Social networking sites are booming with upcoming musicians and the latest music. Listeners can now enjoy a wider variety of music thanks to the convenience of a series of simple clicks on the mouse to the computer. Breakthrough artists are becoming more accessible thanks to the growth of Facebook, twitter and in particular Youtube.

Youtube started in 2005 by three former PayPal employees. The following year, it became the fastest growing website on the Internet, exceeding the expansion of Myspace.

Gotye has been in the music industry since 2001. He’s only become a household name recently, is it due to the enormous growth of social networking sites? The award winning single, ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ shot up to millions of viewers in Youtube upon its release. With the promotion of Ashton Kutcher and Lily Allen on their twitter accounts, word-of-mouth spread virally across the Internet. With 90 million views on youtube (this does not include unofficial accounts posting his song) and still counting, Gotye has become a global success.

The Internet has become more accessible than ever, attracting more people to go online. With these growing numbers, independent and big-name musicians have come to rely on Youtube to gain more fans. The music industry can now tap into wider demographics in one location. Youtube’s ‘Suggestion Pages’ also makes it easier for listeners to find unheard artists that sound similar to mainstream musicians.

Gotye’s breakthrough has many other musicians jumping on the bandwagon. Tons of covers are made from ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’. Walk Off The Earth’s version has reached to 63 million views. Known for their covers of popular songs, with an average of 2 million views, none have hit as high as Gotye’s. Through the success of the cover band, another team have decided to parody their version. The Key of Awesome received 2 million views for their song. Gotye’s hit single is now taking a political turn with a re-worked version on the labour government’s Kevin Rudd Vs. Julia Guillard struggle for leadership.

Youtube allows listeners to be more interactive through comment posts and uploading of video responses. These features are reviving the music industry. No longer is music video dictated by MTV, social networking is allowing a new platform for artists to transmit their music.

CHECK OUT THE LINKS BELOW AND SEE WHAT VIRAL MARKETING DOES WHEN YOU HAVE A HOT SONG….just click on the links below and enjoy !

• Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know
• Walk the Earth – Somebody That I Used to Know (Cover) 
• The Key of Awesome – Parody of Walk the Earth’s Cover
• Kevin Rudd Parody