In the age of the internet, rapid success through social media has become a new outlet for bands and artists. Platforms such as TikTok have allowed musicians to reach millions of listeners almost instantly, changing the traditional path to mainstream success significantly. Temper City is one example of how a band can use this unconventional course to establish themselves in the music industry.
In February 2026, the alternative rock band released its debut single, “Self Aware.” Shortly after its release, the song gained lots of momentum on TikTok and quickly became a breakout hit. In August, the band made their festival debut at Lollapalooza, marking another major milestone in their growing careers. As of now, the song has amassed over 450 million streams on Spotify, making it only one of two songs in the band’s current discography.
Although the band officially formed in 2021, its members initially worked behind the scenes, contributing to productions of other major artists. The band is only made up of three members: Eytan Peled, Chen Kordova and Aviv Barenholtz. Information about the members' backgrounds has not been widely discussed. However, each served time in the Israeli Defense Forces.
Military service is compulsory for most Israeli citizens, meaning the band member’s service in the IDF was a requirement rather than a voluntary decision to join the Israeli military. However, the band’s contentious background sets a precedent for the importance of taking the time to research the people and artists encountered online. Audiences may unknowingly elevate an individual's career without knowing their entire context.
Another example of an overnight success is country artist Stella Lefty. Lefty rose to fame with her hit song, “Boston.” The song has reached nearly 200 million listeners on Spotify, and she is set to begin her “Long Way Home Tour” in March. However, Lefty’s swift rise coincided with the internet’s discovery of her father’s business, Tempus AI. Her father, Eric Lefkofsky, founded the company in 2015 with intentions to innovate healthcare. Forbes estimated his net worth at $5 billion.
Lefty also faced scrutiny when fans noticed Noah Kahan was given a writing credit on “Boston,” a song she had described as being written in Nashville after meeting her boyfriend, Vincent Mason. Shortly after, listeners started to notice similarities between Lefty’s “Boston” and Kahan’s “Stick Season.” Lefty later told Vanity Fair that Kahan’s team had reached out to her and she agreed to give him the writing credit.
In an industry where authenticity is central to an artist’s career, Lefty’s decision not to “want to step on anybody’s toes” and give Kahan the writing credit raises questions about her confidence in the song’s originality. This reinforces the idea that artists or individuals on the internet are not always presenting authentic versions of themselves.
The idea of authenticity becomes even more complicated when considering the parasocial relationships audiences often form with public figures. According to a study performed by the University of Essex, 52% of participants from the United States and United Kingdom reported experiencing a parasocial relationship at one point in their lives. The study later details that participants explained parasocial relationships could help regulate their emotions more so than an actual human could.
Social media has made it easier than ever for audiences to engage with celebrities. Constant livestreams, story updates and Instagram posts can give fans the impression they are invited into artists’ personal lives. Although this often makes an artist feel more relatable, it can also blur the thin line between a parasocial relationship and a real one. This is why media literacy, the ability to analyze and use media responsibly, is important.
Taking the time to research an artist’s background and recognizing how social media often shapes what audiences see can prevent people from becoming overly invested in images that don’t reflect reality.
In an environment where anybody can become a success overnight, audiences have a responsibility to look beyond the persona being presented to them. Authenticity should not be assumed because somebody is relatable, and fame should not be mistaken for credibility.
Adam Gerber is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Adam about their column? Email them at ag967424@ohio.edu
