A Social Network Analysis of User-Organised Community on Digital Music Platform
Manlin Wang, Ting Jiang · 2024
In the mobile Internet era, users can achieve social interaction and spontaneously form music communities through the music content, digital services and interactive functions provided on digital music platforms. Previous research on music communities has mainly focused on economic, cultural and social fields. However, music communities are complex and multidimensional, and qualitative analyses make it difficult to demonstrate the network structure and attributes of the communities comprehensively. Therefore, this paper uses social network analysis to study the “family” in the Chinese online music platform WeSing as the research object. The social network constructed by users sending flowers, gifts, and comments to each other within the community is studied through data statistics and analysis. The study found that the music communities organised and participated by users on digital music platforms are relatively loose social networks. However, within the community, driven by common music interests and recognition of the value of the community, users continue to gather and deepen their participation in the community around music events. Several different sub-groups have gradually formed within the community. This study also shows that digital music platforms are important in generating music communities and disseminating music culture.