HOW TO GET A MILLION FOLLOWERS: SOCIAL MEDIA AND MUSIC PROMOTION
Over the past decade the Internet has undergone a social revolution. The number of social media websites has exploded to cover just about every type of content imaginable. Whether you're looking for personal blogs, alternative news sources or just to connect with friends, chances are you can find multiple social media outlets to serve your interests. Music, especially, has become a primary focus of many social media websites. Social media's fundamental emphasis on self-expression, sharing and community can do great things for both artists and fans of the music industry.
Most well known is the fact that the Internet gets artists discovered. Uploading new songs to MySpace, posting videos on YouTube, creating a Facebook fan page, the list goes on. Social media allows musicians to publicize their music and make themselves heard, without waiting around for their "big break" of getting noticed by a mainstream record label. Don't believe me? Take a look at Justin Bieber, who first gained popularity by putting his music online.
Social media also gives more autonomy to artists. The Internet gives all artists, whether they have ten fans or ten million, the power to distribute their music whenever, wherever and however they want. It's not unheard of for established musicians to abandon their record labels in favor of a direct-to-fan approach. For this, crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter have helped artists gain the financial resources they need to continue creating and sharing the music their fans love.
Social media does not just help the unknown or the independent musicians. Social networking websites, such as Twitter, let all artists form personal connections with their listeners. Social media allows for real time interaction between two or more people, helping artists and fans forge deeper bonds than are possible with the traditional artist-fan relationship, where the two groups are linked only by the buying and selling of music. Using social media, fans can feel as if they are part of the music creation itself, as well as form communities to connect with other fans.
The combination of music and the Internet lets more voices be heard and enables interaction between listeners and creators. Embracing these diverse capabilities of social media can only enhance the current state of music and enrich the industry as we know it.
By Marley Kalt
Stamp.fm Team Member