Democratizing Fame Through Social Media

Opinion: Talent shows were once a good way for artists to transition to notoriety, but many now rely on social media

Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen and Bo Burnham were all “discovered” after videos they uploaded to YouTube went viral. Bieber alone has sold more than 15 million albums globally—and we can safely say that the rise of social media has taken the concept of fame and turned it on its head.

Internet culture, paired with the prominence of social media networks, has democratized the talent discovery process. It presents performers with new platforms through which they can showcase their talent and passion, often from the comfort of their living rooms, local grocery stores or wherever WiFi is readily accessible.

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