The Use of Social Media in Today's Day and Age

While I mostly use social media for staying in touch with friends, contacting coworkers and being aware of events happening at my work, it is also one of my primary sources for my daily news. With the rise of misleading and clickbait-y headlines, finding a trustworthy news source can be difficult; that's why utilizing +NPR's social media platforms have become so important to me. Not only can you choose to follow their various subsets on Twitter, such as +NPR Music or +NPR Politics, you can follow a particular program that you enjoy (I love my +NPR Fresh Air ). NPR clearly knows their target audience, too: people who appreciate unbiased and informative reporting, and want up-to-date news that's easy to access. Though the content posted on Facebook and Twitter rarely differs, the fact that I can choose to receive a notification when they tweet is very helpful for me, and it's far easier than skimming through Facebook for news and stories that are important to me.

Not many years ago, listeners would have to tune to their local radio station at a specific time to receive the news or listen to their favorite program. While this is still completely viable, not everyone has a FM radio at their home nor does everyone drive a car with radio access on their daily commute. However, just about everyone has internet access, and more specifically in this scenario: uses social media in some form. By sharing top stories and interviews on social media, not only does NPR make it available to current fans of their content, they make it easy for people to share those same stories with their friends and thus bring new listeners into the fold. Using social media to share news with others and keep everyone informed is absolutely vital in this day and age.

PART II

Properly utilizing social media is an absolute must for independent record labels. I decided to look into +Deathwish Inc's presence on Facebook and Twitter for my second company to research. Deathwish Records is an independent label based out of Massachusetts that primarily releases hardcore and metal artists. While they are home to some larger acts that don't require constant exposure, many of the lesser-known bands live and die by record, merchandise and ticket sales (not to mention being part of a niche and not very commercially viable genre of music). This is why when a new album has been released, or when a band is going on tour, sharing this information helps inform not just current fans of the band, but also could be the first time that someone is ever being exposed to a band.

By sharing these items online, Deathwish is able to create exposure for independent artists that would have only been possible by magazine articles or by extensive flyering (a practice many local bands still use today) not but 10 years ago. Deathwish and other independent record labels simply wouldn't have access to such cohesive marketing and networking tools without the advent of social media. Not only does it help promote their own brand, but they're able to share with their fans other like-minded labels from across the world. To simply state that Deathwish being on Facebook and Twitter has changed the way they go about doing business and signing/promoting bands would be a vast understatement. Social media has revolutionized the independent music industry and helps even the most niche labels have an equal place in our newsfeeds.