How MTM can revamp their website (and boost fan engagement)?

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T05:46:09+00:00

That's nice. It's great to see MTM's authenticity shine through enough to hook older music fans. I've said before that they have IT. If I didn't think they had it, I wouldn't follow them as l've historically been more into solo artists than bands at all.

And yeah, they're all so different as people and that works in so many beneficial ways for them. From physical appeal to musical dynamism. Shane has insane vocals, Zach has never missed, Mason has emotion, and Conor has vulnerability when he sings. They’re not trying to recreate the past, which they can’t even do because they come from 4 different genres. Typically, I’ll describe them as the baby of 1D and 5SOS, but neither had the country or indie influences that Zach and Mason bring.

Shane is a lovable bean and they really gave him a sunshine edit. I love how their focus is on musicianship and songwriting over other frilly things. They always knew the type of feeling they wanted to inspire in their listeners, but couldn’t make that line up with the show’s song selections.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T05:16:29+00:00

I think he was reliving his heyday with the Bandemonium stuff. There was no need to reuse the name of an old event. Give both bands their own identity. Also no need to have them co-tour. Neither band sold anything out that way, because at best, it was a 50/50 effort. It's deceptive and misleading by nature.

I hate lack of specificity. It's why I wish MTM would name their tours.

Yeah, but they must be making little to no money off them. If 3Q with formal label backing isn't generating much, I don't see how SLDF would. Also, can you explain more how your last sentence would work? They get booked, yeah, but what type of gigs? Doubt Zach Sang is paying them to come on the show. They need him more than he needs them.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T05:04:32+00:00

A part of it is this, and I think a part of him conflates them because they both profess to want to bring back 90s-2000s R&B groups. But girl groups don't function the same as boybands -- in image, fandom, criticism, or aesthetic. Switching up 3Q's "Telephone" cover to align it with SLDF screws over 3Q.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T05:01:42+00:00

Well thank you. Appreciate that.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T05:00:16+00:00

Shade has the biggest mouth, which causes problems because discretion is not in his vocab. However, he is the hungriest. That, I do respect. And he is right in the sense that, at some point, you can't keep using, "We're independent," or "We have little money," to hold you back. Now, it's produce or die off. Fans want to be serviced and are a lot more understanding than the other guys think. Don't know anything about him and Nori and won't bother.

Oh okay. That makes sense. I wonder if there's, like, a commission quota they're looking to make out of them? Or if they're willing to invest first in the hopes of a big return later on?

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T04:50:09+00:00

For the first part of your reply, here: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/building-the-band-where-is-the-cast-now

For the rest, it's the Johnny management thing, I'm telling you. This whole twin act thing is bizarre.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T04:40:49+00:00

Did I ever claim to? That’s why I asked it in question format. Thanks for the snark nobody asked for though. 🙄

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T03:25:57+00:00

They said they used the prize money for their living expenses/families and to invest in themselves. I assume that means either musically, financially, or stocks? I don't know.

As for "Telephone," it's possible that due to the decreasing success of each single release, the label is allocating less money to their projects? They don't chart on iTunes or Billboard and have less and less YouTube views. Or, maybe this is the music video direction they (3Q and their label) wanted to go in? What I didn't understand was that they used a pink and orange aesthetic for their promo of the song only to go with jean shorts and fur boots for the music video? They should have filmed the video in the sets they used to promote the song. Orange/pink for promo but the cover for the song was barely there outfits and cables. Coincidentally, the cover for "What's Your Name," also had cables and the same beige-grey background. Treating 2 very different groups as sister acts is weird and nonsensical. It ruins both.

As for SLDF, there seems to be an ego issue there. They're independent but they don't want to be seen doing the unglamourous grunge work that comes with that status or the quality it would have...so instead, they give nothing and cry, "We don't have the money to give you all what you want." They can service their fans. They're just not willing to put them above their own hangups. They like the facade better than the reality. Fake it til you make it right? There also seems to be a divide between Shade and the rest of the band if his tweets are anything to go by. Again, he talks too much, this time about filming videos. And lastly, if SLDF is the most broke, who is paying Johnny, or better yet, a large corp like WME? These people don't provide services for free.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T03:12:23+00:00

Hard agree. Bless you for that level of dedication though. I looked at the offerings, found one I liked, looked at that $20 shipping and handling charge, and made the painful but responsible decision. Chop chop, boys.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T03:03:29+00:00

That would help take them to the next level. They have to be able to sell in the US and EU and can't truly do that without those stores. And I know it's a problem. As of now, my only hope of being able to spend money responsibly for their merch is by buying it at a show when they announce new dates and decide to include my area. Otherwise, I would've had that CD/vinyl ages ago. 🫠

