RESEARCH: How Artists Use Social Networks

Performers use social network sites such as Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to promote themselves, connect to their fanbase and gain more popularity. On these platforms, they can post personal photos, express their opinions and make special and exclusive announcements to their followers.

Rihanna is an artist who is present on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and posts updates on these networks frequently:

 

On Twitter, Rihanna advertises her collection at River Island, she posts updates of what she's been up to, and also posts pictures and upcoming tour dates.

 

Rihanna is also on Facebook, where we can find pictures and links to tour dates,  merchandise and album downloads.

On instagram, she has posted many personal pictures that could not be found anywhere else.

Lady Gaga uses all these social media platforms as well, in order to appeal to more fans and keep them updated:

 

On Facebook, she advertises her new album, her previous music videos and her very well-known image.

 

 On Instagram, much like Rihanna, she posts personal pictures and this makes her fans identify more with her as she can appear more 'normal' and 'down to earth'.

  

Gaga also uses Twitter to announce her tours, her upcoming album and connect with fans and other artists.

Pop stars are very popular on social networking sites. They each have millions of followers and people often rely on these websites to get updates and communicate with their favourite artists. This makes these networks very important for the artists. It would be very unusual for a popular music star to not use at least one of these websites, and their fans would have a hard time connecting to them and they would probably lose some of their popularity.