Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion active monthly users. Introduced in 2010 as a simple platform for sharing photos, the app has since expanded to include other features like videos, Instagram Stories, and Instagram Reels. With that kind of userbase, any brand can easily use this platform as a lucrative means to reach its target audience. The same goes for aspiring musicians who want to engage with a wider audience to shape their careers.
Matteo Belcastro is one such musician who was able to start his career as a rapper using Instagram. He used it as a medium to network with other artists and engage with his audience. Belcastro believes that using Instagram offers some unique advantages that can help any artist effectively widen their reach and increase the size of their audience, if it is used intelligently.
Here is how Matteo Belcastro was able to blend Instagram with hip-hop:
Explosive reach: Instagram has over 500 million active daily users. The userbase is mainly comprised of people in the 18-34 demographic. It is these young people who are the primary audience for any musicians on the platform.
Audience engagement: Instagram allows artists to interact with their audiences through photo and video posts. Fans can share their thoughts in the comments section and the artist can reply to them. Regularly engaging with their audience helps an artist establish a stronger connection between themselves and their fans.
Instagram Stories: Instagram allows users to post short videos and share them with their followers. “Stories” differ from regular Instagram videos in that they are automatically deleted from the site 24 hours after they are posted; they are intended to be a less formal and more personal way of sharing video content on the site. Belcastro has used this feature to generate anticipation for his upcoming releases.
Stunning visual content: Recording a video or taking a photo on location can be quite expensive for an up-and-coming musician. However, since Instagram is and has always been focused on hosting visual content, the site comes with integrated tools that anyone can use to make their content look good. Instagram now comes with advanced editing tools, allowing users to touch up photos or apply filters to give photos additional effects. These features have helped musicians take photos and record videos at home without using fancy lighting or expensive equipment.
Accessible on all devices: Instagram can be accessed using any device capable of connecting to the internet, be it a computer, smartphone, or tablet. Because the site is so accessible, this has helped it garner a large userbase.
Conversion rates are high: Instagram boasts a conversion rate of 1.85%, which is one of the best conversion rates on any social media platform. This makes Instagram one of the prime digital spaces for aspiring artists looking for a market to sell or promote their work.
Matteo Belcastro states that Instagram has played a significant role in shaping his career as a rapper. It was through this platform that he was able to build his audience and access different sources of revenue.
