Online to ONSTAGE!

Technology and the internet have undoubtedly changed the way we live, communicate and do business. Social Networking has transformed the commercial industry, especially in music and entertainment. YouTube was one of the first video sharing sites, and probably still the most well know of them all. Founded in February 2005 YouTube allows billions of users to discover, watch and share originally created videos.

Each month YouTube has over 1 billion users watching over 4 billion hours of video and receives 72 hours of new content every minute- YouTube statistics.

YouTube is now become a global platform for people to brand and sell themselves to a worldwide audience, for FREE! Anyone can have their own YouTube channel with the chance of their clip ‘going viral’ and being shared by millions. YouTube is absolutely dominated by music. From the top 20 Most Viewed YouTube Videos of all time, 19 are music videos. This highlights the overwhelming need for aspiring artists and bands to take advantage of the social networking site to get their music heard and embed it into their ‘digital marketing strategies.’  Just like a blog there are many tools and tactics to getting more video views and subscribers to your channel, for example; 'optimizing your tags,' posting often, and creating quality that offers something 'remarkable' for your fans. 

With the potential of reaching such a mass audience (over 127 million unique visitors in May 2012 alone) the power of the internet and YouTube has consequently propelled aspiring young talents to fame and fortune. Here are just 2 chart-topping artists that started online, which I’ve personally followed throughout their journey to success...

Justin Bieber-before he was discovered in 2008 by American talent manager Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber’s videos on YouTube and later became his manager. 

Braun later arranged for the young singer to meet with Usher Raymond in Atlanta, Georgia, and signed him to ‘Raymond Braun Media Group’ (RBMG). Bieber was then approached LA Reid, record executive for Island Records, who offered him a further recording contract. Probably the most well-known artist to have started on the online platform has already won awards at the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Brits, MTV Video Music Awards, MTV EMA, NME and more…

Conor Maynard- When American singer/songwriter Ne-Yo watched Maynard’s cover of his track ‘Beautiful Monster’ he contacted the singer, actually setting up a Skype meeting with him, and later went onto become his mentor, recently releasing a song together ‘Turn Around.’ Conor’s rise to success in 2012 has led to him being nominated for awards at the Urban Music Awards, Mobo Awards, MTV EMA’s , The Brits and has won the MTV’s Brand New for 2012 award.

Ne-Yo has since discovered and signed British Indian artist Sonna Rele to Universal Motown Rocords. While in London on his UK tour last month he offered a recording contract when she performed at his intimate gig in association with Priceless London at ‘Under the Bridge.’ He then further invited her to accompany him at his O2 concert the following week.

We wonder how well this YouTube star will do, and if she will one day be receiving these iconic music awards of her own.

New online technology has opened the doors for people to be noticed and signed by major recording labels who believe in their talent, which has clearly been recognised and embraced at music awards ceremonies around the world.