How Has The Internet Changed The Way Music Artists Achieve Success?

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Without a doubt, the music industry is easily one of the most interesting of any business sector. It’s something that influences billions of people on a daily basis. Meanwhile, creators of great songs are often heralded as the greatest celebrities on the planet.

However, like most major industries, the internet has shifted the goalposts. Those evolutions have altered the way that we, the consumers, interact with media. But what about the artists themselves? Let’s take a closer look at the impacts.

Audience Trends

Musicians often work with a lot of integrity and feel passionate about their art. Nevertheless, any professional singer or band accepts that they are nothing without listeners. In previous generations, it could take years for an artist to find their place. Thanks to the internet, this is no longer an issue.

Before releasing any music, artists can do plenty to research the state of music in various territories. Of course, any successful musician will stamp their own authority on things. But appreciating those trends to find a gap in the market can accelerate the process of perfecting the art.

Analytics can’t predict the future, but they can point an artist in the right direction. Not only can they understand more about what ideas will work. Moreover, they can gain a deeper insight into their place in the market.

Selling Music

The promotion of music has changed massively. But arguably the biggest evolution regards the consumption of music. Vinyl records have enjoyed a comeback while CDs still have a role to play too. Nevertheless, digital sales are unquestionably king.

A decade ago, British artists like Lily Allen and the Arctic Monkeys achieved great success through MySpace. Nowadays, though, Soundcloud is the best platform for getting music out to the masses. Meanwhile, iTunes can have a similarly massive impact on sales figures for singles and albums alike.

Music videos play a massive role in promoting songs too. This is why YouTube and other broadcasting sites are fantastic marketing tools. These streams, along with other social media can allow artists to connect with their fans in a far greater fashion too. It’s even possible to upload live performances to give users an insight into what the live experience is like.

Promotion

Becoming a successful musician isn’t simply about creating catchy music. The vast majority of listeners want to know a little about the artist they are investing time and money into. When handled correctly, this can make all the difference to an artist’s commercial impact.

Music sales are only a small part of the process. Gig tickets and merchandise are equally important elements for the overall revenue. Success as an artist is determined by the music, but the commercial elements are majorly influenced by those branding factors. Sadly, without the financial rewards, an artist might not ever get the chance to reach their full potential.

This is one area of the industry that has been massively impacted by the internet, not least thanks to the impact of media sharing from the listeners.