By, Meghan Mahaffey
In our increasingly digitized world, talent is more easily recognized and success does not solely depend on factors such as wealth or connections. With the rise of TikTok and other social media platforms, artists can share music easily with a growing fanbase. An artist I have been following for many years, Peter McPoland, has been an exemplar of how to utilize social media to foster a community of music lovers. His first release in 2018, “Lady Bird,” along with other songs that live solely on SoundCloud now, are some of my favorites, but the audiences he has acquired only began growing in 2020 with the surge of TikTok. He has acknowledged TikTok’s role in his success saying, “If TikTok didn’t exist, I wouldn’t be here. I literally wouldn’t have learned how to produce. I would have kept stumbling around for the rest of my life. It’s so insane to me to realistically owe songwriting credits to an app, but I really feel like I do.” Now the 22-year-old artist is set to release his debut album that, according to his April 3 Instagram post, “is about as big as [his] entire Spotify catalog.” For McPoland and a myriad of other artists, social media and its widespread nature made their career aspirations a reality. While I can acknowledge the laundry list of negatives that come with social media apps, I also view the expanding availability of opportunities in the music industry as a significant plus.
The interconnectedness of our modern reality is a two-way street that doesn’t only benefit the artist. For people on the receiving end of music, forming relationships with artists is more available than ever. In speaking to aspiring music journalist, Amy Moore, I was able to gain more insight into the inner workings of artist engagement from someone who is only 21 years old. Amy and I grew up together in adjacent, small suburban towns in New Jersey, and eventually, both ended up at colleges in New York City. Since moving away from home, she has developed her passion for music and has made strides in the industry to gain experience. The past four months have been particularly game-changing for her, as she has been navigating professional opportunities while on a hiatus from school. This semester away from the classroom has allowed time for her to immerse herself in the industry. In discussing with Amy, the opportunity to interview and foster a close connection with her music icon, RIZ LA VIE, was a testament to her increased access to success.
The achievements of RIZ LA VIE can be attributed to the work that journalists like Amy are doing. Their levels of success and opportunity are intertwined, which is the beauty of the complementary space. I am very familiar with falling in love with an artist and their work, so I was intrigued to learn more about Amy’s past with RIZ. She first became enthralled with the artist’s work in 2020 after an abundance of releases, including his EP “Feed.” His work was life-changing for her, as she was at a personal low point when she started exploring his discography. All-in-all, Amy described RIZ’s music as “saving,” and little did she know it would open up avenues for professional success that seemed out of reach at the time.
Amy was given the opportunity to attend a show and interview RIZ LA VIE following the release of his album, Haven, at the beginning of 2023. Through this endeavor, she learned that the industry is “as accessible as you make it.” Persistence and consistency are what it takes to break into the space, in the words of Amy. She explained that “when you actually care, it is reciprocated, especially by small artists.” This reciprocated care and appreciation between the artist, journalist, and listeners at large are what set our evolving generation apart. When I asked Amy about what she hopes to add to the music industry, she responded with the desire to “create something that can connect smaller artists to the communities that will appreciate them.” These aspirations are possible because of the immense accessibility of content on all fronts. Without the ignited fire of social media, there would be more division between artists and communities. Instead of viewing the music industry as a frightening beast not to be tapped into, Amy advises that we acknowledge the artistic nature of the space and remember that “no one has the same creative vision.” To follow Amy’s future career strides, you can head to her main Instagram, @amymoore.1, or her personal blog, @blubirdblog, which focuses more intensely on her journey with music.
