We have covered the topic of social media many many times. Bands who ‘tweet’ and ‘facebook’ themselves into your world are giving fans a false sense of friendship.
I want to call out two rather annoying new trends.
1- Tweet for a song. Here's the deal- you use your twitter to announce a bands new song and you get to download it for free. A virtual street team so to speak. Twitter is full of them. I, for one, have never done it nor would I. I would rather pony up the dollar than be a free mule for a band. I find it someone disturbing and carnie like.
2- “Likes” this is one that really disturbs me. The ‘If then We” premise. Such as “if we get 1000 likes to our bands page we will let you hear a sample of our new song’. You WANT people to hear your new song- you should be begging for people to listen to it not crying for clicks.
There is a particular performer by the name of Daniel “Alexandre”, who is on this campaign right now. If you are begging for ‘likes’ then there aren’t many who ‘like’ you.
“Be my friend be my friend!” if your friend me I will give you candy? Get real pal, the kids will false up accounts or whatever to get you clicks to hear a song that in 4 days will be on your facebook or myspace playing to no one.
I would personally want people to like my band because they like my music, not because I begged and dangled ‘prizes’. Back in the myspace days it was how many ‘friends’ you have now its how many ‘likes’ the harsh reality is that these scoring systems have nothing to do with the general perception of your work. I believe there is a slice of toast with the image of Jesus on it with more likes than most of these people.
There was a time when bands spread their work by actually playing music, unlike today when they sit on their asses at a computer and beg people to click on things.
Whenever I leave a venue and there are kids out front passing out flyers or CDs I will always stop to take what they have and I will listen to it or look it up on the web when I get home. These kids are taking an active role in the promotion of themselves rather than lazily gathering fictitious crowds of people who have nothing better to do. How many likes are legit?
If people like your music they will spread the word. Most bands I have come to love have been recommended to me by legitimate fans. Some bands I love not for their music but for their performances or diligence. But if I have to see you whimpering 10 more likes and Ill post the cover of my cd!”,
I’m going to everything in my power to avoid you- for the simple matter of the annoyance.
Bring it back down to the simplest form- if you are deserving, you will be liked.