Will the Concept of the Purely Digital Artist Soon Become a Reality?
It is a bit odd to pair the terms “e-commerce” and “musical talent” together. In fact, they might appear to be polar opposites. It is therefore a bit surprising to learn that numerous artists have become actively involved within the world of retail sales and e-commerce solutions. This brings up an important question. Will we ever witness a day when the popularity of a musician is based solely upon his or her digital presence? Let’s take a quick look at some predictions that could very well come to pass in the not-so-distant future.
Reality Check: The Online Artistic Edge
The gap between the digital domain and our physical existence has been narrowing during the past few years. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, and automated chatbots are transforming the ways in which we interact with most websites. Why should this be any different when referring to the music industry?
Artists fully appreciate the fact that their online audience will have a massive impact upon critical recognition and overall success. This is clearly evident when we look at the number of Instagram and Twitter followers the top-rated celebrities boast. We are already starting to witness some well-known names embrace their digital presence. Kylie Minogue is a shining example (1). Not only is her website involved with tours and similar promotions, but visitors can purchase her latest albums as well as other fan-based products. This is a perfect example of an artist who has learned to leverage the power of online e-commerce.
Pairing Technological Innovation with Raw Talent
One of the main stumbling blocks which artists will still have to face is knowing what technology can be used to best promote their talents. It is already a foregone conclusion that international celebrities and major stars possess a team of technical experts, but what about up-and-coming songwriters? Could this be the generation which fully enters into the digital domain? Some experts will argue that this reality might not be as far off as we are led to believe.
User-friendly e-commerce solutions such as Shopify Plus have been configured in such a way as to be easily integrated into an existing marketing campaign. More than 3,600 businesses have already embraced this methodology and these figures are likely to increase. Artists will not be forced to spend hours in front of as computer while developing the sales and marketing facets of their online presence. Such methods can be implemented within a short period of time and they can be customised to reflect the unique flavour of the portal in question.
Bringing Business know-how to creative art
A digital artist is their own brand. When their digital presence has a transactional element, aka when the public can buy your art from your website, the artist becomes a business. As such, it would make sense to get familiar with essential business management best practices. The last thing a digital artist needs is to fail not as a result of talent shortage but because they can’t keep their business afloat. From cash flow management to marketing essentials, digital artists need to be equipped to maintain and run their digital gallery as a commercial portfolio. That’s precisely where convenient solutions such as an AACSB online MBA with no GMAT requirement can help artists monetize, market, and grow their creative influence. Platforms such as Patreon support creators, yet they only exist to ensure the survival of digital artists. A business mindset can transform surviving into making real money through art.
So, is the notion of the fully digital artist soon to become a reality? While there is no doubt that their online presence will dramatically influence album sales and followers, we should still recall that this environment can never be replaced by more tangible experiences such as a live concert. It is more likely that we will witness a further blending of these two worlds; great news for artists and fans alike.