#ARTISTTIPS - EVERYBODY'S TWEETIN' AND POSTIN'

Social Media is a HUGE platform for new artists. It not only allows you to get your music out there, it allows you to bridge that gap between you and your fans, bring you closer to the front lines and get to know them better and allows them to get to know you better. If you're not active and regular on social media , you're missing an important opportunity to expand your audience.

Not Sure What to Post?

People are hesitant about what they should or should not put on social media and that's a good thing because there are some things that just need to be left off your timeline, especially if your purpose is to GAIN fans. Stay away from inflammatory subjects such as politics, tabloid garbage, "personal" details, etc. There is such a thing as TMI.

Try These Instead:

- What Are You Doing???  - Are you working on a new CD? Tweet about it. Are you on the road and discovered a cool new venue? Tweet about it. Did you adopt a rescue animal? Tweet about it, people LOVE animals.

- What Is Coming Up? - Do you finally have a release date for your new video? Put it out there. What's next on your tour schedule? Upcoming TV appearance? Talk about it!

- Share Interesting Content - It doesn't always have to be music. Did you see a new movie that you really liked? Did you hear a song by another artist that you fell in love with? Share what interests you with your fans.

- Retweet, Re-post, Repeat - Simply liking a post isn't getting the word out. If someone tweeted something nice about you, complimented your new song, raved about your latest performance - like it AND re-post it so others can see the positive feedback you're getting.

- Ask Questions - Ask your fans what THEY want to hear, ask what their current favorite song by any artist is, ask for ideas. You could get an idea for your next hit single or video just by asking a simple question. You may also find out what fans DON'T like that you're doing which is always helpful and might make you rethink some things. You may even discover that your "team" isn't exactly doing what they should be doing like updating your website, posting as often as they should be, etc.

- Fun Stuff - Post funny videos that made you laugh, non-offensive memes, jokes ... make your fans laugh, let them see the not so serious side of you. Brett Eldredge, Mark Wills, Joe Bonsall, and Blake Shelton are some of the best at this and they know how to keep 'em coming back just by making them look twice and laugh.

- Recommendations - Thinking about seeing a movie or looking for a new book to read on the bus? Ask your fans for their recommendations. Want to try a new restaurant on your next tour stop? Ask the people that live in that area.

- Likes and Dislikes - Find out what your fans like or dislike about your new single, video, social media account, website, etc.

- Snapshots from The Road - People love pictures.They love anything visual and social media is big on visual content. Post pics from the road, pics of you with fans, pics of your new dog, etc. Give your fans the bigger picture.

- A Simple Acknowledgement Goes a Long Way - Acknowledge random tweets on your timeline. Respond unexpectedly and make someones day. Thank them for showing off your new t-shirt in their latest tweet, thank them for making the 5 hour drive to see your last show, congratulate them if you see they're celebrating something such as a birthday or birth of a new baby. Show them that it's not all about you. Show them that they matter.

- Take Part in Social Media Events - Answer questions in a Twitterview, live tweet from events, etc Facebook Live, Stage It and Periscope are great ways to bring yourself to your audience when they can't physically get to your show or when you just feel like doing something off the cuff. Imagine if Elvis had been able to Facebook Live from the Jungle Room at Graceland or if Merle Haggard just performed an acoustic Stage It show from his couch?

- Post Random Thoughts on Life - share quotes, advice or photos that have helped you through rough times. If they helped you, they may help someone else who really needs it.

Don't be afraid of social media. It's an advantage that wasn't around for artists until just a few years ago. It can be a machine that can move your career forward rapidly or if you use it wrong, it can move you in the wrong direction. Use it wisely, use it regularly ... just use it to your advantage!

