Music Found a Home on Instagram in 2016

With MySpace a thing of the past, newer and longer-lasting social media platforms have been trying to become the go-to place for musicians to interact with their fans. Facebook’s solution didn’t work too well. Neither did Twitter’s. How many musicians even use Snapchat?

Instagram, however, found the sweet spot. Fast Company highlights some of the steps the social media platform has taken over the past year to cater to musicians and their fans:

“the platform has extended the length of video posts to 60 seconds, introduced Instagram Stories (and later included the ability to add web links and tags, unlike its rival Snapchat Stories), and hired Lauren Wirtzer Seawood, Beyoncé’s former digital guru, as head of music partnerships”.

At the end of this year, music accounts have begun to dominate Instagram. Half of the top ten most followed accounts belong to musicians. The Gorillaz used Instagram Stories to announce their first album in five years. Beyoncé announced Lemonade and the “Formation” video on Instagram. In other words, music has found a home on the platform.

Here are some other highlights for musicians and music on Instagram this year.

Top 10 Musicians Who Gained the Most Followers:

1. Selena Gomez (@selenagomez): 50M+
2. Ariana Grande (@ariangrande): 40M+
3. Taylor Swift (@taylorswift): 38.3M+
4. Beyoncé (@beyonce): 37M+
5. Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj): 29M+
6. Katy Perry (@katyperry): 25M+
7. Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus): 24.3M+
8. Demi Lovato (@ddlovato): 22M+
9. Jennifer Lopez (@jlo): 20M+
10. Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake): 18M+

Most-Instagrammed Music Festivals of 2016:

1. Lollapalooza
2. Ultra Music Festival
3. Glastonbury Festival
4. Fuji Rock Festival
5. SXSW Music
6. Coachella

Artists with Most Instagram Mentions 2016:

1. Selena Gomez
2. One Direction
3. Beyoncé
4. Rihanna
5. Ariana Grande
6. Twenty One Pilots
7. Taylor Swift
8. Drake
9. Coldplay
10. Sia
11. Ne-Yo
12. Jennifer Lopez
13. Kanye West
14. Wale
15. Madonna

Songs with the Most Mentions on Instagram in 2016:

1. “Formation” — Beyoncé
2. “Sorry” — Justin Bieber
3. “Work” — Rihanna ft. Drake
4. “Ride” — Twenty One Pilots
5. “Pillowtalk” — Zayn
6. “Perfect” — One Direction
7. “Heathens” — Twenty One Pilots
8. “Hello” — Adele
9. “My Boo” — Ghost Town DJ’s
10. “Panda” — Desiigner
11. “Love Yourself” — Justin Bieber
12. “Stitches” — Shawn Mendes
13. “Dangerous Woman” — Ariana Grande
14. “Sorry” — Beyoncé
15. “Purple Rain” — Prince
16. “Youth” — Troye Sivan
17. “WOW” — Beck
18. “Stressed Out” — Twenty One Pilots
19. “Starman” — David Bowie
20. “Confident” — Demi Lovato
21. “Hype” — Drake
22. “Into You” — Ariana Grande
23. “Controlla” — Drake
24. “Rise” — Katy Perry
25. “Company” — Justin Bieber

Most Active Music Fan Armies on Instagram of 2016:

1. Selenators (Selena Gomez)
2. Team Drake (Drake)
3. Beyhive (Beyoncé)
4. Arianators (Ariana Grande)
5. Harmonizers (Fifth Harmony)
6. Little Monsters (Lady Gaga)
7. Barbz (Nicki Minaj)
8. Swifties (Taylor Swift)
9. Directioners (One Direction)
10. Rihanna Navy (Rihanna)

Most Popular Global Music Genres Among Music Fans on Instagram of 2016:

1. K-Pop
2. Hip-hop / Rap
3. R&B
4. Electronic / EDM
5. Rock
6. Samba & Pagode
7. Country
8. Reggae