This changed the way I thought about social media as a musician

[@markshepardsongs]

As a singer/songwriter with over 500 songs in my catalog from over 45 years of writing. I get overwhelmed pretty easily. I made a conscious decision to focus on KZbin for exactly the reasons you stated. 1. long term search results. 2. I personally don't use Instagram or tik tok etc. but I DO use YT every day. 3. YoutTube Shorts are similar to Instagram enough so I can lower my stress level by just focusing on this one platform. 4. I'm releasing something significant once a week. 5. clearing my schedule so I can start doing a short once a day. When I do release a short version of one of my weekly releases, it definitely gets seen. more... It's still a slow process and I have to make sure I stay UN-ATTACHED to any kind of outcome other than doing my work. and being consistent. Thanks for sharing your path.

[@CyberselfOfficial]

You're so cool JNJ. Please keep doing your thing, you are such an inspiration to me and I truly respect your art and drive. Keep going.

[@francescomilloni]

The issue I find about instagram is that the followers and likes doesn’t really traslate in a decent percentage to listens/Spotify fans. As music maker, that’s the final goal… I see no value in having followed which are only interested in my instagram feed 😕

[@howlinwaters]

Since Google has changed and updated their method of intitiating searches, the general consensus now is that hashtags make very little, if any difference in getting a post seen on a website. In other words, hashtags are dying, if not already dead and gone.

[@slaughtersongs]

Started using Insta recently and boy I hate it. But you gotta do what you gotta do. Thanks for the tips!

[@celestialsonicexperience]

Great run through. Very well spoken on these issues.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks!

[@Genolexis]

You helped me so much on what you said about staying on subject and moving to a new subject. I’m releasing an instrumental album and I’m a bit worried that my new followers will not care for the music with lyrics on them in the future. I know we all face challenges so I appreciate you sharing your experience. Truly appreciated, thank you 🙏

[@angelocast]

J, I was almost giving up to keep creating content, but my passion for music has been with me since I was 4 years old and I want to bring to millions of people. Thank you for all your efforts and for giving me right now, July 24, 2023, a boost of hope and confidence to keep expressing and helping this world throught my music and art. The music you create is something I love to create too, I will learn from you. THANK YOU! New follower here and I love your song CARRY ME SLOWLY (listening now). Your breathe at the end shows the state you were when recording....amazing. "Music and Love support the healing process of the people of this world" - Angelo Castagneto

[@JonathanRookeMusic]

I love that... "be a person". Very important.

[@Levigrxce]

Binge watching your content and I’m learning so much You’re awesome man

[@IKI-KIKI]

Thanks man for your insight, encouragement and for being a person.

[@TheOutlawReverend]

Very informative, thank you.

[@KadForward]

Thank you for the tips and refreshing content. This feels like having a casual conversation. As opposed to watching a 20min advert. Keep it up!

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Really appreciate that! Best wishes 🙏

[@KadForward]

@@JamesonNathanJones You're welcome 👍

[@heinixbergman1899]

Thank you thousand times, your video chanced my whole mindset towards social media posting. It was a struggle

[@TheEveryone-ur3kz]

Thank you ! Don’t have Instagram but I will apply these techniques to our KZbin channel.

[@bogizh8245]

tbh I discovered you by a sponsored ad on IG and after many times refusing to hear your, what sounded like to me at the time as a pianist, 'cheesy' piano music :D I finally gave it a chance and after hearing it in context of the synth magic that you do I loved both your amploas. Your album 'Signals' is the most played album for me on Spotify this year. Peace and love, brother

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Haha really appreciate that man! Glad you stumbled across it :)

[@waz3128]

​@@JamesonNathanJones I listened to your album 'Signals' on KZbin. Have you heard of Caterina Barbieri? It reminded me a little of her, just in terms of that slow unsettling tone and mood you create with the analogue synth and repetition. But obviously very different too. Lovely stuff!

[@dethrali]

Great video! Definitely needed to hear this. Thanks :)

[@iamsamcori]

thanks for the great video. your voice sounds like billy bob thornton

[@J-MLindeMusic]

The most (read: very little) effort I've put into Instagram is to make a separate version of my tracks for IGTV, which doesn't seem to do much of anything. I don't really care about the app, but your video was interesting!

[@samuelwreedfilms]

Awesome, as always!! Thanks for the tips!

