Celebrity and Fandom on Twitter: Examining Electronic Dance Music in the Digital Age

In this blog post, we examine how celebrity and fandom play out on Twitter in the digital age, with a focus on electronic dance music culture.

Introduction

Twitter has become an increasingly popular way for people to connect with one another and share information. In recent years, it has also become a place where celebrities and fans can connect with each other. This is especially true in the world of electronic dance music (EDM), where DJs and producers often use Twitter to interact with fans and promote their latest tracks.

In this paper, we will examine the ways in which EDM celebrities and fans use Twitter to connect with each other. We will specifically look at the ways in which they share information, interact with each other, and promote their music. We will also explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of using Twitter as a way to connect with others in the EDM community.

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a social media platform that allows users to post short messages, or “tweets,” of up to 280 characters. Twitter users can follow other users and retweet, or share, other users’ tweets. Twitter also allows users to like, or “favorite,” tweets. In addition to individual users, businesses and organizations can create Twitter accounts.

What is celebrity?

In order to examine the role of Twitter in the construction and maintenance of electronic dance music (EDM) celebrity, it is important first to establish what we mean by “celebrity.” In his book Celebrity/Culture, Andy Bennett defines celebrity as “the state or condition of being known or talked about by people in general, especially on account of one’s notable achievements” (Bennett 2006, 1). This basic definition is helpful in that it differentiates between celebrities and famous people; a famous person is simply someone who is well-known, while a celebrity is someone who is well-known for a particular skill or achievement. Importantly, Bennett notes that celebrities are also “produced” by agents within the media industry who work to create and promote a public image for their client (ibid).

What is fandom?

Fandom is a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of admiration and passion for a certain thing or someone. These fans can be dedicated to a celebrity, sports team, TV show, movie, book, musician, or video game. fandom is what drives people to dress up as their favorite characters, wait in line for hours to get a good seat at a concert or premiere, and spend their hard-earned money on merch. In the digital age, social media has become a crucial part of fandom culture. It allows fans to connect with each other and share their love for whatever it is they’re passionate about. Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms for fandom activity.

How do celebrities use Twitter?

When it comes to Twitter, celebrities are not like the rest of us. For one thing, they have a lot more followers. Justin Bieber, for example, has over 99 million followers, while the average Twitter user has just 208. Even more importantly, celebrities tend to use Twitter differently than the average person.

First of all, celebrities are much more likely to use Twitter to promote their work. This is especially true of musicians, who often use Twitter to announce new albums or tour dates. Bieber, for example, used Twitter to announce both his new album Purpose and his world tour in support of it.

But promotion is not the only thing that celebrities use Twitter for. Many celebrities also use Twitter to connect with their fans in a more personal way. This can be seen as a form of customer service, as it allows fans to reach out to their favorite stars and get a response (albeit often from a team of social media managers). It can also be seen as a way for celebrities to cultivate their image and create a connection with their fans that goes beyond simply admiring their work from afar.

How do fans use Twitter?

Twitter has become a popular platform for celebrities and fans to interact with each other. This interaction can take many forms, from short casual conversations to more extended exchanges. In some cases, celebrities will use Twitter to engage directly with their fans, providing them with updates on their lives and work. This can create a more personal connection between the celebrity and their fans, which can in turn lead to increased loyalty and support.

In other cases, fans will use Twitter to share their love for a particular celebrity or fandom. This can involve posting messages of support, sharing photos and videos, and engaging in conversations with other fans. This activity can help to create a sense of community amongst fans, and can also provide a way for them to connect with each other.

How does Twitter mediate between celebrities and fans?

Twitter has become an important platform for celebrities and fans to connect with each other. Celebrities use Twitter to share updates about their lives, while fans use Twitter to follow their favorite celebrities and engage in digital fan practices.

In the past, fan communities were largely offline and geographically bound. With the advent of the Internet, however, fans are now able to connect with each other online, regardless of location. Social media platforms like Twitter have made it even easier for fans to connect with each other and with celebrities.

Due to the relatively open nature of Twitter, celebrities and fans are able to directly interact with each other. This direct interaction can lead to positive outcomes, such as when a celebrity responds to a fan’s question or when a fan is able to meet their favorite celebrity in person. However, the open nature of Twitter can also lead to negative outcomes, such as when a celebrity is inundated with hateful messages from trolls or when a fan becomes obsessed with a celebrity and stalks them online.

Thus, while Twitter can be a positive force in bringing celebrities and fans together, it can also be a negative force if used in inappropriate or harmful ways.

Conclusion

The fandom that has built up around electronic dance music is a fascinating example of how new media has changed the relationship between celebrities and their fans. Through social media platforms like Twitter, fans are able to connect with each other and share their love for their favorite DJs, while also getting closer to the celebrities themselves. This paper has examined how this fandom operates on Twitter, and how it has been used to create a community of diehard fans who are passionate about the music and the culture surrounding it.

While there is still much research to be done on this topic, this paper has provided a detailed look at how celebrity and fandom interact on Twitter in the digital age. It is clear that electronic dance music has created a unique space for itself in the world of celebrity and fandom, and that this relationship is only going to continue to grow in the future.