- Jenn

Follow Jenn on Twitter at @Lovinlyrics

HUNTER HAYES RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE FAN ENGAGEMENT AS ONE OF TOP 50 MUSIC ARTISTS ON YOUTUBE

Hayes joins fellow social media trailblazers including Beyonce, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran and more for YouTube Music Awards 2015

Photo Credit: Ray Burmiston

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 2, 2015) – Whether he is in the studio, on stage or sitting on the bus writing a song, Hunter Hayes is always creating. His music is filled with sharp observations and introspection that resonate with listeners across the globe, but Hayes has also cultivated an intimate relationship with fans by sharing his musical journey via innovative social media and technology initiatives. Today, March 2, Hayes joins a select list of international artists including Beyonce, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran and more as one of YouTube’s Top 50 Music Artists of 2015.

In the official announcement this morning, YouTube stated that this year’s award recipients are “artists with the biggest growth in views, subscribers and engagement over the last six months. Artists you watched over 47 billion times collectively. 50 innovative acts that continue to make YouTube the place where artists and fans connect.” View the full list of YouTube Award winners at https://www.youtube.com/youtubemusicawards.

Hayes, who was dubbed an “Artist That Backs Music with Digital Dexterity” by Mashable, has racked up more than 150 million views on his YouTube channel with his weekly #ForTheLoveOfMusic series, hit music videos and more.

“I always think of music as more of a dialogue, you know. It’s not just about me sharing my stories with other people, but about listening to theirs as well. It’s this beautiful experience we share together, and technology gives us a way to continue that conversation,” said Hayes. “It’s awesome that so many fans tune in every week to see what we’re up to. I love having that connection with them.”

Watch the latest episode of #ForTheLoveOfMusic and more at https://www.youtube.com/user/hunterhayes.

BRAD PAISLEY AMONG WINNERS OF 2015 YOUTUBE MUSIC AWARDS

Country Nation World Tour presented by KRAFT Cheese Comes to a Close This Week

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 2, 2015) It was announced earlier today that Brad Paisley is one of the 2015 YouTube Music Awards winners along with 49 others from all genres of music.  Others being recognized are Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift and more.

The winners were chosen based on the biggest growth in views, subscribers and engagement over the last six months. No doubt Paisley’s self-generated, creative leaking of lyric videos in advance of the release of Moonshine in the Trunk in August 2014 played a huge role in his YouTube growth.  Together, the 50 artists have been viewed over 47 billion times and have 164 million subscribers.

Paisley closes his Country Nation World Tour presented by KRAFT Cheese this week with shows in Colorado Springs, CO, Las Cruces, NM and Lubbock, TX.  Support acts are Parmalee and The Swon Brothers.

“Crushin’ It” is Paisley’s current single from his chart topping 2014 album Moonshine in the Trunk.

Visit Brad Paisley’s YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/BradPaisley.

FIRST ORIGINAL COUNTRY MUSIC YOUTUBE CHANNEL LAUNCHES

Channel launches with four original, celebrity hosted series including “Country Download,” “Hear & Now,” and “OMC!”

GreenLight Media & Marketing to Produce Country Now on YouTube

CLICK HERE TO WATCH COUNTRY NOW!

Nashville, TN…February 6, 2013… Tens of millions of known but underserved country music fans on YouTube now have an original genre channel to satisfy their music and lifestyle needs. Loaded with fresh, creative content, the COUNTRY NOW channel debuts TODAY on YouTube with programs designed to delight, entertain and inform the current and next generation of country music fans.

YouTube and GreenLight Media & Marketing will initially launch the channel this week with four original programs, and plans to develop several other new series including live music and artist driven programs throughout the coming year on www.youtube.com/countrynow:

Hosted by Emmy award winning personality Shane Tallant, and featuring WSIX afternoon drive personality The AntMan and country radio and TV personality Samantha Stephens, “COUNTRY DOWNLOAD” dishes up a weekly download of the latest country music news, reviews and recommendations through the eyes of three very different country music insiders. New episodes will launch each Friday with the first episode of “Country Download” already live on Country Now!

