How to support local artists during a pandemic

 

By Katherine Jones
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

Many up-and-coming music artists rely heavily on live shows to share their music. But with the COVID-19 pandemic closing many live music concert halls and theaters, new artists have had to find alternative ways to share their content with new people.

Baltimore hip-hop artist Josh Stokes is one of these artists. He didn’t want to let the COVID-19 pandemic prevent him from using his talents. So he’s found other ways to share his art while quarantined in order to grow his audience and share his work. 

After a few months of practice, three Baltimore music artists have shared the best ways local music fans can support their favorite small artists.

Follow the Artist on Social Media

Social media is the newest form of self-promotion and advertising for many new artists and content creators. Following local musicians is a great way to support them. The more of a presence an artist has on social media, the more connections artists make with fans and other talents within their industry.

Stokes said social media is highly important for musicians during the pandemic. He found Instagram to be the best platform to reach his audience and network with other artists within the area.

“I like to look at Instagram as kind of like my TV channel,” Stokes said. “Everything I’m doing it has a point, it’s worthwhile, and it’s gonna have a level of excellency where you can take it in and enjoy it–even if it’s not necessarily your first thing.”  

In May, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, Stokes released a new album titled “Toons.” To promote the album, Stokes created a livestream event called “Welcome to ToonTown” where he would interact with fans and promote his work.

“Beforehand, you could rely on word of mouth,” Stokes said. “But since we didn’t really have that, I made a point to really go to Instagram, Facebook, email, whatever I could do to really utilize my stories to just kind of build a presence.”

Mariah Bonner, a Baltimore jazz artist, started a series on her social media where she took a minute every morning to sing a song or recite a poem to her followers. Bonner said it gave her a way to connect with fans.

“Nothing really stops any of us these days from picking up a camera in our living room and making a little video,” Bonner said. “Singing a song, reciting a poem, you know, it’s pretty much possible for anybody to do that.” 

Stream Their Livestreams and Music 

Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music are just a few of the platforms where small artists can publish music. But they are also large corporations and may require a deal where they receive an amount of the proceeds made from streaming.

In order to fully support local musicians, Stokes, and other artists, encourage fans to listen to music from smaller artists through BandCamp, a music streaming service where listeners can buy albums and singles, with most of the money going directly to the artist.

“Right now, not the biggest struggle, but the challenge of an independent musician is financing,” Stokes said. “Especially the one that doesn’t have a job, like myself. I don’t have a job. I know this is what I’m supposed to do.”

Melissa Wimbish and Britt Olsen-Ecker, members of the pop-duo band Outcalls, also pointed to BandCamp as a helpful way for people in Baltimore to support their local artists.

Olsen-Ecker said on BandCamp Fridays, held once a month, the site doesn’t take a cut of the proceeds made on the music sold. All of the money goes directly to the artist and their funds. 

Share and Repost the Artist’s Content

Networking via meetings and liveshows is one of the many ways up-and-coming musicians make their way up the charts. With the lack of in-person interaction due to the pandemic, local artists have found that the power of reposting is the new networking.

“Actively saying, ‘I want to promote this band,’ ” Wimbish said. “It’s way different coming from a fan.” 

Stokes, Wimbish, and Olsen-Ecker all agreed that word of mouth is still huge and still plays a major role in promotion during the pandemic. One repost could land an artist with an amazing connection that launches their career.