Where to get Cover Art for Your Music

Cover Art by AndreBudo

Good cover art helps your project stand out next to the sea of projects on streaming sites and social media, as well as helps define your music before it's even listened to. You put so much time into your art, so you deserve a package that reflects that hard work. Don't fall short on any aspect of your product; making the best project you can goes beyond the music.

Just ask yourself this question: When was the last time you judged a book by its cover? Because I do it every day, and that's the reality of most people who haven’t heard your music. Unless they're just throwing on a playlist or listening to the radio, they're going to judge based on the cover art before they hear the music. Imagine losing out on new listeners just because your album or single art didn't capture their attention enough. It’s an easy mistake to correct that will result in way more listens. A study done by Psychology & Marketing in 2023 showed that there's a strong correlation between appreciation of album art, listening time, and how much they like the songs. Another example of this is a survey done by Musicwatch that showed that 75% of the people who participated said that the cover art influenced whether they even wanted to listen to an album or not. Even beyond the initial discovery of music, album art helps people remember an album or song, just like a logo does with a brand, which is why it's important to represent your music. It also acts as a standalone piece in cases such as vinyl. 27% of record buyers buy the record just because they like the art according to ICM Research. Just look at how many people wear band merch but have never listened to that band's music. It's the same line of thinking.

I could make this the shortest blog post ever and just say the obvious hire any artist you know who makes art that you like, but I will add more details to that as well as show you alternative options and why you should probably just stick to the obvious answer I already gave.

Premade Art

You could use sites dedicated to providing album art, like Coverartmarket, Coverartshop, or Artgrab. They provide premade cover art and sometimes basic customizations like adding an artist's name and changing the album title on the cover for a cheap price. The biggest issue with this approach is the overabundance of AI images and the lack of uniqueness. If you really want something to represent each song/project, having something specifically tailored to your music is a better way to go than having a vague piece of art that barely represents it. You could possibly find something that works through a lot of scrolling, but I believe it's a waste of time when you can just ask for something specific directly from someone. Do you want something made specifically for you and your art or something generic?

Job Sites

Another option is using job sites like Fiverr, Upwork, or Airgigs(this one specifically caters to musicians) to find artists who make cover art. With this option, you get more customization than you would with premade art but sometimes with limitations like the number of revisions or what they offer with the album cover if you wanted more than just the cover art.(like repurposing it for social media or merch or making different versions for CD and vinyl). Another potential issue is trust. There are a lot of people on these sites who talk a good talk but aren't actually proficient at what you're asking for; you have to be smart and be able to weed these people out to make sure you get the product you deserve for the price you paid. Also, remember, if you go this route, generally, the less you pay, the higher the chance you're hiring someone who doesn't have the skills or knowledge to create what you want. There are exceptions, of course, like skilled people who are just starting out or people who just don't know their worth.

Doing it yourself 

DIY is an approach you probably thought of and are leaning toward, especially if you don't think you can afford an artist. If you have the skills and knowledge F it do it yourself, as long as you have nothing but time. Just remember that the time you spend on making cover art could be spent on perfecting that song or other aspects of your music, marketing, or brand. A lot of people THINK they can do it themselves, but in reality, they can't. I see some cover art from people who did it themselves, and you can clearly tell they did because it usually looks straight up bad or amateurish even to an untrained eye. I might make a newsletter entry on how to properly do it yourself in the future so you can actually make something decent yourself.

Hiring someone directly

Now, here is the obvious and best answer. If you hire someone directly, you can negotiate everything you want from someone whose art you already know you like and potentially someone you already trust, whether it's due to social proof or building a relationship with them. There are always going to be more options, artists, and customization going this route, and it is the best way to have the perfect cover art for your music, as well as anything else you may need. The cons are finding an artist, which really shouldn't be that hard in the digital age, and price. This is most likely going to be the most costly option, but the price will be worth it when you find the right artist for you. Just find someone you like on any corner of the internet, whether it’s Instagram, YouTube, X, or a Google search. Dm or email them and get to talking, whether you want to talk business off rip or build rapport with them first to make sure it's someone you want to work with. The choice is yours.

When you work with someone directly, it's best practice to get a contract signed to protect you and the artist and you should expect them to ask for a percentage of the money upfront, it's common practice and not a sign that someone is trying to take advantage of you (Also another reason why a contract is important). If you read through this and need someone to do cover art for a single or an album, I would love to talk to you more about it. Just email or dm me on Instagram, and we can make it happen!