The latest and greatest country music singles are highlighted every Tuesday on “HEAR & NOW.” Tune in each week as Stokes Nielsen provides a video introduction of the hottest new releases, then press play on today’s biggest country hits. New music from a variety of country music superstars and emerging new talent will be featured with all new episodes debuting every Tuesday.

“OMC” (Oh My Country!) can’t wait to bring a little y’all to your mall! Hosted by the always honest and occasionally irreverent Twang Gang – Laura Bell Bundy, Brooke Engen, Tiffany Engen and Hugh Howser – tune in for red carpet coverage and style essentials from the country stars themselves, then check out what the rest of the country is wearing with regular trips down to the good ole Red-Neck Carpet. View the pilot episode now with new episodes debuting every other Wednesday.

“I LOVE MY COUNTRY” is a mash up of the classic clip show. The weekly, animated program features different user-submitted lifestyle clips combined with hilarious characters and commentary from Jimmy Dale and Cleave, exclusively on the channel. The premiere episode will debut soon with new content then releasing each Monday.

Produced in partnership with GreenLight Media & Marketing, COUNTRY NOW is focused on serving the needs of today’s country music fans and supporting country artists with innovative new platforms that showcase their music and lifestyle interests. While music programming will anchor the channel, COUNTRY NOW will also feature lifestyle programs on fashion, sports, cars, southern cooking and culture with additional programs launching in the near future.

“We’re excited to partner in the coming months and years with a variety of leading country music artists and labels, as well as some of the top creative people in Nashville to deliver a first-of-its-kind Country Music and lifestyle programming experience on YouTube” said GreenLight President Dominic Sandifer. He continues, “YouTube is the dominant digital platform for music lovers and it’s about time there was a dedicated channel just for Country Music on the platform.  We see this as a wonderful opportunity to partner with the Country Music industry to develop and create a variety of great programming options for country’s huge fanbase.”

"Music is a big part of the ever-growing YouTube community,” says Vivien Lewit, Content Partnership Director at YouTube.  “Our platform has become a global stage for discovery, where music videos are shared, and fans follow and connect with their favorite artists. We're delighted to provide a venue for the launch of the Country Now channel and look forward to engaging country music fans around the world."

“OMC has been a ton of fun to produce and we’re excited to bring you a show focused on country fashion and style that is both informative and funny,” shares country artist and OMC co-host Laura Bell Bundy. “We’ve got you covered from Ribfests to Red Carpets!”

EVENT (GLOBAL LIVESTREAM): TOMORROW!!! KENNY CHESNEY "AMERICAN EXPRESS "UNSTAGED" - THE JERSEY SHORE'S LARGEST BEACH PARTY EVER

This is an event you do NOT want to miss and even if you're not in the Jersey area, you don't have to miss it because it's a global online livestreaming event that you can watch in your most comfortable clothes and in the privacy of your home! No traffic, no crowds, no east coast scorching heat! We will be broadcasting the video right here for you to watch, provided embedding is going to be allowed so we hope to see you "at the show"!

DATE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2012

TIME: 8:30PM ET / 5:30PM PT

SHOW LOCATION: WILDWOOD, NJ

VIEW THE SHOW AT WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/KENNYCHESNEYVEVO ON YOUR PC, MAC, iPAD, iPHONE, ANDROID, AND THE YOUTUBE MOBILE WEBSITE. 


YOU CAN ALSO VIEW THE SHOW ON VEVO'S XBOX LIVE APP. THE SHOW WILL BE RE-BROADCAST FOR 12 HRS FOLLOWING THE LIVE SHOW.

Kenny’s exclusive 75-minute SOLD-OUT performance within the award-winning “American Express Unstaged” livestream music series will be streamed globally at www.YouTube.com/KennyChesneyVEVO. This concert is to showcase and celebrate today's release of Kenny's long-awaited 13th cd release, "Welcome to The Fishbowl." More than 20,000 Chesney fans were given free tickets to this event by American Express, many of which were American Express cardholders. This is the largest concert ever held on the beach in Wildwood, NJ.

