I probably asked you to post a setlist. Here’s why.
tl;dr: I (and others) want to get more into your music. Help us do that.
Posting a setlist helps people coming to your show do focused listening - of what you’ll (likely) play. We can get even more into your music, and be a good audience for you. Especially since we’re likely already fans.
But say I’ve never heard of you when I buy my ticket (you’re the opener). If you post a setlist, it makes it easier for me to listen to it on repeat, and I may end up singing along (at an appropriate volume) to your set. More often than not, that’s what happens with me.
Some of my favorite music right now is from artists I’d never heard of, but they were opening for someone else I paid to see. In at least one case, I never even attended the show, but I did so much listening before, I got into the opener without ever seeing them play.
And I got into them (in part) because I was listening to their setlist on repeat, well in advance of the show.
I might not have started out being wild about your stuff. First listens aren’t always indicative. But repeated listening does wonders for winning people over to your music. That’s certainly my experience.
Have I ever fallen in love at first listen to something? Sure. But I can count on one hand how often that happens (and it’s often a false read). And really only with studio recordings, rather than live shows. Put it this way: I shouldn’t have to be struck by lightning to like your stuff.
You’re a Fan?
In many cases, I am indeed a fan of your music. I’m buying a ticket (usually in Chicago) for me and my wife to come see you. For GA shows, I’m going to be there up to an hour before doors open, so I can get close to the front of the stage. I’m one of those people.
I typically buy tickets soon after the gig/tour is announced/goes on sale - months in advance. So I’m (hopefully) listening to your music for months before the show.
I likely know at least some of your back catalog. And I’ll be listening to some of that again as well, whether or not you play it. But having a setlist helps me focus. I also have a limited “listening budget.”
In some cases, you’re playing songs from an album not released until days/weeks before the show. I’ll listen to your album once it’s out anyway - I’m a fan. But it’s helpful to know which part of the album to focus on prior to the show. I’ll listen to the rest of the album after the show - again, I’m a fan.
In some cases I’m paying to see someone headline who I’ve never heard of - so I can see you open for them. So you’re playing a shorter set. Having that shorter setlist is helpful to focus my listening.
I’ve ever come back from watching someone’s short opening set, and put together a playlist of their entire (extensive) discography. When you’re a fan, you want more. Especially when the live show helps take things to a new level.
Never Heard of Us?
As often as not, I indeed may not know you - or your music. But I want to. You’re touring with someone who (presumably) likes your music, and thinks you’re awesome (hopefully). I’m a fan of their music - it’s not a stretch for me to get into your music too.
The way I now most often discover new music is from coming early to live shows (because I want to be near the front). So I try to get into the opener. I’m there anyway. This way, I’m making the most of it.
In some cases I’m only really there for the opener, but I’m going to do my best to get into the headliner (who I may have never heard of).
Because I tend to buy tickets as soon as they go on sale, I usually have months to prepare. I usually start by putting together a playlist (on YouTubeMusic) from a previous setlist (off setlist.fm). If I have the time/bandwidth, I’m able to sing along to the opener (sometimes headliner) - even if I'd never heard of them before.
But if I can’t find a previous setlist for you, I won’t know where to start. Especially if it’s during a period where I’m going to a lot of shows in a short period of time - I may never get to listening to your stuff before you play. I’d prefer that didn’t happen.
Wouldn’t you rather I listened to your music before you play? I’d like to think I’d be a better audience for you if I was already into your music. In fact I know from experience that’s true.
I Don’t Want To
You may object to posting a setlist. Some of those (very reasonable) objections might include:
I try to address these concerns below/as linked. Jump/click to each item with the table of contents on the left (desktop only).
Listen to All Our Stuff!
If I’m a fan, I’ve probably heard much of your back catalog. Or at least the album/s that came out when I first got into your music.
But even then, it’s a lot easier/quicker to listen to 15-30 songs on repeat, than 3-30 albums/EPs, etc. - most of which won’t be on the list (even if I wished they were :) ). I’ll get back to listening to your entire catalog - probably after the show.
Blind Back Catalog Listening?
If I never heard of you before I bought my ticket, I hope you understand the likelihood of my listening to everything you’ve ever recorded before the show is close to nil.
The best chance you have of me making a concerted effort to get into your music is by letting me focus on the songs you’ll most likely play for your set.
I’m waiting around for hours to see the headliner. Make your 30-45 minute set be the fun part of that wait. Because I already got to know you through your recordings and I’m now into your music.
If I like the songs on your setlist, I’ll like your set. If I like your set, chances are I’ll come see you headline. At that point, I’m basically a fan - mission accomplished :D .
See what posting a setlist can help make happen?
Spoilers! Surprise Songs!
