From $20 TikToks to Pop Star: Addison Rae's Early Days of Getting Paid to Promote Music
Addison Rae, the internet sensation turned pop star, has opened up about her surprising beginnings in the world of social media marketing. In a recent interview with The New York Times’ Popcast, Rae revealed a fascinating detail about her early TikTok days: record labels used to pay her a mere $20 to create videos dancing to their artists' songs.
The revelation, shared on Friday, May 30th, offers a glimpse into the evolving landscape of music promotion and influencer marketing. Back then, Rae, whose full name is Addison Rae Easterling, was just starting to build her massive following on TikTok. Labels recognized the platform's potential to reach a young audience and saw Rae as a valuable tool to get their music heard.
“It was crazy early on,” Rae explained. “I remember labels would be like, ‘Hey, can you do a TikTok to this song?’ and they’d give me, like, $20.” While $20 might seem insignificant now, considering Rae’s current net worth and status as a global celebrity, it highlights a time when the influencer marketing industry was still in its nascent stages. The strategy was simple: leverage the reach of emerging TikTok stars to generate buzz around new releases.
This practice was common for many rising social media personalities. Brands and labels were experimenting with different ways to tap into the platform's rapidly growing user base. For Rae, it was a stepping stone toward something much bigger. She leveraged those early opportunities to build a devoted following, which eventually led to lucrative brand deals, acting roles, and a successful music career.
Rae's journey is a testament to the power of TikTok and the changing dynamics of the entertainment industry. What started as a small payment for a simple dance video has transformed into a multi-million dollar empire. It's a compelling story of how a young creator capitalized on an emerging platform to achieve extraordinary success. The $20 TikToks were just the beginning for Addison Rae, a reminder of how far she has come in a remarkably short amount of time.
The anecdote also sparks a larger conversation about the value of influencer marketing and the evolving relationship between artists, labels, and social media platforms. As platforms continue to shape the way music is discovered and consumed, expect to see even more innovative and creative promotional strategies emerge.
