Social media music - why Tik-Tok trends are shaping the music landscape

In most cases, music and art are an expression of emotions and are often very timeless. On the other hand, music today also moves with the times—and not only in terms of trends in the music industry, but also in the marketing industry. Digitalization has also changed the world of music. For example, marketing one's own music works less and less via CDs or merch, and more and more via digital channels and social media. Why? Because that's exactly where the majority of target groups look for new music. Meanwhile, the movement goes even further and music can go viral via a TikTok trend, for example, and help artists achieve their breakthrough from one moment to the next. But how is this social media music created and how can you use the trend for yourself as a musician? We have the answers for you in this article.

Why social media is indispensable today

More than 2.5 billion people actively use Facebook at least once a month, while Instagram and TikTok register more than one billion monthly active users. These figures alone clearly show how important it is for artists to be present on these platforms, as well as on Snapchat, Twitter, and the like. Especially with the young generation, music on social media is an excellent way to score points. Here you gain sympathy, go with the trends, and can even become a trend yourself. The important thing here is always that your music offers something new and appeals to the target group. If you meet these criteria, you can quickly become a trend and be used as music for stories, Reel, and beyond.

Plan music with a social media strategy

Writing songs is something creative and emotional, and it should stay that way. But if you write your songs with some attention to social media trends, you can land a hit with a little skill. And even if you're not going for a TikTok hit, you should definitely market your music via social media. Since there are so many different platforms with different demands and algorithms, quite a few artists work with agencies to manage the effort. Producing new content is not the end of the story. It has to be analyzed, learned, and delivered. You can read more about this on our blog in the marketing category or directly in this post here.

Myspace as the most consistent medium for music marketing

In the music industry in particular, it's worth occasionally venturing to look beyond the end of one's nose and analyze the existing media more closely. While there have always been new offerings in the past, the previous ones have not necessarily become worse as a result. Myspace, for example, is a medium that was developed specifically for the music industry. And yet the platform has been completely forgotten by many. Yet it's easy to establish yourself there as a previously unknown band or musician. Even well-known musicians have already relied on the platform.

In addition to Myspace, there are other platforms besides Instagram that you should pay attention to. Take a look at Patreon, for example.

TikTok trends and challenges—the phenomenon of social media music

One of the most popular and fastest-growing social media platforms at the moment is TikTok. You can reach the young target group in particular via TikTok. Exciting participation challenges and videos for selected songs ensure that music can go viral via TikTok. A song that is established worldwide and played millions of times through a TikTok challenge or simply a popular trend can be tremendously successful. Catchy melodies and rhythms will put you in the best position on TikTok. Songs that are particularly well suited for dances or comedy also quickly go through the roof on TikTok.

Tips for your music on social media

Many musicians have the dream of a lightning start with social media music. But as easy as it all sounds, it's unfortunately not always the case. This is mainly due to the still very strong competition, through which users all over the world have to choose between thousands of songs and posts in the social media. With the following tips, you can stand out from the crowd:

• Decide on a suitable niche Choose an area that you can use to redefine your successes. A niche can refer to the genre of your music, for example. If you focus on a single genre at first, marketing your music via social media will be much easier.
• Complement your music with blogs and the like. Many users expect more from you than just good music. Young fans in particular often see musicians as a kind of idol, which is why you should also report on the person behind the instrument or the impressive voice. A blog is always good for this. Otherwise, you can use regular stories, reels, etc. to convey a sense of closeness.
• Be strategic in your planning Although social media posts often seem spontaneous, they are usually planned. Since your profiles are an important part of your career, you shouldn't leave anything to chance. So plan carefully and make yourself an editorial plan, for example. Keep an eye on the trends and think about which of your songs might work well and focus on marketing them.
• Don't focus on just one medium Most artists have many accounts in various social media. This has the advantage that fans can be reached on all platforms without the implementation being too time-consuming for you.

Why caution is also needed in social media

Even though social media can be a springboard for marketing your music, you should be careful here and there. Many beginners make the mistake of publishing the full versions of their own songs on social media. This can lead to more success and clicks in the respective media, but minimizes the chance of successful sales. However, since sales are the most important unit in the music industry, this becomes a problem in many cases. Work with snippets and make people curious about the whole song. Also, you can share background details of your work: take them backstage, or give an insight into the studio.

Ed Sheeran demonstrates successful usage of social media. With more than 35 million followers on Instagram, he unites a large community, which he supplies with new posts and glimpses behind-the-scenes. In addition, there are many in-depth messages, personal greetings and, of course, hints about new singles and albums. The combination of practical insights and likeable marketing makes Ed Sheeran's Instagram profile a great example.

Digitality and progress for the future of the music industry

The ever-advancing development shows how strongly social media and social media music are leading to a change in the music industry. With a little time and creativity, you have in your hands the power to work on new successes yourself,  and develop your marketing in the right digital direction. Personality and marketing do not have to stand in the way of intelligent implementation. Thanks to various options for each profile, you are guaranteed to remain unique. Also, always remember to link all your channels together, and not just on social media. For example, are all your accounts linked on your website? Can your music be heard on Spotify? You should have all this in mind.

Make contacts and exchange ideas with musicians

To learn more about digital marketing in the music industry and social media music, it's worth taking a look at mukken. Here you can exchange ideas with many other musicians and browse through numerous personal ads. You're sure to find folks with even more social media tips!