What the Music Industry Can Teach Us About Public Relations

by Elizabeth Rothenberger

The music industry isn’t just about creating great music, it’s about creating a personal brand, honing your craft, generating excitement, and building a network. Think about your favorite artists. Not only do you think about their songs, you visualize their entire brand. Artists are able to communicate a product with a story around it including why it matters, what inspired it, and why an audience should care which helps build a loyal fanbase. The authenticity in the story is what makes fans keep coming back. Taylor Swift is a great example because her music is at the center of her career, but she speaks out about the personal stories behind her music which has helped build an engaged fanbase. Each album has its own visual identity, themes, and narrative, giving fans something to connect with beyond the songs themselves. In the world of public relations, it’s important not only to communicate what you do, but why the topic matters to keep customers loyal.

Networking and building relationships is crucial for artists and musicians to build a community. Behind every successful artist is a network of collaborators, producers, managers, publicists, promoters, venue professionals, journalists, and, most importantly, fans. Maintaining positive relationships helps to prepare for the future because it’s impossible to do it alone. The same principle applies to public relations. Support is received when genuine relationships have been developed.

Another tie between the music industry and public relations is the ability to know your audience. Being aware of the niche you’re trying to appeal to helps strengthen relationships. Every artist has their own way of marketing themselves based on their audience just as PR professionals must understand who they're speaking to and what motivates them. One message doesn’t work for everyone. 

Overall, authenticity is at the root of lasting success. Artists don’t just have listeners, they have loyal fans and a team who feel a personal connection with them and want to be a part of their success. Public relations should focus on creating a community that is loyal enough to engage, share, and advocate.