Instagram and Facebook have recently been taking steps to make it easier both fans and artists to discover and promote music. Most recently in this vein, Instagram announced a new feature the gives users the ability to add lyrics to their Instagram stories.
_________________________
Guest post by Kevin Cornell of TuneCore
Good news, artists – this week, Instagram announced a new feature that allows users to add lyrics to their Instagram Stories. Instagram and Facebook have been making it easier and easier for fans and artists alike to share music and promote discovery. This update is sure to be a fun new way for artists to highlight songs and let fans spread the word about their favorite new music.
Here at TuneCore, we’re constantly reminding you about the importance of social media when it comes to connecting with your fans, building buzz around your music, and letting the world know what you’re up to as an artist. Much like the music industry itself, your favorite social media channels are constantly changing – new features, updates, and opportunities to better utilize them roll out on a regular basis, and it can be hard to keep up. However, staying up to speed and taking advantage of what platforms like Instagram have to offer can give you a big leg up in marketing and promoting your new music – that’s why we’re here to let you know about these new features.
Here’s how to get started adding lyrics to your Instagram Story:
1.) Sign Up for Facebook & Instagram Monetization / MusixMatch
Last year we rolled out Facebook and Instagram Monetization – a free opt-in feature for TuneCore Artists which helps you get paid when your music is used across those social platforms.
It’s an easy process, and by giving permission to add your music to their Audio Library, your music will be eligible for all the great new features they roll out – plus, you can feel comfortable encouraging your fans to share your music knowing TuneCore can collect revenue on your behalf.
Get started with Facebook & Instagram Monetization here.
Next, sign up as a verified artist with a third party service called MusixMatch. This will allow you to upload your lyrics to Facebook’s library.
Get verified as a MusixMatch Artist here.
2.) Get Familiar with Instagram Stories
If you’ve got an Instagram account as an artist and you haven’t started utilizing the Stories feature yet, now is the perfect time! Stories are a fantastic way to keep fans updated with what you’re up to, share new music, and overall build your personality and voice on social media.
TuneCore’s published some very helpful blog articles about Instagram here, here and here! In fact, just a couple of months ago, we covered the best ways to make Instagram Stories work for you.
3.) Share Your Story With Lyrics
Sharing lyrics with your Instagram story is easy! Instagram provided some step by step directions below:
- Once in “Story” mode, add lyrics by selecting the ‘music’ sticker from the sticker tray after taking your photo or video.
- Choose a song and use the scrubber tool to select the part of the song that best captures the moment you’re sharing. The scrubber will also enable you to find the lyrics of the exact part of the song you want.
- Pick between different lyrics, animations, font designs and colors. Move, resize and rotate the lyrics to share your story.
- Fans that watch your story will see the lyrics pop up as the music plays. When they tap on the lyrics, they’ll see a sticker with the song title and artist name that links to the artist’s Instagram profile.
Please note: the team members at Instagram are still adding lyrics every day, so if you find that your lyrics are not available even after signing up for Facebook & Instagram Monetization, don’t fret! They’ll be made available soon.
4.) Tell Your Fans!
Now that you’ve captured the moment and shared your first lyric-filled story with the world, it’s time to encourage your fans to do the same. Instagram is all about engagement, and this tool gives your fans the chance to tell their friends what your lyrics mean to them, how they fit the mood, and directly highlight the hard work you’ve put into songwriting.
There’s a TON of fun, creative possibilities with this new feature, and when you’re signed up for Facebook & Instagram Monetization through TuneCore, you’re never leaving any money that’s owed to you on the table. You’ll be surprised and delighted to find what verses, hooks and choruses your fans dig the most.