If you didn’t know before, I am here to reconfirm some not-so-breaking-news: Social networking has officially conquered the world.
Billboard, one of the industry’s most trusted authorities in tracking music charts, launched a new chart whose sole purpose is to tally artists’ popularity on social networking sites.
I introduce to you the “Social 50.”
The Social 50 started this December and gathers data based on the following criteria:
- Weekly additions of followers, friends, and fans on sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, iLike, and MySpace (wait…people still have MySpace pages…yikes)!
- The number of artists’ page views and song plays on the listed sites
Considering there are 500 million Facebook users, a host of (closet) MySpace users, tons of YouTube junkies, and a growing population of “Tweeps,” ranking popularity in the music industry with a chart like the Social 50 makes perfect sense.
Here’s Social 50’s current top ten.
10. Michael Jackson
Posthumously, MJ breaks records that artists strive to accomplish in a lifetime. With a little help from Akon, the Gloved One keeps rocking our worlds.
9. Shakira
8. Linkin Park
7. Nicki Minaj
Soooo I still won’t admit that I actually like Nicki Minaj, but I pretty much have liked every single she has either released or has been featured on this year. Her beef with Lil’ Kim, her animated personality, and her close affiliation with Young Money make Ms. Minaj a constant trending topic. “Tell me how you do that ish…”
6. Katy Perry
5. Lady Gaga
4. Eminem
3. Justin Bieber
Really, Justin Bieber. Why, oh, why are you such a little heart throb?!? Bieber was discovered from his YouTube video performances, so the Biebs is an old pro at this whole social networking, popularity contest. And with touching songs and videos like, “Pray,” his star is destined to keep on rising.
2. Rihanna
1. Black Eyed Peas
Parliament front man, George Clinton, is suing the Peas for copyright infringement for sampling one of his tracks in their 2003 hit, “Shut Up.” Well, shame on them for plagiarizing, but good for them for being in the news. They (whoever they are) say that, “bad publicity is better than no publicity,” and I firmly believe that Social 50 will reflect increases in artists’ popularity in times of good press and in bad.
I mean, I totally listened to “Shut Up” 20 times on YouTube and compared it to a handful of George Clinton songs just to try to hear the alleged infringement.
You’re welcome, Black Eyed Peas, for those extra YouTube views.
If your favorite artists haven’t cracked Social 50’s top ten yet, then my advice to you is this: Spend less time Facebook stalking former friends, uploading bikini Twit Pics, or sharing elementary school picture collages on YouTube and opt, instead, to spend more time following your favorite band or singer.
Remember, with social networking, you, too, can be the change you want to see in the world.
For more of the latest music news and reviews by Erica Renee Davis, check back to Positively Celebrity!
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