How musicians should be using BeReal

A new app called BeReal is getting more attention everyday, so now is the time to get your foot in the door. And here’s how…

by Janelle Borg from AmplifyYou

The new social media app BeReal is taking the internet by storm. The app, which is focused on authenticity, is becoming a Gen Z favourite, as more people are attempting to ditch the influencer-curated feeds in favour of something more real. Although relatively new, BeReal, for musicians, can be used as a community-building tool to connect with fans. Here’s how.

What is BeReal?

The app’s popularity might make you think it sprang overnight. However, BeReal has been around for two years. The French social media app was created in 2020 by Alexis Barreyat and Kevin Perreau. After two years, it became popular for its focus on capturing the moment.

The app’s key feature is the daily notification, which encourages users to take a photo of themselves within a two-minute window. Filters are non-existent. As a result, the app captures the raw, unfiltered version of you and your surroundings.

How do you use BeReal?

BeReal is available on both Android and iOS. Install the app, and create an account by entering your name, birthday and phone number. Once your account is created, you will be given a URL to invite friends and fans to join your community.

The app will notify you to take a photo daily after signing up. The notification time changes daily. You can post at any time after receiving the notification. However, it’s best to post within two minutes, as late posts are flagged. Pretty simple, right?

Who is using BeReal?

As of September 2022, BeReal was installed 28 million times – an increase from 767 million in April. It’s available in the U.S. and most European countries, and users can switch between English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish. The app is mostly used by Gen Z – with over 80% of iPhone users falling in the 16-24 age range (according to a data gathering study in France).

Janelle Borg knows a thing or two about the music industry. Having been involved in the industry since the age of 13, she’s now involved in a variety of music-related projects and is always keen to share industry tips ‘n’ tricks with fellow musicians.