This week in RCS Music News Weekly: RockHouse predicts a post-pandemic live music Renaissance, Royal G Symphony makes their radio debut across the pond (yup, on actual radio), and a local prison option for Guelphites that’s way better than banging your head against a desk during lockdown.
But first…
The New Best Days and Times to Post on Social
With few options left for musicians, music venues, and rehearsal/recording facilities to engage audiences outside of social channels under Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s recent shutdown order, which has angered many for its seemingly arbitrary nature, a sheer survival question for anyone in the music industry naturally becomes, “What are the best times to post on social?”
Okay, the more pressing question may actually be, “How do I get through the next few weeks without banging my head against a desk?” But since such activities are not conducive to well-being, RCS Music News Weekly highly recommends the healthier option of focusing on creative pursuits and connecting with people through social.
According to recent findings released by HubSpot and Sprout Social, here are the best days and times to post on social:
- The best day to post for any industry is Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- The worst day to post is Sunday (though Saturday is not much better).
- Generally good times to post are Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Generally bad times to post are any day before 7 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
For music magazines, promoters, band/label publicists, and other music-related businesses/occupations that fall into the media category, the best days and times to post on social are a bit wider.
Best times:
- Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, 7 – 9 a.m., 2 – 3 p.m., and at 5 p.m.
- Thursday at 5 p.m.
- Friday, 8 – 10 a.m.
While Saturday and Sunday still represent poor engagement days for the media, audiences are still checking online for updates about what’s happening. While engagement is light every day before 5 a.m. and after 6 p.m., reliable engagement tends to occur on weekends from 8 – 10 a.m. and at 5 p.m.
The best days and times to post on Instagram were not much different than Facebook.
- The best day to post for any industry is Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Friday, 10 – 11 a.m.
- The worst day to post is Sunday (though Saturday is not much better).
- Generally good times to post are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Generally bad times to post are any day before 6 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
For media, optimal times to engage audiences on Instagram were different than on Facebook, with higher engagement times split between morning and afternoon.
Best times:
- Friday at 9 a.m.
- Wednesday at 3 p.m.
- Thursday at 3 p.m.
For the media, engagement is most consistent Monday through Friday from 8 – 10 a.m. and 2 – 4 p.m. Similar to other industries, low engagement occurs every weekday before 5 a.m. and after 9 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays are the worst days to post.
In general, the best days and times to post on Twitter are early morning, including weekends.
- The best day to post for any industry is Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m., though Wednesday and Friday during the day are generally a good time to post.
- The worst day to post is Saturday (though Sunday isn’t much better).
- Generally good times to post are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Generally bad times to post are any day before 4 a.m. or after 10 p.m.
The media generally has a little more flexibility for engagement on Twitter.
Best times:
- Wednesday at 9 a.m.
- Thursday at 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Engagement is most consistent Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. and there’s a bit more activity on weekends than other platforms.
Mavin and (RED) Release Dance (RED) Save Lives
Last Friday, Mavin Records and (RED) released the Afrobeats-inspired album Dance (RED) Saves Lives Vol. III to raise money for the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response. Curated by Mavin Records founder and CEO Don Jazzy and artist Aluna, the album features tracks by leading hitmakers, including Ayra Starr, Chris Trucher, Becky G, Moody Jones, and Vitamin String Quartet. Proceeds from album sales will go to support (RED)’s efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on life-saving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa. You can also support (RED)’s efforts by purchasing artist Laolu Senbanjo’s limited-edition face mask or other (RED) merch.
Mobius Radio Drops “The Jake Revival” Next Friday
Next Friday (April 16th), Mobius Radio drops the new single “The Jake Revival” featuring electric violin wizard Dr. Draw (The Strange Parade). A reworking of Dr. Draw’s “Jake” (from his 2016 album Line and Circle), “The Jake Revival” blends Dr. Draw’s violin mastery with guitarist Dylan Hennessy’s shredding prowess and Alex Van Briggle’s drumming to a trance-style beat.
