How did social media change electronic music industry?

Ante Anušić
5 min readJan 15, 2023

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Social Media Ikons

Exploring the continued importance of social media for artists, I’ll try to describe the importance of social media platforms on electronic musicians.

The importance of social media in electronic music has been hotly debated over the years. Some say making or playing great music is all that matters — do that, and the rest will follow.

The rise of social media has had a significant impact on the electronic music industry. Platforms such as SoundCloud, YouTube, and Instagram have given electronic music producers, DJs, and performers new ways to share their music and connect with fans.

One of the most significant ways that social media has impacted electronic music is through the democratization of music production and distribution. In the past, electronic music producers and DJs had to rely on record labels and music distributors to get their music out to the public. However, with the advent of social media, musicians can now easily upload and share their music online, bypassing traditional gatekeepers and reaching a global audience.

Pros and Cons

Social media has played a significant role in the live electronic music scene. Electronic music events and festivals often use social media to promote their events and to connect with fans. Additionally, many electronic music performers live stream their performances on platforms such as YouTube or TikTok, which allows fans who couldn’t attend the event in person to still be a part of the experience.

electronic music event

In addition to these benefits, social media also has a negative impact on electronic music. One issue is that it has led to a flood of music being produced and shared online, which can make it difficult for new electronic music producers and DJs to stand out and get noticed. Additionally, electronic music producers and DJs often rely heavily on social media algorithms to promote their music, which can lead to a lack of diversity in the electronic music scene.

MySpace and Telegram

Before the advent of streaming services like Spotify and Soundcloud, back in 2000’s, Myspace was the go-to platform for up-and-coming electronic music artists to share their music and connect with fans.

Musicians could easily upload their music to their Myspace profile, where fans could listen to and share the tracks with their own networks.

Myspace’ helped to promote and distribute electronic music, and it helped to foster a sense of community among electronic music fans.

The platform provided a way for electronic music artists to gain visibility and reach new audiences, while also providing a way for fans to discover new music and connect with each other.

Telegram has had a big impact on the electronic music scene by providing a platform for electronic music producers, DJs, and fans to connect and share music, tips, tricks and collaborate on new music.

It allows for easy sharing of tracks, remixes, and other music-related content, as well as the ability to create and join groups and channels dedicated to specific genres, artists, or events.

If you’re lucky enough and you “know someone who knows someone”, you’ll end up in one of those groups where you’ll be able to download music for free.

How did social media platforms help artists and fans?

the democratization of music production and distribution that social media has brought has allowed electronic music to reach a global audience and has helped to increase the visibility of electronic music on a global scale.

SoundCloud, in particular, has become a hub for electronic music producers and DJs to share their music and connect with fans. The platform allows users to upload and share their tracks, as well as provide feedback and make connections with other musicians. This has led to the rise of new electronic music genres and sub-genres, as well as new artists who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to share their music.

mobile livestreaming

YouTube has also played a significant role in the electronic music scene, with many electronic music producers and DJs using the platform to share music videos and live performances. This has given electronic music fans an opportunity to see their favorite artists in action and has also helped to increase the visibility of electronic music on a global scale.

Instagram has also become a powerful tool for electronic music artists to connect with fans and promote their music. Musicians can use Instagram to share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, as well as updates about upcoming performances and releases. Additionally, Instagram has become a place where electronic music fans can discover new music and connect with other fans.

Adaptation to digital spotlight

With the rise of illegal downloading and streaming platforms, earning an income from producing has become more hard. This has forced many musicians into the digital spotlight, where competition is fiercer than ever and maintaining a social media presence is now all but standard. Of course, not every successful artist has a social media presence. But staying in shadow also helps to build a mystery of oneself.

But for most touring electronic musicians — and especially newer artists — social media is now a necessity, as popularity on platforms like Instagram and YouTube goes hand in hand with career growth and stability. This new reality has sparked the ire of many artists, who view the sway of social media over the industry and motivations behind the platforms with increasing unease.

In conclusion, social media has had a significant impact on the electronic music industry. Platforms such as SoundCloud, YouTube, and Instagram have given electronic music producers, DJs, and performers new ways to share their music and connect with fans. However, social media also has its drawbacks and it can be difficult for new electronic music producers and DJs to stand out and get noticed.

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