Whenever a popular idol announces a relationship, the picture on social media is often like this. Why do some fans collapse emotionally when an idol is in love? How important is fan support or opposition?
The answer is closely related to the transformation of the idol industry, the growth of the fan economy and the psychology of fans. First of all, we must clarify the definition of idols. The concepts of "idol" and "idol" often mentioned in the fan circle originated from Japan. ≠actor≠singer. Generally speaking, compared with professional singers, idols' singing skills are not very good, and compared with actors, their acting skills are not up to standard. But using this standard to measure whether an idol is qualified is just an amateur. In Japanese culture, idols sell dreams and personalities. Profession.
The most successful thing about idols in the new era is to form bonds with fans through some kind of "personality". Today, unlike in the past, in the idol industry, traditional media and media represented by record companies and brokerage companies The era when capital had the right to decide has passed. The market is sluggish and the entertainment industry is increasingly relying on the fan economy. Some extreme examples are the cultivation of quasi-idols, such as the Japanese group AKB48. This model gives fans the power to take the lead and participate in the idol’s life. "Nurture" means buying CDs, charts, peripherals, and endorsements. Fans exchange money for all the idol's resources and achievements, and treat them as their own children or even lovers.
For fans, idols are not only dazzling beings on the stage, but also "someone in my family." The overlap between the two is the most common point in today's idol operations. Nowadays, many idols and fans The relationship is roughly the same. Fans contribute money, time and energy, and the idol is responsible for satisfying the fan's imagination. This is the core selling point of the idol.
A complete discourse system has also been developed within the idol industry. Actions such as making love gestures with fingers strengthen the imagination of "my idol and I are in love". For many fans, as long as the idol is single, , I still have a chance, no matter how slim it is. The possessiveness of fans has led many celebrities to choose to get married in secret. For example, artists from Johnny & Associates must obtain the consent of their agency to get married; AKB48 has a famous "No Dating Ordinance". Member Minami Minegishi shaved her head because it was reported that she spent the night with a man. She cried and apologized to fans in front of the camera.
All in all, idols in the new era must not only obey the instructions of their employers, but also take into account the needs of fans. What is even more passive is that the singing, dancing and acting skills of idols in the early years were at least remarkable, even if they are no longer Fan popularity can still rely on professional skills, but now?
When the purchasing power of fans is enough to influence an idol's career, some people will even directly negotiate with the agency to interfere with the idol's work planning and team personnel arrangements. Even the personal lives of idols. In recent years, there have been many idols who have publicly fallen in love, got married and had children. However, when the announcement is made, who the couple is, whether the two people are a good match, and whether they meet the expectations of fans, it may affect the idol's stardom. It's not impossible for idols to fall in love, but fans' decision-making power is also very important.