Music has been a part of human culture for as long humans have been around. According to the Smithsonian, humans have been making music for at least 35,000 years. Music and people go hand in hand. Music performed by early humans served a communal purpose as it brought people together. So in the modern era of cities and towns, local music scenes have carried on the tradition. Local bands and artists are an integral part to an area’s culture and vibe, so it is important that people do what they can to support local music.

So what can be done to support local musicians? While there is actually a plethora of things that can help a local act. Arguably the biggest thing one can do is take time out of their day to listen to the music of a local artist or band. This shows that the music is valued and isn’t falling on deaf ears.

But if one wants to take their support to the next level, then there is more that can be done. Firstly, engaging with a local musician’s post on social media by commenting and liking will help the algorithms push the music to more people. Also, social media algorithms like when posts get immediate engagement, so it is good to engage with posts as soon as possible. Another big thing is to go to the live shows of local artists. This will allow for that communal aspect of music to shine. Not only does this financially support the artist or band (depending on the venue), but it will also allow members of the local community to enjoy music together. Not to mention that live shows tend to have official merch that goes directly towards supporting the performers. Also wearing the shirt out in public will advertise the artist to anyone who notices the shirt. Though even if someone doesn’t enjoy live music, sharing the music with friends is great at helping the artist. A little micro fan club amongst friends is a little community of its own.

As a final note, it is important to mention websites like Bandcamp and Artcore. These platforms allow fans to outright buy music from artists either in a physical or digital capacity. What’s nice about these platforms is that they don’t take huge cuts from any sales on their platforms. They also allow users to listen to any music on the platform for free. This does a good job of not gatekeeping music behind a paywall. Fans are only paying for physical versions of albums and downloads.

Written by Lucas Cardinale