Tyler Ray Ward is an American independent singer, writer, producer and philanthropist.

Personal life

Tyler was born in Katy, Texas, USA, on March 12, 1988, and relocated to Parker, Colorado, USA as a young child. Before Ward had an interest in music, he was focused on athletics. After graduating from high school, Ward enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, where he played football. Ward's temperament was incompatible with military discipline, however, and he dropped out. After leaving the Air Force Academy, Ward was accepted into the University of Northern Colorado and started to write songs while seeking a journalism degree. Tyler credits his mom for his musical talent.

Career

Ward has become a well-known artist in part through his use of social media, posting a mix of covers and originals on YouTube. Ward has successfully completed four worldwide headlining tours and has played shows with many mainstream artists including Switchfoot, The Beach Boys, Aloe Blacc, The Jonas Brothers, The Fray and many more. Through his music video career, Ward has performed and produced most of his early songs and many of the current ones in his parents' basement, which he later turned into a proper recording space. Nowadays, Ward produces most of his music on the road or in his Los Angeles recording studio. Ward was number five on Billboard's Top 100 Uncharted List and was also ranked on Billboard's Social 50 Chart for several weeks.

Ward coined the phrase "Social Media Artist' - which accounts for all full-time musicians making a living through online platforms. This new business has been considered the "future of the music industry." Ward pioneered the selling and streaming cover songs, legally, on iTunes and spotify and has established the ability for artists to collect advertising revenue through streaming monetization.

In 2011, Ward performed a duet with The Band Perry, celebrating the Academy of Country Music Awards and went on a tour with Boyce Avenue. Later that year, Ward performed with Christina Grimmie live on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Their performance aired nationwide on October 10, 2011.

On September 25, 2012, Ward released an EP titled Hello. Love. Heartbreak. on iTunes. In early January 2013, Ward confirmed that he had signed with Sony Music Germany.

In October 2013, Warner Music Group retained seven YouTube stars, including Ward, Kina Grannis, and Peter Hollens, to help promote a new single by Hunter Hayes and Jason Mraz. Ward and the others independently recorded versions of the song, "Everybody's Got Somebody But Me," which were subsequently mashed up into a video posted exclusively on YouTube. This was the first such venture by Warner, whose senior vice-president for interactive marketing said optimistically that "or some kids, people like Kurt Schneider and Tyler Ward are people that they trust."

Ward released his album on October 18, 2013 titled Honestly. Honestly included 12 original songs that featured up and coming artists including Alex G. and Lindsey Stirling. Ward began touring in the Spring of 2014 in Europe and North America. The tour began in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 16, 2014.

References ^ "Covering Pop Hits On YouTube Is Starting To Pay". Morning Edition (NPR). May 13, 2013, 11 a.m.  Check date values in: (help) ^ Tyler ward tickets Retrieved July 21, 2012 ^ Devon Maloney (May 1, 2011). "Uncharted Territory: DJ BL3ND Still On Top, Childish Gambino and Zaz Debut". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2014.  ^ Blue Microphones Retrieved July 21, 2012 ^ Tyler ward shows Retrieved July 21, 2012 ^ http://tylerwardstudios.com/.  Missing or empty (help); Missing or empty (help) ^ Maloney, Devon. "Billboard Article News". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 21, 2012.  ^ Uncharted Territory: Traphik, Tyler Ward, Teen Hearts and More Billboard.com Retrieved July 21, 2012 ^ "Colorado native burning up the music charts using social media" Fox 31 Denver Neighbourhood News. Retrieved August 7, 2012 ^ Gary Graff (December 19, 2012). "Sound Check: Tyler Ward waiting for the right deal to break out". The Oakland Press.  ^ DeGeneres, Ellen. "Christina Grimmie & Tyler Ward perform 'How To Love'". Retrieved July 21, 2012.  ^ Mohindru, Perdy (11 October 2012). "Tyler Ward launches his album 'Hello, Love, Heartbreak' - Times Of India". Times of India. Retrieved 20 January 2014.  ^ Firstpost. "Retrieved October 21, 2013". Firstpost.com. Retrieved January 19, 2014.  ^ Dawn C. Chmielewski (October 28, 2013). "An Outreach in Concert with a Giant". Daily Press. p. C2.  ^ "iTunes". Retrieved 20 February 2014.  Authority control MusicBrainz: 21462e8d-d20b-4049-bcbd-57e0a4b9be5c