How to Build an Email List as a DJ or Producer (2026)
An email list is the only audience no algorithm can take from you. Here is how to build one from your downloads, set it up so your emails actually land, and keep fans opening them.
Quick answer: collect fan emails on every free download, send them to MailerLite, authenticate your own domain so emails land in the inbox, and email your fans every time you release. MailerLite is our pick for musicians because it is simple to use, takes deliverability seriously and makes managing fans easy.
Why your email list matters more than your followers
Social platforms decide how many of your followers see each post, and that number keeps shrinking. An algorithm change, a hacked account or a platform falling out of fashion can wipe out years of growth.
An email goes straight to the fan. When you drop a track, everyone on your list can hear about it, whatever the algorithm is doing that week. It is also the one audience you can take with you anywhere: to a new platform, a new distributor or a ticket sale.
Why MailerLite is our #1 choice
MailerLite
The easiest way for an artist to run a proper fan list without becoming an email marketer.
- Free: up to 500 subscribers
- 12,000 emails a month
- Paid: from $10/month
Why we rate it
- Simplicity. A drag-and-drop editor that makes a clean release email in minutes, with no design skills needed.
- Deliverability. MailerLite reviews new accounts and polices who sends through it, which keeps its sending reputation strong and your emails out of spam.
- Subscriber management. Groups, segments and custom fields let you separate DJs from fans, tag people by the track they downloaded and clean out inactive subscribers easily.
Watch-outs
- The free plan was cut from 1,000 to 500 subscribers in September 2025, so a growing list will need a paid plan sooner.
- Free emails carry MailerLite branding and have no ready-made templates.
Other good options: Kit is built for creators and strong on automations, Brevo prices by emails sent rather than list size, beehiiv suits artists who want to run a newsletter, and EmailOctopus is a low-cost, no-frills choice. Sick Taste Pro connects to all five.
Set up your list step by step
Create your MailerLite account
Sign up and fill in the account details honestly. MailerLite reviews new accounts before you can send, so describe what you are doing: sending news and music to fans who signed up for it.
Send from your own domain
Use an address like [email protected], not Gmail or Hotmail. Then authenticate the domain in MailerLite, which walks you through adding a few DNS records. Gmail's sender guidelines expect senders to authenticate their domain, and skipping this step is the most common reason artist emails end up in spam.
Make a group for your download fans
Create a group such as "Download fans". Groups let you keep fans from your gates separate from, say, DJs you send promos to, and email each the right thing.
Connect your download gates
With Sick Taste Pro, go to Integrations, then API in MailerLite, generate a token, paste it into your Sick Taste email settings and pick your group. From then on, every fan who downloads is added automatically, and Pro's email verification keeps fake addresses out. Without Pro, export your fans from your dashboard and import them before you send.
Set up a welcome email
Create an automation that sends one email when someone joins the group. Thank them for the download, say who you are in a couple of lines, and point them to your best track or next release. Welcome emails get far more attention than anything else you send.
Share your gates everywhere
Your list only grows when your gates get seen. Put the links in your SoundCloud descriptions, link in bio, YouTube descriptions and mix tracklists. Create a download gate for every free track you put out.
What to send your fans
- New releases. Every single, remix and EP, with a direct link to listen.
- Free downloads first. Give your list early access to edits and bootlegs before you post them publicly. It rewards them for signing up.
- New mixes. A fresh mix is an easy reason to get in touch.
- Gigs and tickets. Tell your list first, especially fans near the venue.
- A bit of you. What you are working on, a track you love, a studio photo. Fans follow people, not release schedules.
Keep emails short: one main message, one button. Once or twice a month, and always when you release, is a good rhythm.
Keep your list healthy
- Only add people who agreed. Make it clear on your gate that fans are joining your mailing list, and never add contacts you scraped or bought. UK and EU data rules require consent, and buying lists destroys deliverability.
- Block fake emails at the door. Fake and throwaway addresses bounce, and bounces push your emails towards spam. Sick Taste Pro turns them away before they reach your list.
- Clean out the inactive. Every few months, remove subscribers who have not opened anything in a long time. A smaller, engaged list beats a big, silent one.
- Make unsubscribing easy. MailerLite adds the link for you. Leave it in. People who cannot leave mark you as spam instead.
The bottom line
Start the list now, even if it is tiny. Put every free download behind a gate that asks for the email, send those fans to MailerLite, authenticate your domain and email them every time you release. In a year you will have an audience that no algorithm can take away. For the bigger picture, read our guide on how to grow your music fans quickly.
Fill your list from every download
Every Sick Taste download gate collects fan emails, free. Pro syncs them to MailerLite automatically.
Create a download gateFrequently asked questions
What is the best email platform for musicians?
Our pick is MailerLite. It is simple enough to send a good-looking release email in minutes, it takes deliverability seriously so your emails reach the inbox, and its groups, segments and custom fields make it easy to manage fans as your list grows. It also has a free plan to start on.
Is MailerLite free?
MailerLite has a free plan for up to 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails a month, which is enough to start a fan list. Paid plans start at around $10 a month and add email templates, unlimited sends and removal of MailerLite branding. Check MailerLite's pricing page for current limits.
How do I get fans to join my email list?
Ask for their email in exchange for something they want. The most effective way for DJs and producers is a download gate: fans enter their email to get a free track, so every free download grows your list. Put your gate links in your SoundCloud descriptions, link in bio and YouTube descriptions.
How do I stop my emails going to spam?
Send from your own domain rather than a Gmail or Hotmail address, authenticate that domain in your email platform, only email people who agreed to hear from you, and keep fake and inactive addresses off your list. Sick Taste Pro checks addresses as fans enter them and turns away fake, mistyped and throwaway emails.
How often should I email my fans?
Email at least every time you release something, and aim for roughly once or twice a month. Less than that and fans forget who you are; much more and they start unsubscribing. Every email should give fans something: new music, a free download, a mix or show dates.
Can I connect Sick Taste to MailerLite?
Yes. With Sick Taste Pro, create an API token in MailerLite under Integrations, then API, paste it into your Sick Taste email settings and choose the group new fans should join. Every new download then adds the fan to MailerLite automatically. Without Pro, you can export your fans from your dashboard and import them into MailerLite.