With new platforms, a multitude of media options and endless content being produced each day, those hoping to keep up with the latest trends or news may have a difficult time finding a single source they can rely on. This is especially true of business leaders in the culture space, who must not only keep up with the trends but stay ahead of them to better target and influence their customers.
While simply hopping on social media or your chosen news outlet is one way to stay in the know, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council have a more focused approach. Here, they each offer up one specific resource they turn to to help them keep up with industry trends, news and updates and why it’s so useful to their business.
Google Alerts
Set as many alerts as you want to cast a wide net. You can use Boolean operators like “AND” “OR” and “NOT” to better refine the articles the alerts capture. It is part of my morning routine to sift through them. It can be a great driver for LinkedIn and other content to share with your network and industry. – Pierce Wylie, Rebel Rabbit
Nonprofit AF
One specific resource I turn to for keeping up with industry trends and updates is Nonprofit AF. This platform is incredibly useful because it provides insightful commentary on various aspects of the nonprofit sector, including funding trends, organizational practices and social issues affecting the arts and culture field. – Harold Steward, The New England Foundation for The Arts
The Younger Members of the Team
The younger members of my team are on social media more regularly and use different platforms than I typically get on. Different platforms seem to be better about updates for specific categories (sports, music, politics and others), and it would require more hours than a day has to offer to stay up to date on each of them. – Matthew Forster, CMS Nashville
Conferences
Conferences are some of the best ways to keep up with any industry. At conferences and expos, companies show off their most exciting new developments and industry leaders share invaluable insights in panels and seminars. That’s not all, though — conferences are also incredible networking opportunities, which means you can use them as opportunities to be a part of industry trends, too. – Evan Nison, NisonCo
Industry-Specific Newsletters
I rely on industry-specific newsletters like Harvard Business Review for curated insights and trends. Its concise, expert analyses help me stay informed on strategic developments without needing to sift through multiple sources, making it a time-efficient way to grasp essential updates and apply relevant insights quickly. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors
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Competitor Emails
I like competitive information to come to me, so I sign up for competitor emails and use RSS feeds to collect competitor content. This way I can go to one place and review everything quickly. It’s amazing how many leaders don’t review their competitors’ content! – Michael Newman, The Bureau of Small Projects
LinkedIn is my go-to resource to keep up with industry trends, news and updates. I find it useful because it is a community of people from every corner and aspect of my career. – Judy Dashiell, National Fisheries Institute
Concerts at Small Clubs and Dive Bars
In music, the future trends are on display at shows in dive bars and small clubs — usually at 10 p.m. on a Wednesday. So, I go to those concerts. It’s hard to fake talent in a small venue. And it’s much harder to fake connection. It’s clear if the audience is actually engaging with the music. Free of bots and careful PR, there’s just a microphone, a crowd and the chance of shared experience through song. – Jed Brewer, Good Loud Media
Fashion
While I source trends from traditional and social media, I always bet on fashion. It reveals shifts in society and culture through concepts and creative promotion. Fashion reflects cultural changes in an artform that is often overlooked or underestimated. – Marissa Andrada, Marissa Andrada
FQCrazySexyCool
I watch FQCrazySexyCool on YouTube for vibrant Queer community insights. This podcast celebrates ballroom culture while challenging norms and advocating for trans visibility. It explores the nuances of marginalization within marginalized groups. As I am a queer Hispanic man in the culture space, it’s important for me to understand the lived experiences of others in my community. – Red Rodriguez, Iconoclast Agency
‘Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast’
I turn to Courtney Elmer’s “Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast” for valuable insights on podcasting. This resource blends podcasting, marketing and psychology, offering actionable tips for growing an audience and creating a top-performing show. It’s a great way to stay informed about industry trends while learning strategies for success from someone who’s been there and done it. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC