The music industry has changed vastly with the rise of the Internet and social media, allowing artists to connect with fans and have a further influence than ever before. Not only have rappers taken advantage of the world wide web, but celebrities from all realms of society have established their personal brand with the help of the Internet. Yesterday (March 16), TIME unveils its second annual list of “30 Most Influential People on the Internet,” which includes Kanye West, Drake and DJ Khaled.
Ye’s primary strength is Twitter …. surprising since he only recently started to the social media platform. While most of his tweets cause controversy, they also introduce interesting conversation about music and fashion. Ye’s release of The Life of Pablo also landed him a place on the top 30 listing. Since it’s drop date, TLOP has been a work in progress as he still continues to promise alterations to its “final” version. So far, TLOP hasn’t not sold for commercial consumption as it’s only available on the streaming service Tidal.
Ye’s wife, Kim Kardashian, is also given a nod for her social media presence and mobile apps, which include Kimoji.
Drake is named for his ability to create material that is easily digested by the Internet, such as the video for “Hotline Bling,” which was the subject of many memes, social media chatter and even inspired a Super Bowl 50 commercial. The Toronto rapper showed the power of the Internet when he performed “Back to Back,” his Meek Mill diss track at OVO Fest against a backdrop of Meek Mill memes.
Just five months after joining Snapchat, the music producer (real name: Khaled Khaled) has become one of the social media platform’s biggest stars and “a meme in human form.” His more than 20 million followers are drawn to his relentlessly positive attitude and numerous catchphrases—like “major keys to success,” or motivational humblebrags that are often marked with the key emoji. But his influence has extended well beyond Snapchat: Earlier this year, the 40-year-old also recorded an inspirational message for Jeb Bush on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and starred in a video promoting ObamaCare as one of his major keys to success. He’s also been on the cover of Businessweek and made an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
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