RCS Music News Weekly will have a feature next Friday, including exclusive artwork. Until then, enjoy the band’s hilarious teaser trailer for “The Jake Revival” music video, also being released next Friday.
Royal G Symphony Makes Their Radio Debut
Congratulations to Guelph indie-rock band Royal G Symphony for the radio debut of their second single “Don’t Look Now” yesterday across the pond on the Doc Mason Radio Show, PCR (103.2 FM) in Peterborough, England. RCS Music News Weekly agrees with the good doctor. “Don’t Look Now” really is a “nice piece of rock.”
RockHouse Founders Predict Post-Pandemic Live Music Renaissance
Last week, RockHouse Live Clearwater Beach opened the doors to its entertainment-themed restaurant, bar, and live music venue. “We were expecting a few people to come,” said RockHouse founder Zach Blair. Yet with people hungry for live music again, RockHouse was packed from opening until closing, “from the first day and then every single day since,” added Blair. Said one woman, “This is the first time in a year I’ve laughed,” adding, “I feel like I’m ten years younger!”
Given the experience, Blair and Jock Weaver, former president of Hard Rock Café International, predict “an entertainment Renaissance about to explode across the globe.”
That’s an explosion RCS Music News Weekly can get behind.
Take a Local Prison Break During Shutdown
Going for another walk may sound about as exciting as washing your hands for the millionth time, but here’s how to make it an opportunity.
If you’re looking for a cool location in Guelph to shoot band photos or video and you haven’t visited the abandoned Guelph Correctional Centre and surrounding lands on York Road, you may want to head there soon. Developers want to turn the location into homes and businesses as part the Guelph Innovation District Secondary Plan.
A Guelph group called the Yorklands Green Hub wants the location to be transformed into a self-sustaining education, demonstration, and research hub, and others are calling for the location to be designated as a heritage site. Yet there are marker stakes in the ground, and several conversations by RCS Music News Weekly with local park visitors (including one impassioned protester) suggest you may wish to head to the location soon.
Formerly called the Ontario Reformatory, the facility was in operation as a correctional institute from 1911 to 2001. During much of that time, the facility served as a progressive prison farm to teach inmates about woodworking, stone masonry, and other skills to help them re-enter the workforce.
The location was also used for filming the 2011 horror movie Cell 213 and hospital scenes for the 2008 movie Blindness, and was featured in the TV series Ghost Trackers (because any abandoned prison surely must be haunted).
RCS COVID Closure Reminder
In case you missed Royal City Studios’ recent COVID closure notice from RCS owner Jim Duffield, here it is again:
“Royal City Studios will be closed during this latest lockdown from April 8th until at least May 5th, hoping to re-open on May 6th pending confirmation from Doug Ford and Public Health.
The booking calendar has been blocked during the lockdown period, but you can still book a session after May 5th.
On a personal note, I want to thank you all for your ongoing support. While it has been a difficult year for everyone, it’s important that we all do the best we can to return to a normal way of life. I know that this time has been painful for many of you, some more than others. We’ll be here providing your musical escape as soon as we can. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy.”—Jim
As an adjunct to Jim’s message, RCS Music News Weekly would like to add a few words of truth and hope from an RCS social post made Feb. 27th, 2021:
“A live show locked in a box, waiting for dawn. If today was an album cover, it might be this. Artists (like all) have been locked inside the COVID box for a long time. Makes it hard to see that dawn’s coming. But it is. It’s still a bit beyond the lockbox right now, but the box will soon open. People will exhale deeply. The show will go on, because as Freddie reminded us all, “The show must go on.” The lights will fade up. The amplifiers will rumble. Microphones will call down the thunder and cry, “Are you ready!” A percussion of voices will cry back, “Yes!” And the long days of oubliette lockdown will drop as quickly as, “1, 2, 3, 4!”
Long live rock (or whatever music you play).
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