AUSTIN, Texas -- Social media has undoubtedly altered the way musicians distribute music and interact with fans, and these changes particularly have helped unsigned artists find success on their own terms via social as well as Youtube, Soundcloud and Bandcamp.
This year at South by Southwest, MTV is saluting five of those digitally savvy independent musicians by launching a new social-voting category for the mtvU Woodie Awards.
Fans can vote to determine the "Social Climber Woodie" award winner by using associated hashtags on Twitter (see each hashtag, below).
In addition to the new category, mtvU, which is MTV's 24-hour college network, announced the full lineup for the March 20 mtvu Woodie Awards and Woodies Festival. The festival lineup includes James Bay Joins Fall Out Boy, Big Sean and Years & Years.
Performances for the awards show, which will air on MTV and be live streamed at 9 p.m. ET, will come from Action Bronson, Rae Sremmurd, MisterWives, Raury, Ty Dolla $ign, Clean Bandit with Jess Glynne and Robert DeLong.
To vote for Jack and Jack, tweet #votedestormpowerMTV
To vote for Destorm Power, tweet #votedestormpowerMTV
To vote for Lia Marie Johnson, tweet #voteliamariajohnsonMTV
4. Kenzie Nimmo
To vote for Kenzie Nimmo, tweet #votekenzienimmoMTV
5. Rajiv Dhall
To vote for Rajiv Dhall, tweet #voteRajivDhallMTV