The Arkells are a Canadian indie rock band formed in Hamilton, Ontario. They gained popularity winning several Juno awards between 2010-2012. The band uses social media extensively to interact with fans, posting music, videos, and answering questions. Through platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and SoundCloud, the Arkells have built an engaged online community and loyal following that has helped propel their success.

1. ARKELLS

2. Who are the Arkells?
- The Arkells are a Canadian Indie Rock band from
Hamilton, Ontario
- Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis, Anthony Carone, Nick
Dika, and Tim Oxford formed the band while studying at
McMaster University
- The band named themselves after the street they lived on
which is where they would practice their music
- In 2006 they signed with Dine Alone Records, but later
signed with Universal Records Canada
- The band has released two albums, the first being
“Jackson Square” in 2008 and the second “Michigan
Left” in 2011

3. Rise to Stardom
- In 2008 the band preformed the halftime show at
the Vanier Cup in Hamilton, ON
- In 2008 they won a favourite new artist CASBY
Award
- In 2010, the group won the Juno Award for “New
Group of the Year”
- In 2012, the group won the Juno Award for “Group
of the Year”
- The band as toured with other musical acts such as
Lights, Tokyo Police Club, The Postellels, The
Maine, Billy Talent, The Tragically and so on

4. Album Hits
“Oh, the Boss Is Coming” (October, 2008)
“The Ballad of Hugo Chavez” (April, 2009)
“Pullin’ Punches” (October, 2009)
“John Lennon” (March 2010)
“Whistleblower” (July, 2011)
“Michigan Left” (September, 2011)

5. Social Media Presence
Official Site: http://www.arkells.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Arkells
Twitter: https://twitter.com/arkellsmusic
Myspace: https://myspace.com/arkellsmusic
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/arkellsofficial
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/arkells

6. Interaction Through Social Media
The Arkells have multiple social media sites that
allow them to interact with their fans. The official
site for the band provides information on
upcoming albums, tour dates, events, and so forth,
and also has an online store where you can
purchase merchandise. Facebook and Twitter
allows interaction with fans as well with over 29,
000 followers. SoundCloud and YouTube allow the
band to share their music with people so they can
listen to it whenever they want.

7. Online Communities
The Arkells have created an online community that has
allowed fans to interact with each other as well as the band.
On YouTube the band uploads travel posts where you can
see what the band is up to when they are on tour. Over
Twitter and Facebook there are “Q & A” sessions where you
can ask the band questions. Another interesting thing the
Arkells do is their give aways over these social media sites.
For example this past Christmas you could enter a contest
to have the band send a signed Christmas card to your
house, over 1000 people received one. Social media allows
fans to interact with the band and for the band to interact
with the fans.

8. The Arkells on SoundCloud
One of the things I like about the Arkells on
SoundCloud is that they post all of their songs.
Not only do they post their songs but also the
songs they cover while performing. I like the fact
that they do this because it allows fans who may
not be able to make it to a concert, to listen to
songs that they may not hear otherwise.

10. Debra Eckerling’s 5 Social Media
Tips
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Find your audience
Post meaningful/sharable content
Engage Fans
Handout swag/put up flyers
Post constantly

11. 1) Finding a Following
I believe that the Arkells have found a following
of loyal fans, and I think that being a local band
from Hamilton has contributed to the majority of
their following being in the Hamilton, Toronto or
Niagara areas. Through local performances at bars,
clubs, and universities (they performed at brock
this past September), and performing across
Canada and world wide, their following will only
continue to grow.

12. 2) Post Meaningful/Sharable
Content
Although the majority of posts on social media
sites are about the band, whether it be recording,
or tour dates or just random things they do post
things that are meaningful to fans. They often
respond to fans, and thank fans for continuing to
support them. And they sometimes post
inspiration quotes from other people.

13. 3) Engage Fans
Fans are engaged with the bands through social
media. They are able to connect through “Q & A”
on Twitter and Facebook, and contests. You can
see what the band is up to on tour with their
online video blogs posted to YouTube and so
forth.

14. 4) Hand Out Swag/Put Up Flyers
The official site allows you to purchase Arkells
merchandise, although I do not know if they hand
out merchandise at their concerts or other events.
Flyers have been used to promote the Arkells, at
Brock this past fall you could find Homecoming
posters all around campus with the Arkells name
on them.

15. 5) Post Constantly
Facebook and Twitter are probably the most
constantly posted on. Twitter seems to be updated
daily with information about the band through
Tweets. YouTube seems to updated a lot as well
with the band posting their travel videos. Songs are
added to SoundCloud whenever they record
something new!