Ok, we have to talk about something. It’s important. Pay attention, ok?

ARTISTS ARE NOT GOING TO CONTACT YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THEY NEED SOMETHING FROM YOU. Yes, they appreciate you being a big fan. No, they don’t appreciate you so much that they will randomly send you a DM sending you tickets to a private show or asking you for financial help, plane tickets, or anything else. There is never a time that there is a legitimate reason to give money directly to an artist via social media.

Let me say it a little louder for those in the back: THERE IS NEVER A TIME THAT THERE IS A LEGITIMATE REASON TO GIVE MONEY DIRECTLY TO AN ARTIST VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

That’s why the legit accounts for artists have a blue check next to their names. If there’s no blue check, it’s not them.

This is a big enough deal that a whole bunch of country artists got together to make you this Public Service Announcement (PSA), in which you’ll see they pretty much all agree those imposters are bullshit.

When these fake jackwagons (I said it) contact you  -- and they will, if they haven’t already – don’t respond, just report them. Feel free to take a screen shot first to share it with your friends to show them how stupid these people are – some of them actually contact the real artists’ families and bandmates and record label friends. One posing as Kix Brooks reached out to Kix’s WIFE to ask her for money.

I know you want to believe that you favorite artists are reaching out to you personally, but really stop and think about how much sense that makes. Why you? You’re pretty great, but really? Does Garth Brooks actually need money from you? Don’t fall for it. Keep your money for important things, like pizza and unicorn inflatables, and those $168 jeans that are nothing but seams and pockets. On second thought, please skip that last one, too.