Jay Z Posts 'Holy Grail' Video Exclusively on Facebook
He is the first major artist to release a music video exclusively on Facebook.
Aug. 31, 2013— -- Jay Z is premiering his new video "Holy Grail," featuring Justin Timberlake, somewhere you might not expect: on Facebook.
The artist posted the video exclusively on his Facebook Page Thursday, the only place it will be shared for its first 24 hours of availability.
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Jay Z is the first major artist to release a music video exclusively on Facebook for a full day, according to the social network. Although he is the first to make the move, it's not all that surprising.
Captive Audience
Jay Z has 17 million fans on Facebook. Posting the video on his Facebook Page not only instantly reaches those fans, but it adds the potential of reaching all of his fans' friends on the network as well.
Facebook also provides a unique opportunity for artists to get feedback on content they post. Likes and comments to the video are updated in real time, and Facebook's real-name policy puts a face with each one. Within minutes of the video going live, Jay Z should have a feeling for how fans are receiving the video. That type of engagement you won't find on any other platform.
Music on Facebook
Facebook has already been in the musical spotlight once this week. An astounding 9 million unique users in the United States used the social network to comment about MTV's VMA ceremony Sunday evening.
Although 9 million isn't a huge percentage Facebook's overall user base, it was a huge percentage of the total number of people who watched the VMAs on television. Only 10.1 million viewers watched the show, meaning 90% of them turned to Facebook during and after the show to comment on the awards show. Those 9 million users generated more than 26.5 million Facebook interactions (comments, likes and posts).
After her performance during the show, Miley Cyrus' page has seen an additional 78,000 likes.
What do you think about artists using Facebook to promote new music? Would you be more or less inclined to check out a new video if it was posted on Facebook? Let us know in the comments.
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