SwagRight Toni

The Family 734 Radio Run Contest is all about discovering artists who bring something real to the stage. Among the finalists is Shiggins, an Ann Arbor artist whose music is rooted in storytelling, emotion, and authenticity. While some artists chase trends, Shiggins has carved out a lane built on substance. With just three years into making music, he’s already developed a style that stands out in the 734 scene.

The Family 734 Radio Run Contest is built to highlight artists from Washtenaw County who are ready to step forward with records that can move a crowd and make an impact. One of the finalists stepping onto the stage is OKTAELER, also known as TaeTaeGoinCrazy, representing Ypsilanti with a sound that refuses to fit neatly into one box. For OKTAELER, music has been a part of life for nearly two decades.

Every independent artist eventually asks the same question: why do some songs suddenly start spreading across Spotify while others stall out after the first wave of streams? For years, the answer has felt frustratingly vague. Spotify’s recommendation engine is famously opaque, and the platform rarely explains exactly why one song gets pushed into discovery playlists while another fades quietly into the catalog.