Lauren Engberg has been contributing to Musiqtone.com since 2011. (Photo Courtesy of Lauren Engberg)
Lauren Engberg is a staff writer and contributor for Musiqtone.com, an online source for music news and media coverage. She currently resides in Nashville, Tenn., so she is constantly surrounded by upcoming artists on the rise. She shared with me how social media has impacted herself and how it helps news travel faster
Q: How has your use of social media changed since you started working for Musiqtone?
A: “I work for Musiqtone, so I represent them on any form of social media I have. This means I have to be careful what I am saying because industry people are following me. Also, I think my social media has turned more towards the music news side of things instead of just personal stuff. I like people knowing about the newest interview I did, new tours, albums, whatever it may be.”
Q: What is your preferred method of social media and why? Which do you think is the most useful for entertainment writers?
A: “Musiqtone likes to use Twitter and Facebook to inform its readers about new interviews, music videos, and new tours and link them to our site. I personally like to use Twitter the most because it’s quick and easy to get it out there. It also helps me connect with the fans when I want questions to ask from them! It also keeps me up to date from the artists themselves.”
Q: Has social media improved your connections with your audience? Is it easier to keep up with media news through social media?
A: “Absolutely. After I interview artists, we tell them we’ll link them to the interview once it’s up. This allows for the artist to retweet and post it and get it out to their fans as well. Usually this results in fans following for future updates. I think it’s really easy to keep up with things through social media. That’s the cool thing about it. Once one person gets the news it spreads quickly, which could be a bad thing, however, I do believe it’s a lot easier than having to go on multiple sites to find information.”
Q: What are the disadvantages of using social media?
A: “Disadvantages would definitely have to be rumors spreading very quickly. It’s so incredibly easy to be like, “My dad’s friend who works for *insert name* said there’s going to be a new tour”, or anything related to the artist. It’s really amazing how fast things can spread once given the information. I think another disadvantage sometimes is the lack of space you have when tweeting. It forces you to get creative sometimes.”
Q: Is there such a thing as relying too much on social media as a news source?
A: “I know I’m totally reliant on social media too much sometimes. I do try my best to go on to news sites at least once a week, but I find it to be so much easier to scroll through my newsfeeds and read about it right there, or to click the link that brings me right to it instead of having to search for it on a page. I know a lot of people who never read news sites or listen to the news. It gets interesting hearing what they know compared to the actual story.”
