How To Live Stream On Social Media: Musicians Guide
With live in-person shows no longer an option for artists, live streaming is now more popular than ever as way to bring live music to eager fans across the globe. Here we look at platform by platform guide on how to best execute a livestream across your socials.
Guest post by Cynthia Tometeo of The Orchard’s The Daily Rind
Artists live for the ability to connect with their fans through music and live performances. There is something special about being surrounded by hundreds of people singing your lyrics and feeling the emotions you put into every song. During these unprecedented times of event cancellations around the world due to the COVID-19 outbreak, artists are seeking alternatives ways to share those experiences with their fans.
There is a silver lining. With the rise of social media, social distancing has become a lot easier to navigate. Now that it is recommended to stay home, social media can bridge the gap between ourselves and friends, family, and our favorite artists. Bands and musicians can use this time to invest in their relationships with their fans with Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes content, and most importantly, live video streams.
Livestreams connect fans with artists in a personal manner, as artists can respond to their followers in real-time. It is important to keep fans engaged while we all take a break from the real world. Below you can find instructions for going live on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and TikTok. Stay connected and have fun!
Facebook Live is a great feature to use to engage with fans that have liked your page. You can also use this feature in event pages that were created for a show you had coming up. If the event was canceled, engage with the audience that planned to attend through a live stream on the page. Be sure to read comments, reply to fans, and make the experience exciting for everyone!
How To Go Live:
- Go to your Facebook home page (News Feed) and tap the Live Video button (camcorder icon)
- Include a description of the foreseeable content of the live stream
- Add filters or lenses at your own discretion
- Tap “Start Live Video” and begin your show!
Going live on Instagram offers fans a more interactive real-time version of the Stories feature. Your audience can engage with you through Q&A sessions that you host directly from the live feature. Instagram Live is also great for chatting directly with fans, both in the chat and through the guest feature. You can select fans to join as a guest in your Live session, which will allow you to see your audience directly and be more personal with your fans. You can also save the Live session on IGTV for your audience to revisit later. Be sure to let your followers know about the live stream beforehand by creating a sticker with a countdown that will notify them when you go live!
How To Go Live:
- Open Instagram and swipe left or tap the camera icon in the top-left to the camera function
- Swipe left on the camera mode menu below the shutter button to “LIVE” or tap “LIVE”
- Tap the shutter button
- Use the questions, media, and guest options to engage with fans
YouTube
YouTube is another great platform to drive your audience to your music while engaging with them through the chat feature. YouTube is great for professional live concert setups and make-shift acoustic performances/quick chats with your fans. The live stream also gets saved to the channel after it ends, so fans can revisit the live stream to watch their favorite moments.
How To Go Live on Mobile:
- Learn about the eligibility requirements for mobile live streaming (i.e channel needs to have at least 1,000 subscribers)
- Open the YouTube app and tap the camcorder icon
- Allow access to microphone and camera if applicable
- Tap “GO LIVE” on the top-right of the screen
- Create a title for your live
- Tap “NEXT” and pose for a thumbnail picture or upload a custom thumbnail
- Tap “SHARE” your live stream with fans
- Tap “GO LIVE” and enjoy yourself!
How To Go Live via Webcam:
- Open YouTube Creator Studios (Live feature) more than 24 hours before going live to activate the live feature
- Tap the camcorder icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page
- Select Webcam
- Create a title and description and/or schedule the live for a later date
- Click “Save” and pose for a thumbnail
- Click “Go Live” and have fun!
TikTok
TikTok is rising in popularity among Gen Z’ers and Millennials. The app is known for its viral videos, but it is also home to many artists who tap into their humorous and creative sides. Going live is a way to get more personal with your audience and potential fans by answering questions, performing songs, and giving an inside look into your stay-at-home life over the next few weeks.
How To Go Live:
- Gain at least 1,000 followers before going live
- Open the TikTok app and tap the plus button (+) on the bottom center of the screen
- Tap the “Live” button next to the option to record
- Create a title for the stream
- Tap “Go Live” and enjoy!
We hope you use this time to connect with your fans over the next few weeks by hosting live streams. It doesn’t beat the thrill of a live show but it does show fans your commitment to staying connected to them. Using this time to build relationships with your fans can leave a purposeful lasting impression!
Twitter is most artists’ go-to app for fan engagement, but not many utilize the live feature. Twitter’s live feature is like an interactive tweet with real-time video and comments. This feature is great for artists who see most of their engagement on Twitter and want to build relationships with their fans.
How To Go Live:
- Open the Twitter app and tap the icon to compose a tweet in the bottom right-hand corner
- Tap the camera icon in the middle-left of the screen
- Tap LIVE on the bottom of the screen
- Create a description and invite guests if applicable
- Tap Go LIVE
- Connect with fans!
Twitch
Mostly known for its gamer presence, Twitch is also a great platform to engage fans. Twitch streams are useful for taking requests from fans, answering questions, and connecting with large audiences. Be sure to respond when your fans ask questions or make comments, welcome new viewers into the stream, and mention viewers by name when addressing questions or comments. Once you become acquainted with the platform, create custom “emotes” for your audience to use in chats.
How To Go Live:
- Set up an account on twitch.tv and fast-track your affiliate status here
- Customize your profile and add panels with information about music, merch, tour, and more
- Download Twitch Studio (PC) or OBS (PC/Mac) to set up your broadcast
- Click your account name in the top-right corner of the homepage, select “Dashboard” and click the “Stream Key Button”
- After customizing your stream in Twitch Studio or OBS, input your stream key and start streaming
- Enjoy the time with your fans!
Remember no matter what platform you use, keep it authentic and have fun!
Thanks for this tutorial, this is so helpful Cynthia.