[@endless_arps]

Great talk. It also feels more relaxing on youtube. Content doesn't need to fit in one minute or a reel , and people are willing to spend a few minutes longer here

[@misojisounds4006]

Thank you for sharing! This is very valuable advice for someone who is terrible at social networking and has 60 instagram followers (I put absolutely no effort in my profile whatsoever). Do you think social media is even needed to build a following? Couldn't you potentially build a following by performing at open mics and relying on word of mouth? The more I focus on social media, then the less time I have to focus on my actual music. Since my music is what I care about most, it's hard for me to motivate myself to get out there.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks! You could absolutely build a following through word of mouth, but the benefit of social media is that you have the potential to reach a global audience. Ideally one would probably do both. I will add to this video that I now feel there’s MUCH more potential for me personally on a longer-form platform like KZbin than IG or TikTok, but the same principles apply. Consistency, creativity, and kindness will be noticed if you don’t stop, but it does take time.

[@leni_dreamer]

Thank you for this video bro. Great points x

[@darrenelkins5923]

Do you have a video to explain the full process of self publishing music ? Thanks

[@BrianLarney]

Cool Rhodes and synths in the background. Do you make music?! I don't see any on the channel.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

If you go back far enough on this channel there’s quite a bit. I now have a second channel exclusively for releases. youtube.com/@JamesonNathanJonesMusic

[@BrianLarney]

@@JamesonNathanJones Thanks.

[@stephengriffiths3009]

Insightful sentiments.

[@MichaelBrunerMusic]

This was very informative thanks so much for sharing your experience! Any thoughts on content that can be chopped up for multiple platforms? Like a longer form video on KZbin that you edit for IG, TikTok, etc.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

That’s exactly the approach I’ve taken on Instagram lately. I just cut out parts of the longer form KZbin videos and edit them for Reels.

[@MichaelBrunerMusic]

@@JamesonNathanJones nice!! Definitely gonna give this a go. I’ll connect with you on IG as well. Getting some really cool opportunities and now have a very strong incentive to put out content 🦾

[@KirklandWilliamsWorkout3000]

Totally agree

[@whirrings]

I am exactly in that place of having a niche audience and wondering whether it was worth putting any more effort into Instagram and your video was very helpful and honest, many thanks 👍

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks Mark! As a part of that niche, I always find your work really inspiring. I appreciate the kind words 🙏

[@bpmoore2934]

Such a valuable insight man. Thank you

[@rayderrich]

A good talk, thanks for doing this.

[@spenzakwsx4430]

hi jameson. thanks for all your great content. about social media, especially Instagram. do you still feel the same about it? should you post ever day? and do he new followers follow you on youtube or bandcamp as well or do they stay on instagram?

[@hannsrhinesdale9769]

Very interesting video. My band is super niche and I'm looking for reasonable videos or tutorials to get some inspiration how to go forward with the social media game. This video is kinda old but there are some good thoughts in the closing comments that I'll think about. :) Subscribed.

[@Fedor_Tkachev_Music]

big like from a true fan and a person!

[@rohanjoseph101]

Wonderful insights, thank you for sharing! Is composing music your primary source of income that kind of forces you to invest the time you're able to (daily posts, more content)? If not, any advice on managing time against other life stuff like work/family etc.?

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks for watching! I still have a day job too, but I think of any time I spend on growing a fan base as an investment into my future. For me, it’s important to learn to do a few things really well (whether it be editing or filming videos) and have a system in place that I can easily repeat. It’s more work up front, but eventually you can spend more time creating with less resistance. Hope that helps and best of luck!

[@rohanjoseph101]

@@JamesonNathanJones Thank you!

[@joshuaBrooks.nicholas]

I like KZbin, and SoundCloud for music Instagram the worst platform for music. People really tell you if they like the single, and give real feedback on those platforms.

[@EadsJasper]

Any follow up?

[@sawlfo]

off topic but: were did you get that beautiful shirt??

[@JamesonNathanJones]

I believe it came from Middle-Aged White Guys R Us

[@vxd]

Interesting video. Im still not seeing the benefit of getting followers on instagram, especially with organic growth on tik tok being a lot easier. I only have 1200 followers, but the increase from say 100 followers to 1200 followers has had zero impact on engagements. Well maybe instead of getting 2 views per post , now I get say 30 views. and click on link to bio, its always around 1% of those.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Considering the algorithm has changed for the worse even since this video, I definitely understand your frustration. I would definitely focus on KZbin and email list building. A lot of people like Tik Tok and have had success there, I could just never get into it. What I have found to work best on all platforms is not directly using them for self promotion. People sniff that out and engagement falls dramatically. Just focus on making the work so good they seek you out further on their own.

[@vxd]

@@JamesonNathanJones easier said than done, especially when your old like me and Mike retro sounding music. Lol. Thanks for the response.