A research project by Charles Accarisi
As a DJ touring internationally, Charles Accarisi aka Chlär (Resident Advisor, Instagram), has developed a critical eye on management processes in the industry and their potential for improvement. While digital platforms have broadened the scope of talent discovery in the industry, reliance on social media metrics such as follower counts and “likes” often leads to a superficial assessment of an artist’s popularity and potential. Not everything that glitters on Instagram for example translates into a successful DJ performance in a club. Those who book DJs to perform in clubs across the globe need management tools to assess the artist’s value more thoroughly.
In his final research project in the M.A. International Management ‘Creative Leadership’, the DJ and electronic music producer Charles Accarisi explored an approach to enhance booking and scouting processes in the global nightlife circuit. Recognizing the pivotal role of talent scouts and bookers in shaping the future of the genre, he aimed to enhance scouting practices by integrating digital tools and analytics with traditional methods. The significance of this approach lies in its potential to foster a more inclusive, diverse, and vibrant techno music ecosystem, ensuring that talent scouting not only keeps up with technological advancements but also remains true to the scene’s countercultural roots and ethos of inclusivity.
A survey targeted at industry professionals provided insights into the current challenges and perceptions of digitalization in talent scouting. As a practical solution, he developed and tested a JavaScript-based software tool for social media data scraping and geolocation analytics (see images below). This is a novel approach to identify and evaluate emerging talents across diverse geographical locations.
The research underscores the limitations of digital metrics in capturing the nuanced, localized appeal necessary for ensuring event success. The proposed software tool, by providing deeper, data-driven insights into artists’ engagement and reach, represents a considerable step towards a more holistic and effective talent scouting process.
Implications of these findings stress the need for a balanced scouting approach that leverages technology to enhance, rather than replace, the qualitative judgments and community engagement that have historically defined the techno scene. The digital tool will be further refined and made accessible through a consultancy offering by the developers.
On the images, you can see the results for the artist named Chlär. Out of approximately 43.000 Instagram followers we were able to map 8236 and from approximately 23.000 SoundCloud followers, 13.3716 were mapped. The screenshots below showcase what the artist actually has access to in terms of personal insights for both platforms.