Breaking into the music industry has changed, with artists no longer relying on old-school tactics to try and land a record deal. Technology has disrupted the music industry like bands incorporation custom interactivity through google maps in their Music Videos. Social media is just one aspect of technology that can be used to try and make that break into the music industry. It is proving to be a key ingredient in publicity and fan coverage.
MySpace used to be the social networking site of choice for aspiring artists. The once popular site has been attributed to launching the careers of Lily Allen and Soulja Boy, as well as boosting sales of already established artists. But, MySpace dropped 10 million unique visitors at the start of 2011, bringing users down to 63 million compared to Facebook’s 500 million users.
Seeing how Lady Gaga has over 31 million likes on Facebook, yet only 1.5 million “friends” on her MySpace, it is clearly no longer the most appropriate tool for aspiring artists trying to break into the music industry though it won’t necessarily hurt you if you do create a profile.
Depending on your genre of music, you might find that using specialist sites like ReverbNation or Bandcamp that fit the image of your band more than a mainstream Facebook or Twitter approach. But, considering it’s a numbers game and the more track listens or video views you land equates to a perceived popularity, you’d be crazy to ignore Facebook.
BandPage is definitely the must-have Facebook app to use if you want to be taken seriously in the music industry. It’s free, so you don’t have to worry about any costs, although you can upgrade to BandPage Plus for a reasonable $1.99 a month.
BandPage is Facebook Page where artists can add tracks (with the option for fans to listen, download and buy) and add bookings. I've seen a bands website where you had to like them or be a fan of them before you could listen to their tracks. This Using Facebook means that your fans can also share your content with friends, spreading word of mouth about you, and helping to increase your chance of breaking into the music industry.
Lastly Social Media connects bands to fans (and vice versa) from all over the world and for little to no cost. This is especially important for upcoming bands that may not have the budget to hire an agent or publicist. You may just want to make music, but there’s more than just talent required to be successful in the music industry.
I think that Facebook is the new and best tool for bands. I know a lot of bands who greatly appreciate Facebook and they use it to their advantage. Like you said about Lady Gaga (more "likes" than friends on MySpace), it's simple for bands to just say, "Hey go like us on Facebook!" and on the actual pages, they have their information, tour dates, songs, and essentially a way for the band to interact with their fans. Sometimes the bands require you to "like" their page before you can listen to any of their music. A smart and efficient tactic in my opinion.
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