Low cost, high impact digital advertising for artists with Samia Malik

In this episode, James talks to Samia Malik – singer-songwriter, visual artist and one of the winners of the Digital Culture Network Award – about how she transformed her creative practice through digital innovation. With support from the Digital Culture Network, Samia developed a digital-first strategy for her project ‘Songs to Heal and Empower’, using targeted ads and audience data to grow her following and build a strong online presence. Her latest project, ‘Azaadi - A Journey to Freedom’, continues this work with a focus on reaching global audiences and building online communities. They discuss: How Meta and YouTube ads can be effective in reaching millions beyond existing networks Why using digital platforms can help artists share work and connect with wider audiences What practical steps artists can take to build online communities and grow their digital presence Links and resources discussed in this episode: Download the transcript for this episode (Word document) Explore Samia’s Digital Culture Network Award win Head to Samia’s website to explore her music and other work Samia Malik was awarded a Digital Culture Network Award in the 2025 Digital Culture Awards. Music by ⁠⁠SHAR