In this section, I will analyse developments in the industry and evaluate how these impact upon my performances and artistic profile. This will include new trends in social media I will also evaluate the success of brand development and apply this to my own Artist Profile, which I will develop throughout the module.
The main way that music promotion, in particular, has developed in recent years is online. Before, you would need a website to use as a portfolio of work. This may include a storefront of your music and merchandise, a mailing list for fans to sign up to and a list of tour dates. Now, although websites for larger artists are still necessary for putting everything in one place, the first thing people tend to think of when wanting to learn more about a musician’s development is their Instagram page, or more recently their TikTok. One key use of TikTok is humour and many artists tap into this by creating samples using household objects and creating absurd-looking song writing processes (Current musical trends in 2022 2022).
As an artist I think an important next step for me would be to create a TikTok account and begin creating short, engaging videos. For me, these would include snippets of performances , which would then direct people to my YouTube channel. I think the newest trend is to create video content. Having something visual means that you do not have to engage as much, unlike text which many people do not want to read.
But there is another app, less commonly known that could actually prove to be a great success for artists. That app is: Discord. Many users of Discord will know it because of it’s gaming roots but it is so much more. It can be an ideal way to promote your music. Discord servers can be used to start chats with your followers, allowing them to see your newest music videos for example. They can also get involved in chats, both written and verbal, within your server channels and these channels can be made for as many topics as you desire (An introduction to discord for musicians 2022).
Discord has a special place in my life, being a gamer and musician. I follow Against the Current’s Discord server because it is the perfect place to access tour updates and music video releases. They have a subscription element to the server, which allows them to raise money to create music, similar to Patreon.
https://discord.com/servers/against-the-current
If I am planning to avoid using a website, despite them not being totally obsolete, there is another great way to put all of my information into one place for my audience to access. Linktree is a tool that adds all of your links together into one customisable URL. It features analytics that mean you can view the success of each ‘button’ or link. Unlike many other sites, such as soundcloud, you can add as many links as you may need (Smith, 2021).
I already use Linktree to put everything for my event management profile in one place. From Instagram and Facebook to YouTube videos and even ticket links, it is extremely convenient.
Bibliography:
Current musical trends in 2022 (2022) UJAM. Available at: https://www.ujam.com/blog/current-musical-trends-in-2022/ (Accessed: April 27, 2023).
Music, D. (2022) An introduction to discord for musicians, Ditto Music Distribution. Available at: https://dittomusic.com/en/blog/an-introduction-to-discord-for-musicians/ (Accessed: April 27, 2023).
Smith, C. (2021) Every musician could do with a linktree, Medium. The Riff. Available at: https://medium.com/the-riff/every-musician-could-do-with-a-linktree-f54b798ec4ae (Accessed: April 27, 2023).