American Express created the "American Express Unstaged" concert series  in 2010. This series brings concerts by major artists into your home to enhance the live music experience. The series showcases some of music's biggest names performing in landmark venues allowing both those in attendance and those at home to experience the same show. The series also brings in some of the film industry's best known directors to direct the livestream video incorporating social media and digital media to connect the online audience in unexpected and new exciting ways. 

Last year, the "American Express Unstaged: Sugarland's Incredible Machine" livestream with director Kenny Ortega drew a huge audience through social media with American Express giving away prizes throughout the broadcast and giving viewers the opportunity to view the stage using various interactive camera angles.We promoted the broadcast on our site that evening and the response was huge! This year is going to be even better with Kenny Chesney as the artist, beautiful Wildwood, NJ as the backdrop and Jonathan Demme as the director. We also have an onsite photographer who is going to be capturing the event in pictures which we'll be posting as soon as we get them. We're so glad to be an actual part of the media allowed to take part in this global event and know it's going to be phenomenal event.

Fans at the show and those enjoying the livestream performance will have the chance to unlock special enhancements throughout the broadcast based on the increasing number of tweets posted during the performance using special Twitter hashtags to be revealed during the show.

American Express cardholders will have special exclusive opportunities including:

* A FREE download of Kenny's latest single, "Come on Over" at http://amexunstaged.com/kennychesney.

* Valuable purchase offers for card members who register for SERVE, a prepaid digital account loaded with specials and features. Use your prepaid card anywhere that American Express is accepted. Those who register will receive a $25.00 statement credit once they spend their first $25.00.

* SYNC and SAVE: Cardmembers who sync their eligible Amex card with their Facebook, Twitter or Foursquare accounts at sync.americanexpress.com can unlock savings and experiences to fuel their passion for music and film. Various opportunities will be announced throughout the show.

VIDEO: DAVID 'NAILS" HIS VERSION OF ADELE'S "SOMEONE LIKE YOU"

David Nail has released a video of his cover of the Adele smash hit "Someone Like You" and the video will be featured on the VEVO Youtube page all day starting on Monday, June 18, 2012. David says "we did the video just for friends who'd heard me sing the song backstage and wanted to have access to it. It brings so many things out of you as a vocalist, so I wanted to make sure the visuals lived up to it, but I never thought anyone would pay attention to it. I certainly didn't expect it to turn into something like this." Blair Garner's "After MidNite With Blair Garner" featured the performance on their YouTube feed this past week. I guess the only honest things we can is that David "Nailed" it.  

VIDEO: PHENOMENAL DUET BY JENNIFER NETTLES AND JOHN GLOSSON - "HOW GREAT THOU ART" FROM DUETS.

Wow! We are loving the new show, "Duets", and this is only one reason why - John Glosson. What a vocal powerhouse. Pair him with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and you have nothing short of musical genius. Phenomenal!

CMA FEST VIDEO: THE GHERM GUYS TAKE OVER THE CMA KICK OFF PARADE WITH LITTLE BIG TOWN (6/6/12)

Ha! Our friends, the infamous Gherm Guys, take over the CMA Fest Kick Off Parade with Little Big Town. Love these guys! Keep an eye out, they could "gherm" your next event! Follow the GG on Twitter at @theghermguys, they'll gherm the heck out of your timeline!

WYNONNA JUDD Takes a Stand

Wynonna Judd PARTNERS WITH KRAFT AND TAKES A STAND WITH NEW “PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT”

Country superstar WYNONNA JUDD has joined a cause that she feels her fans and people around the world should be made aware of. WYNONNA has filmed a public service announcement defending the honor of the controversial and often-maligned sandwich spread Miracle Whip. A series of “Keep An Open Mouth”videos featuring WYNONNA, actor Jeffrey Tambor and comedian Michael Ian Black has launched through Kraft Foods’ social media sites. In her opinion, the sweet, tangy, creamy spread has been given an unfair bias, even by those who have never tried it.

Won’t you be an angel and help rescue Miracle Whip?