[schnevets]

A friend's indie band entered a hiatus after a disappointing tour across the northeast (OH, PA, NJ, NY, MA, ME). Simply put, they all realized it isn't enough to be talented musicians, they need to learn how to be better entertainers (which is increasingly synonymous with influencers)

[InitialLastName]

This isn't new.

There's a reason Bruce Springsteen is huge, and it isn't because he can sing.

[bsder]

1) That hugely underestimates his ability as a songwriter. Springsteen, as a songwriter, is on par with people like Bacharach, in my opinion.

2) The traditional record company system pumped an ENORMOUS amount of money behind him to market him initially. So much so that he is embarassed about it to this day.

3) The E Street Band were some of the absolute best musicians around. The old joke about "Man, I don't know who Bruce Springsteen is, but he must be amazing. He has Clarence Clemons playing triangle in his band."

[tcbawo]

Perhaps Jimmy Buffett is an example of someone who created a successful brand/following on top of modestly successful music.

[vajrabum]

That's interesting. Can you expand on it? What does Springsteen do as a influencer?

[DoughnutHole]

I'd say that guy was honing in on "entertainer" - Springsteen is a much better performer and entertainer than he is a songwriter or musician generally. The man's still performing incredible 3 hour shows at 72 years old.

I'm not aware of him doing any social media influencing - he had earned his reputation long before social media.

[lapcat]

Born in the USA (1984) is one of the best selling albums of all time, something like 30 million copies. You can say it's touring, but I say that album is the thing that made him huge.

And it wasn't just album sales. At the time it was also constantly on radio and MTV (back when MTV played music).

[bruce511]

I'd say he's a very good song writer, average (professional) singer, great entertainer.

His Broadway show (currently on Netflix) is deeply inciteful and demonstrative of his path, and his skill as an entertainer.

It's harder to break out now with everyone one and their friend having a youtube channel, but don't underestimate the amount of work it took for Bruce to breakout in the early 70s. It was ever thus for entertainers, thousands aspire and only a very few make it.

[nemo44x]

True but I also think he says a lot with his lyrics. He speaks to people.

[sklargh]

He can growl though.

[fknorangesite]

> Simply put, they all realized it isn't enough to be talented musicians

Has it ever been?