Music To My Ears

BET and CMT are both networks centered around music. Albeit very different genres of music, most people would visit each website for the same thing- music videos, ringtones, etcetera. The websites are actually eerily similar in layout, but that is beside the point. As seems to be the trend with other networks though, both websites also prove to be a hub for social media.

Of corse, both sites offer links to blogs on their home pages, but that is expected at this point in my research. What I am more interested in is the fact that both networks have a link to a community page in their main tool bars. This brings up an interesting idea.

I have never really thought about a music network website being a community before, but I suppose that is actually exactly what it is. Where else are fans from all around the country going to discuss and share their favorite music? Local radio stations’ websites can provide a limited platform, but that would only provide a small perspective. Because networks like BET and CMT are centered around a specific genre of music and are accesable nationwide (and internationally in some cases,) their website is the perfect forum for discussion and music sharing.

In the community page on BET, viewers are allowed to upload a picture of themselves, and other viewers vote on the hottest male and female of the day. While this may seem silly to some, a lot of people might use this feature as a way to get themselves out there and be a part of the entertainment world. You also might not realize that, while for superficial reasons, this allows viewers nationwide to physically see the people they are communicating with, which helps strengthen the feeling of community.

Something that caught my eye on the CMT community page is something called “CMT One Country” where viewers nationwide can come together and volunteer. The volunteer projects range from making donations to charities to teaching kids how to swim. Anyone can search volunteer opportunities in their area to see what is available then share their stories on any of the social media provided. On the site, there is a link to groups on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and Flux. (Evidentially both CMT and BET have twitters that are advertised on their home pages, so why they didn’t come up in my first search remains a mystery.)

I think something as community driven as volunteering is just a testament to how strong a community can be on the internet. Whether it is centered on music, food, books, etc., online communities are definitely on the rise and becoming stronger. It is definitely to their advantage for BET and CMT to be so involved.

July 15, 2009 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: BET, CMT, community, music, Social Media, television, Twitter | Leave A Comment »