How to Get Found by AI in 2026: Artist SEO & Discovery

In the old days of Google, we stuffed footers with keywords. Today, AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini look for identity, context, and connection. If a fan asks, “Who are some new indie soul artists with a 90s vibe?” the AI isn’t just looking for a tag; it’s looking for a story.

Here is how to optimize your presence so the “algorithms” recommend you like a best friend would.

1. Ditch the “Resume” Bio for a “Vibe” Bio

Most artist bios are dry lists of venues played and awards won. AI reads those, but it doesn’t always know what to do with them. To show up in specific AI searches, you need to describe your sound using comparative language.

  • The Old Way: “Sarah Jade is a singer from Brooklyn with three albums.”

  • The AI-Ready Way: “Sarah Jade blends the smoky, late-night vocals of Erykah Badu with the modern, indie-rock production of Arlo Parks. If you love 90s Neo-Soul but want something that feels like a lo-fi sunset, her music fits that pocket.”

Why this works: You’ve given the AI specific “anchors” (Badu, Parks, 90s, lo-fi). When someone asks for “artists similar to Arlo Parks,” you’re now at the top of the AI’s list.

2. Treat Your Metadata Like a Conversation

Metadata used to be just for the back-end of Spotify. Now, it’s the primary way AI categorizes your world. Instead of just picking “Soul” as your genre, think about the hyper-specific niches.

Category Don’t Just Say… Try Adding…
Genre Soul / R&B Alternative Indie Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Bedroom R&B
Mood Happy Golden hour, Sunday morning, driving through the city
Instruments Guitar Fender Stratocaster, vintage Rhodes piano, analog synths

Pro Tip: Use these descriptions in your “About” section on YouTube, your “Artist Pick” on Spotify, and even in your Instagram captions. AI “scrapes” these platforms to build a profile of who you are.

3. The “Search Everywhere” Strategy

AI doesn’t just look at your website; it looks at what the internet says about you. This is called sentiment and entity association.

  • Get on Niche Blogs: Even a small feature on an indie soul blog matters. When an AI sees your name mentioned alongside terms like “best new soul of 2026,” it gains “confidence” in recommending you.

  • YouTube Descriptions are Gold: Don’t just post a video with no text. Write a paragraph about the inspiration behind the song. AI models are heavily trained on YouTube transcripts and descriptions.

  • Alt-Text is Your Secret Weapon: When you upload a press photo, don’t leave the file name as IMG_504.jpg. Change it to indie-soul-artist-sarah-jade-live-performance.jpg and fill out the Alt-Text. If a user asks an AI to “show me images of new soul singers,” you want to be there.

The Bottom Line: Be Google-Proof, but AI-Friendly

In 2026, discovery is about semantic search. It’s not about the exact words you use, but the meaning behind them. Stop trying to “rank” and start trying to “describe.”

The more clearly you define your “lane” in human terms, the easier it is for an AI to pull you out of the crowd and say, “You have to hear this artist.”