Courtney_shields IG blogger switches games with new single Messy
With 430,000 Instagram followers, over 20,000 YouTube channel subscribers, and 192,000 followers on the retail shopping app LikeToKnowIt, Courtney Shields seems to be at the top of the world in fashion blogging. Her blog, Bring Your Own Beauty, is a celebration of easy beauty tips, sale finds, styling, and adorable photos of her daughter, Kinsley.
Though the inspiration for her blog is to lift followers up and encourage confidence in beauty, it is through her honesty and relatable nature that followers caught wind of her passion and skills in a different context—music. As a Berklee School of Music graduate, it is no wonder her talents stretch far beyond styling a pair of leggings five ways, and loyal followers pushed for her to share these talents more.
On July 26th, followers’ wishes were granted, and Shields released her single“Messy” on Apple Music, iTunes, and Spotify. This is Shields’ first single, and in just hours after its release, it became a chart-topper.
The day of the release, the single rose to number twenty-five on iTunes’ general chart and number six on the Country genre chart. According to her Instagram, the song is a combination of Pop, Country, and Rock sounds. “Messy” is the perfect summer bop—meant to be played loud, proud, and with the windows to your car rolled down.
The immediate success of the song is in part due to her loyal followers and her tactful use of Instagram as a marketing tactic. By providing followers with behind the scenes previews at the cover shoot and recording process including a weekend reunion with fellow bloggers (also verified Instagram stylists) and friends, Shields piqued the interest of her followers for weeks leading up to the release. She has continued to talk about her upcoming musical project on her feed, hinting at a more personal ballad as her next song.