I hear you. And I empathize.
But it’s only a surprise if I’m a fan, and I know the “surprise song.” I simply didn’t expect you to play it.
I’m sure there are people who love this kind of surprise. I’m not going to spoil it for them. It takes effort to find/parse setlists. It’s not that easy, or I wouldn’t be writing this.
But I’m not the biggest fan of these “surprises.” It’s a fun surprise when I see a deep cut on a setlist - I get excited and listen to that song for the show. I’m going to cheer when you play it. But the surprise was from seeing it on the previous setlist. That’s my preference. You might disagree, people are different that way. I’m telling you what I like.
In many cases, I’m a fan, but I don’t know every deep cut and fan favorite. I want to. Seeing those songs (that may not be your most well known) on the previous setlist (then listening to them on repeat) helps me love those songs too - in a way I might not have before. This way I can get to know them the way your other fans do.
If I don’t know the song - it’s not a surprise. It’s a new song. Or at least new to me.
I’ll like the new song because I like you. But I’ll be listening to the song to get to know it, rather than because I love it already and can really enjoy it.
I’m one of those people who doesn’t really understand people in the crowd who don’t know the songs from the new album. The album’s been out for a while, you couldn’t make an effort to get into it for the show? I know you’re going to play these new songs, so I put effort into listening to them to prepare. Help make that process easier for people like me. It also creates incentives more broadly for people to listen to your new music.
Can’t “Spoil” New Music
If I’ve never heard of you or your music, I hope you know there’s nothing to spoil.
I have almost never gotten that into any music on first listen. Even for musicians I like. And the likelihood of instant fandom for me goes down with a live show vs. studio recordings. I get into music because I listen to it again and again. That’s what’s awesome about music - it’s even better when you hear it again and again.
When you post a setlist, and I get to listen to it again and again before the show, you’re giving me the chance to really become a fan of your music. Please help me with that. I want that for both of us.
Redact “Surprises” Everyone Knows
If I’m a fan, and you’re going to play your biggest hit from back in the day, that everyone knows, but you hardly ever play anymore - I get that. When you post a setlist, redact that song. I personally would still love to get a heads up, so I can get psyched to hear it, but I can understand wanting that to be a surprise.
Similarly, if you’re going to play a cover everyone knows, and you want to redact that song when you post your setlist - go for it. That said, you may think of it as a song “everyone knows,” but everyone might not know it. I like music, but there are big blocks of music history that passed me by - and that’s true of a lot of people.
You probably love the song you’re covering. Give us a chance to love it too. You’re playing it so everyone will sing along - help us make that happen for you.
No Fixed List
If you play an almost completely different set (or close to it) every single night of your tour, this is probably one of the reasons I love you and your music. You’re constantly making it new and surprising for yourself. I love that. That joy and excitement comes through to your audience.
But then it’s more important to post setlists, not less.
When I’m watching artists who constantly change their setlist, the preparation I do goes to another level. I can’t simply put together a playlist and tag on the 3 or 4 songs you swap in and out.
I make a playlist of every song you’ve played in the last year, ranked by the number of times you’ve played it. This is where setlist.fm statistics come in. And this playlist evolves every time you play a new show, so I’m constantly going back to check what you played for each stop on the tour.
Getting those setlists into setlist.fm regularly becomes even more important to my preparing for the show. Especially in those cases, please do post a list to social media (in 2025, Instagram) after each show. Rabid fans like me will take it from there and do the data entry into setlist.fm - so the statistics update :D .
Now, if there’s a long tail of songs you’ve only played once or twice in the last year, compared to the songs you play almost every show, I may listen to the long tail less often, and focus on the songs you’re more likely to do. At some point, I’ll focus on listening to the opener’s stuff instead, because at least I know they’re going to play their setlist.
If you change your setlist up all the time - I love you. Help your fans love you more by posting your setlists regularly.
List Still Evolving
For any number of reasons, your setlist may not be stable right now. Maybe you released some new music, so you’re balancing the new stuff with what people already know you for. Or you’re opening for crowds who’ve never heard your stuff, or you’re testing out other songs from your catalog. Completely understand you may continue to experiment to see what works best for you and your audiences.
Again, though, as above, it makes posting setlists more important, not less.
I really like seeing an artist’s setlist evolve and change. That’s one of the real benefits of touring with your music, you keep getting another chance to wow audiences.
Maybe you’re opening for someone whose musical style/pace is different than yours, and you’re adapting to that audience. So you play different songs than you might otherwise.
Where the list isn’t entirely stable, I create a superset of songs you’ve recently played. I may listen more to the ones you played in the last couple of shows. Though the only reason I know all that, is because I have data/past setlists to work from :) .
