Little Monsters Impact

[NotMyFlop 1,979]

In 2009, Gaga launched fandoms into legitimacy. Instead of forum pages where fans gathered to discuss topics related to what they love (), Gaga instead legitimized them to grow; to become something bigger. By expanding onto social media, it connected them to each other in a larger community. By following the artist, and talking with them in real time became groundbreaking. To be noticed by your favorite artist, at home, was earth-shattering. Gaga coining her fans as 'Little Monsters' was the final nail in the coffin that sent ripple effects to how artists use their platforms, and how they grow. 'Katycats', 'Arianators', 'Beliebers', 'Directioners' and countless other examples are byproducts of what Little Monsters paved. Stans, the general public, lawmakers, and corporations at large saw how having dedicated followings can shape a career. 

Little Monsters walked so other fandoms could run. 

It's not supposed to be taken as a shady statement, or one that suggests our fandom is better than others since all fandoms are equal.  I think Little Monsters are in a unique positioned compared to fandoms. In 2010/2011, as our fandom was rapidly expanding, we proved how forums could be evolved; how social media can expand a message and how fans can interact with their favorite person. We even helped Gaga as she pushed for the Don't Ask/Don't Tell repeal, which helped raise awareness and could be argued was a reason for the repeal (not all of it, though). 

When Directioners became the fandom on social media, they took the blueprint that Little Monsters made and "made it better". By showing how fandoms can influence public perception, get brand sponsorships, trend things and raise awareness for important issues. Directioners, however, lead way to toxic stan culture. The heavy use of in-fandom bullying, harassment of others on social media platforms, being insensitive to life crises and being hostile to a "competing" fandom, led to the fierce devotion stan culture has to one artist. It led to the alienation of perceived other artists and general immaturity. This isn't supposed to suggest the early days of fandoms, especially Little Monsters didn't have toxicity, I am saying the fandom was just too new, too small and still figuring things out for that to become a glaring issue. 

Toxic stan culture is something that now reverberates in every facet of any fandom. It's a tragedy, but all too real. 

Little Monsters (again) in 2013 paved the way for other fandoms. When ARTPOP became commercially and critically panned, it was the first real time since a MAJOR artist had a significant blowback to their career - especially one with an appointed army of fans at their defense. Little Monsters and other fandoms alike watched as people dipped out in troves, disavowing themselves from Gaga altogether. Fandoms watched as Little Monsters influence whittled down to almost nothing. Little Monsters haven't been able to recover in size, scope or power since - even though A Star Is Born is a second career peak, it wasn't enough to woo back or garner new stans, but that in itself could be its own thread on demographics. 

Little Monsters taught stans a valuable lesson. Flops haven't been catastrophic as ARTPOP was, because stans knew better. Several major artists have flopped since, but all of them have been able to recover fairly quickly and not do a multi-year arc on redeeming themselves for the public light, as Gaga had to do. Take, for example, Beyoncé, who in 2018 had a disastrous rollout of an album. It has barely eclipsed seven months, and almost no one talks about EVERYTHING IS LOVE  anymore. Beyoncé is still as respected as she always has been. Miley Cyrus' Younger Now left as quick as it came. Even Katy Perry's Witness, the most damaging panned album since ARTPOP, was able to end the era and now have stans talking about it for years to come. It's because fandoms looked our failings, and stuck together. Fandoms have now focused on being a public relations team for their artist, and are able to create the narrative that passes onto the general public. The most recent example is Ariana Grande's 'Imagine'. When that underperformed in favor of 'thank you, next', the fandom was able to create the faux-hype about the video; how the thank you, next was the #1 song for so long. It made Imagine a blip in the timeline, something that people aren't even focused on anymore. 

Even now, Little Monsters have still provided the pathway for other fandoms. We were one of the first to extensively report on chart performances, sales data, and streaming. Little Monsters are the first to have third-party (not associated with Gaga) merchandise sold and sent to people in the fandom. Little Monsters even have 'famous' monsters, whom are respected and looked up too ( @Haroon ). Little Monsters have seemingly always found new, relevant and unique ways to share our love for Gaga, and having it picked up by other fandoms. 

In 2019, we may not be as big, powerful or all-encompassing as used to be. We are an aging fandom, and we can see signs of weakness in other once massive fandoms, too. In the grand scheme of thing(s), I do think we are one of the more-respected fandoms out there. We are generally wiser, more mature and humble than other fandoms. Although we can over-extend ourselves and definitely over-inflate the reality of Gaga's success, most fandoms still take pointers from us. 

In the end, us Little Monsters (veteran, new or departed stans alike) will always be monsters. It's something that has connected us and made us family throughout all these years and we should be proud of the incomparable influence we've had on fandoms. We're all rockstars. 

In all honesty, after A Star is Born  that's okay. As the fandom grows older, and several of us mature out (or are too busy) and Gaga recruits less stans, just know she'll always remember us this way.  

 

[RochestrMonstr 2,969]

I feel like late 2011 is when people really started to jump ship.  Right around the time Marry The Night was a single.  That was when she was over exposed and people started turning on her. 

Very well said though! She may not have won back the bandwagon stans that jumped ship, but at least now she's in good light with the public, who are aware of her talent.  That was something she did not have back then (she used to be much more polarizing).  

[NotMyFlop 1,979]

8 hours ago, RochestrMonstr said:

I feel like late 2011 is when people really started to jump ship.  Right around the time Marry The Night was a single.  That was when she was over exposed and people started turning on her. 

Very well said though! She may not have won back the bandwagon stans that jumped ship, but at least now she's in good light with the public, who are aware of her talent.  That was something she did not have back then (she used to be much more polarizing).  

1

I honestly think this is ultimately more important, to Gaga at least. Gaga is really on track to be an actual legend. Although we've lost many things, she has gained happiness. That is more important.