Social media has changed the way concerts are presented to a whole new level. Not only has it changed the way concerts are presented, but it changed the way the musicians present themselves and it's cheap. "Social media marketing ... offers a cost-effective solution for bands and their managers to build buzz. For all up-and-coming bands still playing concerts in mom's basement, this has been a real game-changer. With the potential to reach an audience of millions through a retweet by an influencer, artists can launch their career before it even starts," (Agrawal, 2020). Many small bands and small concert halls have grown into popularity because of social media. Once people hear a song or see a smaller musician playing live and post about it, it's like a match catching fire. Social media is great for small musicians because it's the quickest way to reach the public eye.
As for quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social media has made fans feel more connected to their favorite artist. Due to the shutdown and safety of others, concerts came to a complete holt. Due to the sudden lost of concerts, many artist found other ways to perform "live." "The pandemic has incited an explosion in live streamed mini-concerts and DJ sets, hosted by artists on their social media feeds and often announced at the drop of a hat. John Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, hung out on Instagram for an hour on March 18, with Legend playing fans’ song requests.Elton John hosted a benefit concert with iHeartRadio on March 30, with artists including Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Dave Grohl all performing from their homes," (Frank, 2020). This allowed the fans and artist to enjoy something they love and feel less alone in such a heartbreaking time. The majority of the "live" performances were hosted on YouTube and Instagram Live. The performances on social media grabbed the attention of users and not only comforted them but helped grow there social presence during a dangerous time.
Lastly, social media has been the new way instant marketing. It is not only cost effective but allows others to experience concerts through live updates and images/videos. Theses videos/images promote the concert and most of the time puts the thought of buying tickets and actually going to see a artist's next performance. Personally, after seeing a concert's videos/images, I have bought tickets to go see a concert for myself because of how fun it looked. I also didn't want to miss out on the experience so I caved and bought tickets which happens to people more than one would think. Social media has been the best thing that has happened to tour promoters, marketers, and musicians. It will continue for a long time to have a positive effect.
Works Cited
Agrawal, A. J. (2020, February 6). How Digital Marketing Is Changing the Music Industry. Inc.Com. https://www.inc.com/aj-agrawal/how-digital-marketing-is-changing-the-music-industry.html
Frank, A. (2020, April 8). Quarantine livestreams and virtual concerts: a new take on live music. Vox. https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/4/8/21188670/coronavirus-quarantine-virtual-concerts-livestream-instagram
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