If you’re simply moving songs around in terms of the order you’re playing them, having that information is useful. It doesn’t change what I’m listening to.
I do like getting confirmation my “listening homework” is correct. If I only see one setlist for the last 10 shows, I’m not flying blind, but I’m not going in with much confidence I’ll get things right.
If I’m a couple songs off - I don’t recognize a handful of the songs you play - it’s not the end of the world. I’m happy I recognize most of the songs.
But I’d be lying if I said I’m not particularly happy when I get it “all correct” and can sing along to every song. And I know the exact order they’re played. Help me get there.
Unreleased Songs in Live Set
You mean you’re playing songs for us no one else has heard? I love it. And I love you for it.
But again, as above, this makes it more important for you to post a setlist, not less.
If you’re playing unreleased songs, it does make my preparing for the show more complicated. If these are for an upcoming album, I do have to wait for the album to get released, but that’s something I can plan for. And if it’s coming out after the show, it is what it is. I try to be nice about it :D . I know it’s something you’re likely not really in control of.
Where it gets complicated is if you’re regularly playing unreleased songs, which means fan recordings start showing up on YouTube. I do prefer studio recordings for “listening homework.” But in these cases, the live recordings are what’s available, and that’s better than nothing.
This is why it’s more important for there to be setlists available in this circumstance. First to know that these songs (that people are obviously less familiar with) are going to be on the list. Next, that they continue to recur, and are not a one-off. Also so we know the name of the song, so we can find it on YouTube, and annotate it correctly on setlist.fm.
My hope is that you view people singing along to your unreleased songs to be something awesome. Because it’s simply going to happen.
And becomes more likely when we know it’s happening, and going to happen.
How To Post Setlist?
My guess is that the simplest way for artists is to take a picture of the list, and share it as an Instagram story. If you’re particularly concerned about spoilers, you can redact some parts as I mention above. If you see the list itself as a spoiler, you can post it as the last picture when posting to the grid, and put “spoiler” in the text of the post. But people recognize the format of a setlist, and can simply skip over quickly if they’re not interested.
Whatever it is, there is some simple/easy way for you to communicate this information. However you do it, I’m not going to say no. You can hold up your list for people to take pictures of after the show, and ask them to update setlist.fm - you know your fans will absolutely do it if you ask them. They’ll be thrilled to have a picture of the list with you in it, and whoever gets the physical list handed to them will be over the moon.
I’ll say for me personally, a picture of the list is what I want. I already have too much stuff, and the physical list brings too much responsibility to do something meaningful with it.
However you communicate your setlist, hyper-intense people who have an obsessive need to plan will love you for it. I know I feel personal gratitude to the artists who have done this when I asked. It means something to us - and takes our fandom to another level.
That said, unless you change your set up every night - no one is saying you need to post a list for every show. Once you know what your list is going to be, as you’re in rehearsals, post it. Or post it after the first show/first couple of shows. At least if we have a baseline for what you’re going to play, the people attending the shows can tend to take it from there. Because then we know most (if not all) of the songs you’re going to play, and even if we don’t get the order 100% right, at least the list we post (simply from being at the show) is mostly correct.
But if you see someone in the front taking a picture of your list, you know it’s likely someone like me. Help us help you :) .
How Experienced Artists Do It
Edit: since I first posted this, I saw a great example of how to do this. Alison Moyet posting this prior to her tour’s opening night show.
In the post, they give instructions on how to get at the setlist. You have to copy/paste the url to her website, find the “news” section, before getting this link with a picture of the setlist “below the fold” of the webpage. In the link they give instructions not to share it on social media to avoid spoilers. Basically enough effort is needed to get to it that no one is going to accidentally get spoiled who doesn’t want to.
Edit 2: I’ve noticed another way this gets done. Maggie Rogers did this, and now I’m seeing M2M doing it in a similar way. They post an Insta story of tour rehearsals, and in the middle of the video is a shot of the setlist so you can pause and make it out. Video example below. If anyone wants me to remove it, just let me know, but I assume no one will ever see this :) .
This is a screengrab I got of the setlist from the video above.
New? Promote Your Music!
The reality is that once you hit a certain level of success as a musician, your fans are going to post your setlists. And that’s a good thing. At that point if you post a setlist, it simply makes our lives easier.
But until that happens, I would encourage newer artists especially to voluntarily post setlists. If nothing else, it’s another piece of content you don’t have to work too hard to produce, to feed social media/promote yourself. You’re helping yourself create fans, and elevate their fandom - in a way that’s easy to do, as well as much appreciated.
I know musicians who post short video clips of their rehearsals. Especially when it’s of songs that might not be expected in your set. Another fun way to put out content that appeals to your fans. But frankly a setlist is easier - for both sides.