Social media has transformed every phase of live events, from discovering a concert, to posting at a show, to reliving the experience online long after the encore. To today’s fans, shows and social media go hand-in-hand, with 71 percent of U.S. millennials saying that live tweeting about an event makes it more fun. However, with the emergence of social media, discovery is easier than ever, granting artists, venues and festivals alike greater access to potential fans. Added to that, all artists–whether in their early stages or on the Billboard Power 100–are equipped with the social tools to easily reach audiences and share timely tour updates. While street teams were once integral to promotion, handing out flyers, stickers and CDs, fans can now stream millions of songs online and get personalized music recommendations, allowing them to readily discover new acts and shows. Through social, promoters have the ability to share content beyond show announcements, reaching into pop culture and timely themes that generate a deeper sense of fan loyalty and engagement. In the modern age of digital connection, artists and venues alike are leveraging social’s broad reach to market themselves and expand their fan base. Real-time engagement Once dependent on niche fan clubs, social media grants artists an extended platform to directly reach audiences. Artists can also adopt hashtags on tour to encourage real-time discussion between artists and audiences, deepening engagement by inviting fans to use hashtags to request a song, vote on an encore or even ask questions to be answered on stage. Timely filters and geofilters are also rising in popularity on Snapchat, allowing bands and venues to sponsor features–a mask of musician’s trademark makeup or the name and date of tour’s run.
Although the means of listening to music have drastically evolved–shifting from records to cassettes, CDs to streaming services–concerts have always remained a constant for fans, allowing them to connect with others and experience music in the moment.
However, with the rise of social media, the lifespan of concerts now extends far beyond the final set, with platforms like Snapchat and Instagram empowering performers to better connect with fans and gain valuable marketing insights about attendees.
Social media has transformed every phase of live events, from discovering a concert, to posting at a show, to reliving the experience online long after the encore. To today’s fans, shows and social media go hand-in-hand, with 71 percent of U.S. millennials saying that live tweeting about an event makes it more fun. The numbers speak for themselves: In 2015, 3.5 million tweets were sent during the first weekend of Coachella alone.
For the first time, fans no longer have to physically attend shows to immerse themselves in live experiences, able to follow along through live updates or tune in via webcast.
Meanwhile, the abundance of applications dedicated to events makes it easier than ever for fans to fill their calendar with upcoming concerts. As new platforms emerge, social’s influence continues to grow–bolstering fan excitement and offering bands, venues and festivals unprecedented access to audiences for marketing and loyalty purposes.
Event discovery and extending access
Just a few decades ago, fans relied heavily on radio, magazines, newspapers and fan clubs to find out about upcoming events.
During my time at The Bowery Presents, email was a key platform to reach out to audiences for concert announcements and content marketing–an asset that still remains valuable today.
However, with the emergence of social media, discovery is easier than ever, granting artists, venues and festivals alike greater access to potential fans. Added to that, all artists–whether in their early stages or on the Billboard Power 100–are equipped with the social tools to easily reach audiences and share timely tour updates.
While street teams were once integral to promotion, handing out flyers, stickers and CDs, fans can now stream millions of songs online and get personalized music recommendations, allowing them to readily discover new acts and shows.
Further, social media allows promoters and venues deeper intimacy with audiences, enabling them to take on a specific tone–ideally welcoming, whimsical and familiar. Through social, promoters have the ability to share content beyond show announcements, reaching into pop culture and timely themes that generate a deeper sense of fan loyalty and engagement.
Social is also a powerful means to spotlight trending events. In 2014, Snapchat…
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