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Holly Nicole Combs
Holly Nicole Combs

hen I first became a songwriter, I had very
kind people trying to help me with market-
Wing. They told me that hashtags were cru-
cial when trying to be noticed by online social cir-
cles. I thought to myself, "Cool, I just need to put a
symbol in front of my words, and I will get record
sales and fans!" As time went by, I wasn't getting
either. As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure most of
my friends and family weren't even listening to my
music. I spent hours researching hashtags and
search engine optimization. I not only found it
incredibly boring, but I did not see any improve-
ment. I paid for Facebook advertising, but I only
have a certain amount of money I can spend. My
conclusion was that I sucked, but wait, I liked my
music. Since I liked my music, there have to be
some other weirdos out there like me. That's when
I concluded there is just too much damn noise on
the internet, and my weirdo tribe cannot find me.

Have you ever been in a crowded room at a party the crowd at his speeches to cheer loudly for him,
or a social event? There are a plethora of and some that did not believe in his ideologies still
conversations happening simultaneously. A lot of cheered for him due to fear of judgment from the
times people cannot hear or attend to someone rest of the crowd. Could that be what has hap-
sitting right next to them because there is just too pened on the internet? Are most people that are
much commotion, and if they can hear them, they overly dogmatic politically just strategically
are too distracted to truly focus on what is being cheering? Are they agreeing because they want to
said. That is all the internet is. It is a crowded fit in with their co-workers, friends, or any other
room filled with distractions. Algorithms are made group? Could this have completely changed our
to favor those that can afford to pay for country's government?
advertisement; therefore, the wealthier you are,
the more noise you are capable of making. This A longitudinal Princeton Study was done and
pisses me off. Artists and intellectuals of all concluded that the United States government is so
mediums are being stifled because of the massive influenced by big business that it is no longer a
amount of information on the web, and they are the democracy or a republic but, in fact, a
ones most likely to promote social change and constitutional oligarchy. If I am being honest, I
expose injustices. Instead, we rely heavily on what cannot identify myself as either of the two major
we are told by the voices with the most money. political parties in the United States. Most of us
are just working from paycheck to paycheck and
Everything that starts out as a strong voice for the trying to feed our families and be happy, but one of
people always ends up getting into the hands of the things that make people happy is feeling like
those with more money and power. 112 years ago what they do and say matters. The internet is
William Randolph Hearst, the son of a wealthy becoming more and more like a bunch of
senator, built a publishing empire sensationalizing advertisements and political disagreements, and
stories using what is known as "yellow unless you have something someone can argue
journalism". He is even quoted as saying, "You about or a catchy and expensive advertising
furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war." He campaign, you are merely white noise.
was able to cause conflict by interpreting the
pictures for the people that ultimately led to the In response to all of this, I wrote an avant-garde
Spanish-American war. Do you see parallels jazzy rap song called "Hashtag". It combines the
today? Most people have become so rigid in their ignorant bliss of the roaring twenties prior to The
beliefs that they side completely with one politician Great Depression with more modern electronic
who uses words, pictures, and situations to their elements. As a modern artist, I know my chances
advantage. Corporations and politicians use of being heard are slim, but it was put into my
dogmatism people have to manipulate otherwise consciousness for a reason. As a result, I am
intelligent people, but how do intelligent people going to hashtag that shit, expect the worst, and
allow themselves to be manipulated? People have hope for the best.
an innate need to belong. Prior to his rise to
power, Hitler planted multiple people throughout Link to Holly’s website...

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