As we've shown here, social media has become a phenomenon and has changed many scenarios, one of them being the music scene. Bands from the 1980s. They surrendered to the online world. And if even artists who started their careers before dial-up internet were launching online strategies, imagine what the online world is like for those born in the digital age!
There are many examples of artists who go viral on the internet with a song, but how many of them manage to ride that wave and increase their network of fans and followers? We've profiled two artists you've probably heard of who are taking advantage of the best that social media has to offer, making their music played all over the world.
Olivia Rodrigo
The multi-talented young actress and singer, aged 18, introduced herself to the world as the star of Disney's High School Musical: The Series. From the screen, she quickly launched herself into music streaming with the single "Drivers License," and since then, her path has been one of ascension.
Olivia already had a large young audience before the release of her debut album "SOUR," and that's when an already large audience became even bigger and with a global reach. The album features a well-structured storytelling, a visual identity with colors and elements that engage its audience.
The singer gained global recognition after her songs became trends on TikTok, which propelled her to prominence on all music charts. This is evidenced by the numbers: "SOUR," released in May 2021, has already surpassed 3 billion plays on Spotify. Furthermore, the singles "Deja Vu," "Good 4 U," and "Drivers License" have amassed over 12 million streams on the platform!
Maneskin
Rome is the birthplace of the band that proved that those who have a voice can conquer the world! Rockers Victoria De Angelis, Thomas Raggi, Damiano David, and Ethan Torchio made their debut on the X-Factor Italy stage, where they finished in second place. Their participation in the show secured them a contract with Sony, but the highlight of their career came with their victory in... Eurovision 2021.
After taking home the trophy, Italy became too small for the band that conquered the world with trends and social media posts. These were the band's main tools for winning the music competition, as they secured votes from the public – which were decisive for the result. The profiles of the members and the band are full of content featuring their hits, such as the songs "I Wanna Be Your Slave" and "Beggin'", which became trends on TikTok and Instagram.
The band's numbers further prove the success the Italians have achieved worldwide. The music video for "Zitti & Buoni," the winning song at the Sanremo and Eurovision festivals, has already garnered over 74 million views. Furthermore, they made Italian music history by reaching the top 3 on the Billboard Global chart and achieving number one on Spotify's top 200.
And you, do you know of any other artists who performed for the whole world through social media in 2021? Tell us in the comments, we love discovering new names in music.
