Why are some artists 'stannable' and some aren't?

[ElectricKing 9,405]

So yeah, why is it that artists like Gaga, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande (to name a few) have these huge super-dedicated fanbases? I'm not talking about record sales or 'people who like their music' - I'm talking about the extreme stanning behaviour. 

If I remember correctly, when the Born This Way Ball came around - some people camped outside the venue for a WEEK just to get the key and meet Gaga. That is an extreme level of dedication, but why? 

 

What is it about those artists that makes them so 'stannable'? Or is it something to do with the fanbase, the demographic that that artist has?

What do you think?

 

*by the way, I made this as a fun discussion, the question or content in this original post does not necessarily reflect my views*

[AVeryGagaHolyDick 25,720]

Gaga: People who feel different, are in need of help

Justin: Young girls who fell in love with him

Taylor: Young girls who took her as a model

(that's obviously a very general view)

 

That's what their fanbases looked like when they started their carreer. The fans deeply loved their idol just like they would love someone they know in real life. And as the artists and fans grew up, they just couldn't stop loving them. It would've been like stopping loving your brothers and sisters if they did nothing wrong to you. That's what I think

[LeJudas 6,490]

Some artists just dont have that appeal or presence or magnetism that people look for in an artist. 

 

[Harris Walz 2024 1,451]

ENERGY. People gravitate towards high energy, both good and bad

[Pacify Him 9,073]

They don't live for the fame

[davflz 3,293]

I think with female pop stars it has a lot to do with self-identification. Their target audience (women & gay men) can identify with them and they represent a more successful and powerful idealized version of themselves. Female singers tend to also present themselves as larger than life (through fashion, stage design etc) which can add to the effect and makes their lives even more desirable. Male artists (especially those targeting other men such as Drake, Travis etc.) tend to present themselves more like friends and therefore less "god-like".

With artists like Justin I think it's mostly about his target audience (teenage girls) being in love with him and them obsessing over the idea of being in a relationship with him.

[gumzy3000 7,355]

Because those artists you mentioned have created strong fan bases themselves. It doesn't just happen out of luck. 

Lady Gaga - Created the moniker Little Monsters and consistently talked about it to refer to her fans. 

Ariana - Nickelodeon star who had a mini fanbase already but her connection with fans is amazing

Justin Bieber - His label marketed him as a teen heartthrob when he came out into the scene in 2009. He also has incredible fan connection 

Rihanna - She has been here the longest out of the artists you mentioned and she is simply iconic. I would say she has some luck in how successful she is  and due to her stans because she never strikes me as someone who was deeply connected with her fans. Still love her though 

[NewUsername 11,429]

3 minutes ago, davflz said:

I think with female pop stars it has a lot to do with self-identification. Their target audience (women & gay men) can identify with them and they represent a more successful and powerful idealized version of themselves. Female singers tend to also present themselves as larger than life (through fashion, stage design etc) which can add to the effect and makes their lives even more desirable. Male artists (especially those targeting other men such as Drake, Travis etc.) tend to present themselves more like friends and therefore less "god-like".

With artists like Justin I think it's mostly about his target audience (teenage girls) being in love with him and them obsessing over the idea of being in a relationship with him.

this

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- artists that stand for something
- artists that are loyal to their fans
- the let's call it X factor

[Born To Slay 10,996]

I think artists that can have an intimate connection of some kind with their audience. Like Lady Gaga’s music and message has changed peoples lives, that really makes people look up to her and makes them devoted.

[Hype 38]

Good marketing also helps

[Doncho 27,241]

I think they just have something special that connects with people. I cant describe why... it goes beyond their music. Lot of artists have hits but still fail to build a great fanbase (Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, etc). Gaga and the others have the so called Star Power. Its a pretty interesting topic...

[Guest]

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[Guest]

31 minutes ago, Doncho said:

I think they just have something special that connects with people. I cant describe why... it goes beyond their music. Lot of artists have hits but still fail to build a great fanbase (Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, etc). Gaga and the others have the so called Star Power. Its a pretty interesting topic...

It's pretty interesting. I've always tried to find a similarity between all these very iconic popular artists throughout the years and decades and I find that the artists are have some or ALL qualities : 1. Overwhelming charisma, 2. A creative genius, 3. Intelligence, 4.A lot of soul, 5.are trendsetters and original, 6.Care a lot about their art some to fill a big hole in their lives or in themselves.

Some examples in my eyes

1. Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears etc

2. Kanye West, Eminem, Taylor Swift, Queen, Michael Jackson etc

3. Artists you can tell actually have an open-mindedness, some kind of genius in terms of how they see the world in a deeper way than most people who see everything literal and on the surface, that's what I mean by intelligence. For example, if you compare Justin Bieber vs Bob Dylan, you can see that Bob Dylan will have much more to say in a song because he has a different mindset/philosophy/emotional intelligence than Justin Bieber who will sing songs that are on the surface but his charisma will help.

4. Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Cobain, Tupac

5. David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Prince, Michael Jackson, Kanye West etc 

A lot of them can have a lot of some of the qualities I mentioned if not ALL. When it's all it's a dangerous overwhelming mix that brings an AURA to them. Usually the ones with creative genius will always win, although Stevie Wonder is a creative genius but lacks charisma and is not a trendsetter or original in terms of his demeanor/style, if you compare him with Michael who has charisma and is a trendsetter you realize that can explain the amount of stans he has with him. That's just my theory though

6. Now about filling a hole and so forth, a lot care about their work and of course it will be reflected on the quality of the music they put out but I found that for those artists who have nothing other than this to feel better and happy usually put their heart and soul and we as humans can feel that. I think about MJ, Lady Gaga in her first years, and Kurt Cobain and so forth. Might sound stupid but i truly think it makes them connect with people in a more intense way

[Doncho 27,241]

2 minutes ago, kyanewest said:

It's pretty interesting. I've always tried to find a similarity between all these very iconic popular artists throughout the years and decades and I find that the artists are have some or ALL qualities : 1. Overwhelming charisma, 2. A creative genius, 3. Intelligence, 4.A lot of soul, 5.are trendsetters and original, 6.Care a lot about their art some to fill a big hole in their lives or in themselves.

Very good analysis. I have to agree. I think charisma is the most important factor of all of those. People love to connect with artists and feel like they are united. In Gaga s case she really got it all. The way she always set trends really made her stood out of other pop stars back in the day. And even today with the whole C2C and ASIB era "redemption" thing.

Im proud to stan her 

[FfFfFfFF 56,088]

In short is the fact that the artists you are pop and have plenty of hits and public exposure, therefore they have bigger fanbases. Even smaller artists (like cult indie starlets like Marina or Lana) have their own dedicated fanbases. Also, pop as a genre is a medium that favors fandom, more than hip hop or rock.