FEATURE:
Information Overload!
PHOTO CREDIT: Unsplash
Do Artists Need to Be SO Revealing on Social Media?!
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EVERY artist out there…
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
is entitled to connect with their fans and share whatever they want. I do wonder whether there is this essential need to reveal every facet of their waking lives! It may seem like old news but there is something ambiguous about ‘social media’. That desire to be connected and conversational is resulting in a mass of information put our way. I do not follow that many people but I struggle to keep up with everything that is put out. I can look at Twitter, let’s say, and get a grip on what is happening. I turn my head and a stream of new tweets comes through. A band might post a GIF or update; they will then share someone else’s status and, before you know it, there is a flood of stuff in front of you. If you ever sleep – I occasionally do – then you wake up and have missed out on a lot of stuff. You will look at a timeline or whatever and search around for anything relevant and interesting. It is not only musicians culpable of sharing too much: all of us get into a habit of giving too much away and passing on every inane and random piece of information to followers. I have lost so many contacts because I get fed up with all the posts and retweets – Facebook statuses, stupid photos and pointless updates. The introduction and rise of Instagram have made this even worse.
Once was a time only had Facebook and Twitter infiltrating our brains. Now, there is a slew of Instagram updates and photos for everyone to see. I am all for artists being open and letting us into their lives but I wonder how much ‘useful’ and relevant information we are receiving. I do love artists like Florence + the Machine but so many big artists are sharing every thought and reflection with us! New artists are the same. They are less reliant on commercial gain and record label pressures but they are posting out constant updates and news stories; photos from gigs and thoughts that come into their head. I guess we are all guilty of too much sharing: I have been known to spend a lot of time posting articles and realise it must be a bit full-on for many. I get a bit fed up with the unregulated and over-the-top nature of social media. I do not like unfollowing artists or people in general but get a little weary when they post endless photos, updates and retweet endlessly. Not only is it impossible to keep up with it all but it sort of turns into harassment, albeit it quite inoffensive, after a time. You never really know if you have missed something important or something monumental has passed you by. The modern artist, mainstream or otherwise, need to keep their fans updated – I wonder how far they need to go.
You look at a typical mainstream artist and there might be a couple of dozen updates/tweets on an average day. There might be some random Instagram photos and they retweet praise and mentions; there are some off-the-cuff thoughts and one or two things that might be worthy. I wonder whether the modern interpretation of being a musician has altered the way social media is used. This article shows how social media has changed and ways musicians can utilise it:
“Social media has played a massive role in rekindling this tribal group mindset. Artists in all industries no longer need to appeal to millions of people to succeed and make their mark. Instead, a group of even a few hundred loyal followers can enable the artist in question to pursue their dreams.
The results of this drastic change are phenomenal. Instead of artists having to adhere to certain genre’s or change themselves to appeal to more people, they can remain true to their essence and create whatever they want (well, within reason!)”.
Musicians have their music on platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube; they post behind-the-scenes videos and photos; they share reviews and news that comes their way – it all adds to a sense of productivity and marketing. I understand artists need to remain visible and cope in a saturated market.
The problem with keeping things strictly ‘musical’ means we are seeing more updates and bombardment. If you follow a selection of big and small artists, you will get to know them pretty well but I wonder how much of what we see is relevant. It might be fun seeing a GIF or a photo at a gig; we might smile a bit when they post wacky videos of them at a venue. Not only does the endless stream of updates get a bit much; you miss out on so much and it is impossible to connect with all your fans all of the time. I might miss an important update from a band who posts several pointless photos of them messing around in the studio. After a while of useless posts; I get a little fatigued and yearn for a bit of a breather. It is hard balancing between effective marketing and giving too much away. Look at the Pop market and some of the biggest artists there. Many will reach out to their fans but I wonder how many pouting photos and windows into their personal lives can be tolerated. Maybe there should be better filters so artists can better target their audience and, for people like me who do not need to know everything that comes out of their mouths, it would provide some rest. I would happily follow an artist and set what I want to get from them.
PHOTO CREDIT: Unsplash
I am not interested in any retweets coming from them; I do not want to see their Instagram feed – I only want to know about the music and what is going through their minds (in terms of creative thought). I feel the need to reach out and be so prolific is a way of coping in a saturated market. Artists feel revealing all and being constantly in the public view is a way of getting their name out there and getting ahead of the competition. Not only is that all-cards-on-the-table approach wearisome and overloading; it can affect mental-health and make the fan a bit addicted. I wonder whether the average Ariana Grande fan really needs to see her chilling at home or with her boyfriend; seeing every thought and being THAT connected. For the artist, there is that demand to have them spend hours a day on social media and open up their soul. That can backfire: fans and critics taking shots; feeling exposed and the need to keep pushing themselves in order to get more fans. I understand things are hard and it is a real struggle for a new artist.
This article posts a set of rules for social media dos and don’ts. Have a look here, too:
· Keep your content varied. From a user’s perspective, nothing is more boring (and eventually, annoying) than seeing repetitive posts over and over. You’ll get more followers by mixing up your content to contain all sorts of material. Don’t just blast your followers with requests for likes or retweets – give back! Upload videos, share photos, make creative use of hashtags, offer giveaways, share sneak peeks, discuss albums or equipment you enjoy, and don’t forget to interact with your fans.
· Don’t post too often – or too little. Different sources give different recommendations for the optimal posting frequency depending on factors like which website or app you’re using and how many followers you have. Generally speaking, two posts per day is recommended for artists with large followings (10,000 or more), while a lower posting frequency is typically advised for musicians with smaller followings. Planetary Group can help you find an effective social media strategy for maximizing your visibility and outreach to listeners.
· Offer rewards for fans. Who doesn’t love being rewarded? You can make free downloads available to fans, or offer other simple, low-cost treats and exclusives, in exchange for liking your page or sharing a certain hashtag.
· Get creative with interactive features. Artists often fixate on the “media” aspect of social media and forget about the “social” part; but the beauty of social media is that it creates a two-way street. Not only can you share content with fans, they can share content with you – which also happens to be a great (and cost-free) way to make an impression and forge a connection. For example, you can invite fans to submit their art, upload videos, or simply share their opinions.
· Use a personal tone. You’re not the spokesperson for a multi-national corporation, so you shouldn’t write like one on Facebook (or, for that matter, on any other social media site you’re using). While you should definitely give your posts a once-over for basic grammar and readability, you should write like you speak so that your content has a genuine tone.
Steve Jobs you are one of my biggest inspirations and your story spirit and drive helps to push me everyday congratulations on Apple hitting a trillion dollars also congrats to Eddie Q and Johnny Ives and Tim Cook and the entire Apple team
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) August 3, 2018
I do wonder whether it is hard to know where to draw the line and whether artists get too obsessed with getting as much information out there as possible. Whilst the musician has more ground than ever to cover; for those on the other end, it can be a bit heavy-handed and much. The musician is under more and more pressure to stay online and do as much as they can on social media. The effect on mental-health is clear – more and more artists committing suicide and suffering breakdowns. In any case; I feel there needs to be more of a balance and, yes, for artists to take it easier. I have followed artists only to regret it a day later – when they post more useless information than anything about their current projects. I feel we all need to take it easier and decide what is purposeful and needed. Social media sites need more sophisticated filters so people like me will stick with artists and receive only the prime social media cuts. I am pleased there are so many artists coming through and putting their music online. I love the growth and choice but, when we have to see every movement and breath from them; it can get a bit annoying and lead many to hit that…
PHOTO CREDIT: Unsplash
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