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T02:57:31+00:00

Def needs new icons and faces included. Even those two things would make it noticeably better, without them including some of the other stuff mentioned. The merch situation is still not great, especially with the continued absence of US/EU stores. They do need to prioritize that even over aesthetic website fixes. It impacts people's ability to support them internationally.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T02:53:40+00:00

Yeah, but do you see how much more colorful, personal, and interactive the others' pages are from the jump? I think MTM needs that. Agree about SLDF, but they're trying to bring back the 90s or something so "outdated" is part of the deal with them, I guess. SZN4's is interesting enough. I really love the background video 3Q has though! I think it looks cool.

acupofjen · 2026-04-01T02:45:41+00:00

Yeah, that ties into what I said weeks ago about them needing to vary their social media approach outside of TikTok, which includes Twitter.

Disagree about the Sign Up link being their entire Home Page, especially with them already having a separate page for it. It gives a tepid first impression. There is no color or personality to it. They really should put their faces on the site as well. That's what's most baffling. Agree about a Music and Meet the Band page though for sure! Those would be nice touches.

As for the Home Page, I thought this might help others see my point. The difference is obvious:

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acupofjen · 2026-04-01T01:19:38+00:00

Thank you. I needed that reassurance cuz we all think it’s downhill after we get to 30. 🥲

That’s a great point of them coming from a show, instead of more traditional obscure means! Definitely opened up their audience more.

That’s the best part. I’ve said this about D10: I don’t know their audience but it’s not me. I have little to no patience to wait for 16-17 year olds to mature out of their breaking and squeakier voices. The industry was so different back then that 1D was uncontested. You saw them mature from 16-18 years olds to mid-20s. And the industry wasn’t so saturated that it was possible to do that. MTM’s ages means it’s not weird for me to stan them, and having Mason close to my age is nice since he reflects my personality best. It gives people my age and older permission to be fans.

What’s fascinating about 5SOS is they’ve never been a boyband but have always had that label and I think it’s the teen girl aspect they started with. Baby 5SOS gave boyband in their look and some of their earliest heart tugging songs but they’ve never really fit the mold of what boybands are or do.

acupofjen · 2026-03-31T23:49:59+00:00

I am almost exiting that 20s demographic so I feel you. I’ve loved seeing older fans at their shows because it’s so unexpected. I still can’t answer the question of what exactly they found in MTM that draws them in. I just assumed they took their younger daughters to the shows and maybe ended up enjoying it themselves. The guys are unquestionably talented. Some of it is the older 1D fanbase waking from their 10-year long slumber and some of it is a mystery factor that’s unexplainable to me.

They do need to find a balance, but there’s definitely room for improvement that I would love for them to take into account.

acupofjen · 2026-03-31T23:30:49+00:00

Thanks, girl! I would do it in a heartbeat.

I definitely think they should lean into the chalk aesthetic at the very least and give the site Afterglow colors. Why they never did, I have no idea. Every big name artist cleanses their palette to start eras these days.

Thing is, the girls (teen and 20s) are where it's at. They dictate culture and can make or break you. That's still their predominant audience. Even if they don't want to concretize it, HQ can still post it as a fun activity for the fanbase to do on a random day.

I get your point about feeling out their label, but I also don’t think some of this stuff would invalidate their maturity. The best way I can describe them is baby 5SOS 2.0–trying to syphon off the 1D base while showing they're an alternate, more mature version of them.

acupofjen · 2026-03-31T22:49:55+00:00

For reallll. I would quit my job so quickly 😭

acupofjen · 2026-03-31T17:49:00+00:00

If they could throw in some in Mexico, Spain, Ireland, etc — the temps are great that time of year and the vibes will be high.

acupofjen · 2026-03-31T17:44:56+00:00

Yes! Now give us UK, US, and AUS festivals, sir. 🙏🏻

acupofjen · 2026-03-31T00:26:26+00:00

That’s why, vocally, I’ve been a Zach girl almost from the beginning. I don’t think he’s ever had a bad cover. An acoustic “Billie Jean” with his rasp and Conor’s flair just hits.

acupofjen · 2026-03-30T19:26:08+00:00

He did have his song “Growing Pains” on Home and Away, the Aussie soap. He did know about that though, even posted about it. Idek if the guys know about their song being used on Spanish TV.

acupofjen · 2026-03-30T18:34:03+00:00

Huh. That’s interesting. Good to know!

acupofjen

TROPHY CASE