Wales has always punched above its weight in the music industry, with some of the best acts of all time hailing from these parts. The Stereophonics, Tom Jones, and Shirley Bassey are just a few of the amazing names from the country.
In the modern music landscape, Wales is still churning out exceptional talent. Many of today’s indie acts have leveraged the rise of the digital world well and have used technology to get discovered.
Internet Offers the Best Opportunity to Be Discovered
The average adult in the UK spends four hours and 20 minutes online every day. This means that, if they are going to discover something for the first time, it’s likely to be on the internet. People use the online world for almost everything nowadays, from news to entertainment.
Many things that used to be only enjoyed in the real world have shifted online, with film streaming on sites like Netflix a prime example. Bingo games have also moved online, where people can find much greater variety. They span from themed bingo rooms to instant win games, meaning there’s something for everyone.
There are various places that indie music acts can try to gain attention for the first time, with social media being an excellent option. Thanks to sites like YouTube, musicians can easily get their content out there and use functions such as live streams to connect with new fans. From there, it’s a straightforward process to set up dedicated websites and connect to apps like Spotify as well.
Various Organisations Helping Welsh Artists to Thrive
Aside from some acts going about it alone and using the online tools at their disposal, there are also various organisations around Wales that are helping indie acts get recognised. Creative Wales is the best known initiative, as this one is implemented by the government and aims to champion creativity. Along with music, the organisation encourages development in animation, games, and publishing.
There are other inspiring initiatives available in the country too, with Beacons Cymru known to nurture talent. It runs the Forte Project, which is designed to support up-and-coming artists, giving them chances to play and guiding them in their digital strategies. It’s clear that there’s a widespread agreement that adapting to the digital world is key to the continued success of Welsh music.
Which Bands Are Navigating the Digital Landscape Well?
There are plenty of examples of Welsh acts that have navigated the digital landscape well and look poised to benefit from leveraging technology in the years ahead. The Bug Club started out with local gigs as many bands do, but then began adapting to the online world and offering live shows to reach more fans.
Wigwam is another great example of a band that’s keeping Welsh culture alive with their lyrics. They have released various pieces of content online, and attracted a fanbase spanning beyond Wales and throughout the rest of the UK.
Thanks to innovative musicians and organisations helping them, Welsh indie is continuing on a sustainable trajectory. There are likely to be many more huge names to come out of the country in the future, with some even potentially rivalling the all-time greats.