clips work best (TikTok/IG Reels style)
Captions or text overlay help grab attention
Link your best performing song — not just your newest one

📊 Always Check the Data
Look at:

Clicks
Cost per view (CPV)
Engagement
Saves or follows

Then cut what doesn’t work and double down on what does. No ego, just numbers.

🧭 When to Hire a DJ, Promo Company, PR, vs DJ Smoke?

🎧 DJ
Great for buzz, co-signs, mixtapes, and club-level reach. They bring credibility in the streets or scenes where your audience lives.

📣 Promo Company
They focus on Spotify, blogs, influencer outreach, and basic visibility. Some do the job, some just throw your track on a list and walk away.

📰 PR Agency
Perfect if you’re aiming for big press think Billboard, Complex, Revolt. Also helps with branding, image, long-form interviews, etc.
Expensive, slow, but high-level.

🔥 DJ Smoke & TopHotHitsUSA
When you want:

Mixtape + Blog + Playlist + Influencer promo
Real strategy
Real people running real campaigns

You get the best of all worlds — and you can actually reach us.
📊 Promo Packages Explained

🔥 Starter Promo Bundle ($240)

Estimated Reach: 40,000 listeners | Delivery: 3–5 Days

This package is designed for new artists or anyone testing a new song or visual. Here’s what’s included and how to make the most of it.

What’s Included:

5–7 Blog Placements: We submit your single to hip-hop blogs that accept underground and emerging artists. These placements help boost your online presence, improve SEO, and give you something professional to share.
1 Mid-Tier + 3 Micro Spotify Playlists: Your song is pitched to playlists with a combined 30K+ followers. These help you get real streams, discover new fans, and possibly trigger Spotify’s algorithm.
Audiomack Upload: We’ll upload your track or visual to DJ Smoke’s official mixtape page where thousands of fans already follow. Audiomack is great for exposure and searchability.
Social Media Promo (IG, FB, Twitter): Your music gets promoted via DJ Smoke’s social accounts to help bring more visibility.
Distribution Report: You’ll receive links and screenshots showing you exactly where your music was posted.

Things You Can Do to Help:

Make sure your song is mixed and mastered.
Share your blog links and playlist placements on your social pages.
Tag @DjSmokeMixtapes and the blogs that posted you.
Stay engaged with comments, reposts, and new content.

This is a solid starter option if you’re just getting into promotion and want a real campaign without overextending.

🚀 Artist Growth Bundle ($660)

Estimated Reach: 250,000 listeners | Delivery: 5–7 Days

This bundle is for artists with momentum or those looking to drop a new project and get it seen. Here’s how it works:

What’s Included:

Everything from the Starter Bundle: You get all the services from the $240 package.
25 Blog Placements (Total): Your single will appear on many more blogs, ideal for press coverage and helping your name rank in Google.
2 Mid-Tier + 5–7 Micro Playlists: Wider playlist reach means more streams and engagement potential.
1–2 Mixtape Slots: We’ll place your song on DJ-hosted mixtapes that reach fans on platforms like Audiomack, Spinrilla, or LiveMixtapes (based on fit).
Official Music Review: DJ Smoke will review your track on TopHotHitsUSA.com, giving honest and constructive feedback for fans, DJs, and tastemakers to see.
Influencer Post (IG, FB, Threads): Your single will be posted on music pages with a combined 180K+ followers.

Things You Can Do to Help:

Use the blog and playlist links to build your EPK.
Screenshot every post and share across all platforms.
Create short videos or behind-the-scenes clips to keep fans engaged.

This package is great for leveling up especially if you’re preparing to release a project or video and want more traffic to your drop.

🧠 Monthly Campaign Plan ($1,250/mo)

Estimated Reach: 800,000 listeners | Delivery: 7–10 Days

A full monthly rollout campaign. This plan is best for artists who release content regularly and want a steady system to grow their base.

What’s Included:

1 Premium Spotify Playlist Placement: Higher-tier Spotify reach with targeted audience.
5 YouTube Uploads: We upload your video or single to 5 popular hip-hop YouTube channels to build organic views.
Elevator Magazine Feature + 15 Media/Press Placements: Establish your name with press coverage in well-known and mid-level outlets.
$100 IG/FB Ad Budget: We run sponsored ads behind your campaign to target music fans.
3 Influencer Posts: Instagram features to drive more fans to your content.
Email Newsletter Blast: Your single or video is sent directly to thousands of music followers.
2 Mixtape Slots: Get placed on real DJ mixtapes to reach new audiences.
Radio Submissions + Review/Interview: Submissions to radio platforms + written or audio interview depending on response.
Distribution Report: As always, you’ll get a complete breakdown of where your content was placed.

Things You Can Do to Help:

Have clean edits available for radio and mixtape use.
Repost influencer drops with your own captions.
Follow up with blogs and DJs who supported your campaign.

This package is for artists who treat music like a career not a hobby. It brings structure and real media power.

🔥 Viral Growth Campaign (3-Month Rollout – $2,595 Total)

Estimated Reach: 3.8 million+ (over 90 days) | Delivery: Weekly milestones across 3 months

Total Cost: $2,595 (one-time payment required upfront before launch)

This is our elite, long-form rollout built for artists looking to make a real name for themselves. The 3-month structure gives your campaign the time and space it needs to build momentum, reach new audiences, and stay visible.

Month 1 – The Spark:

Spotlight Compilation Feature: You’ll be included in a branded mixtape. It will be hosted by DJ Smoke. This serves as a key introduction for the campaign.
Initial Playlist Push: We submit your song to premium, mid-tier, and micro Spotify playlists.
YouTube Upload Blitz: Your single or trailer gets uploaded to 4–6 channels with hip-hop-focused audiences.
Blog Features Begin: We begin posting your content to curated hip-hop blogs for awareness and SEO traction.
Social Media Influencer Wave #1: Get reposted by relevant music pages.

Month 2 – The Pressure:

Solo Artist Mixtape (Optional): This is where your name takes center stage on a branded mixtape hosted by DJ Smoke.
Expanded Playlist Campaign: Another round of submissions to boost your streams and listener count.
YouTube Wave #2: New uploads or fresh versions of your content hit additional channels.
Press & Media Placements: Feature in Elevator + 10 more media outlets, plus reviews/interviews.
Influencer Wave #2: Your second set of social media promos hits mid-month.

Month 3 – The Push:

Final Playlist Surge: Last round of playlisting to keep stream momentum up.
Radio Campaign: Submissions to college, internet, and regional radio stations.
Video Spotlight + Recap Post: Highlight clips and recaps are promoted across socials.
DJ Smoke Branding: Final co-sign push, official shoutouts, and editorial wrap-up.
Distribution Report (Full): Everything documented in one final report with links, stats, and notes.

Things You Can Do to Help:

Stay active across your IG, Threads, Twitter, TikTok be visible while the promo runs.
Use every blog, playlist, and social drop to build your narrative.
Tag and thank blogs, DJs, and influencers. Engage.
Prepare new content or freestyles along the way the campaign grows with you.

This campaign works best when you’re involved, consistent, and ready to treat your career like a brand. If you’re in this for real, the 3-month Viral Growth rollout gives you reach, respect, and results that last.

💳 PayPal: PayPal.Me/DjSmokeMixtapes | 💸 Cash App: $DjSmokeMixtapes