Remember a few years ago when every cultural commentator and his uncle was heralding a new age of direct communication between artist and fan via the wonder of MySpace? Well Twitter takes this trend to its ultimate conclusion, so now we know exactly when Nick Cave is “drinking my eleventh strawberry daiquiri and talking to Tracy Pew via Ouiji board” or when Calvin Harris is simply asking the world, “am I a cunt?”
Yes… and they’re not the only ones. The music world is gradually discovering the ultra-immediate, 140-character realm of inhuman contact that Twitter provides. Admittedly, many bands and singers have started accounts only to leave them vacant after a few posts (Lily Allen), some are guilty of spamming you silly with endless whimsy (MC Hammer), while others are clearly just façades for the stars’ marketeers/web monkeys (Britney Spears, Oasis).
But despite all this, I still find it fascinating (especially when it goes wrong) and I reckon we’re gonna see an upsurge of artists joining in the next year. So I’ve made this list of bands, singers and rappers already on Twitter as a reference for anyone else who’s interested. Please leave a comment if you’ve come across anyone I’ve missed. And of course, feel free to follow me @NickMitchell.
Boom Bip (from Neon Neon)
Notorious BIG (from beyond the grave, obv)
Kurt Cobain (ditto)
Trent Reznor (NIN)
Robert Smith (The Cure)
Michael Jackson (OK, maybe not)
Questlove (The Roots)
P.S. It’s not very rock’n'roll though is it? I can’t imagine Keith Moon tapping away at his laptop: “drove Rolls into hotel pool, woopsy!”
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Good list! Have to admit I don’t bother following the acts who just set up a twitterfeed pimping their new video or whatever. Come on musos! Act human!
@mychemtoilet
We’re attempting to follow pretty much all musicians and musicy thingsy on Twitter, check out friends list, we’ve got a few more than these http://www.twitter.com/drownedinsound
Japanther is on now:
http://www.twitter.com/japanther
I saw them there last night.
Alex
http://www.twitter.com/alexsteed
http://www.twitter.com/space538
That Nick Cave one’s a pisstake, right?
http://www.twitter.com/gaseousbrain
I wasn’t sure at first but since all the Mick Harvey-related tweets I think you’re right Milo.
It is interesting to see just how few of these bands/artists are actively using Twitter or have their management team/PR people posting. They poke around with a few updates and then disappear… maybe one day to return.
Regardless, I have a shared spreadsheet going that people have been updating the last little while. I have also started to list record labels using Twitter. This is of even more interest to me because I’m seeing more activity on this front.
Here is the list (broken out by Artists and Record Labels) – http://bit.ly/f6zyN
and here is the link to the form to add new entries – http://bit.ly/JRrK
Hopefully this consolidates everything into one place… and of course, anyone can grab the list and post/embeed it into their blogs.
Thanks.
g.
I haven’t signed up to Twitter yet, I’m not quite convinced by it & I’m signed up to so much distracting stuff online.
Some bands/artists’ posts on Twitter are funny or insightful, but it’ll probably just be used to deliver mini-press releases and dross by others.
I also made a list of Scottish bands and musicians here: http://www.scotsman.com/undertheradarblog.
Click on March 2009 in the archives and scroll down.
Please add to your list of singers on twitter:
@dawnlangstroth
GREAT Canadian singer from Toronto!
Good article; i love twitter! i like following my favorite popstars on twitter! http://www.popstarsontwitter.com ; lilly allen has a lot of tweets, its soooo funny
A very motivating article, truthfully I know a lot more information from this article
Why aren’t we on here? @sound_junkies