The Role of Music Stars

                                   Star and Stardom:

•In order to understand the relationship between the music industry and its audiences, it is important to consider the roles of music stars.

•The term ‘star’ refers to the semi-mythological set of meanings constructed around music performers in order to sell the performer to a large and loyal audience.

•Stars are manufactured by the music industry to serve a purpose — to make money out of audiences, who respond to various elements of a star persona by buying records and becoming fans.

•Record companies nurture and shape their stars — as the TV talent show (such as the X Factor) processes have shown us

•They tend to manufacture what they think audiences want, hence the 'photocopied' nature of many boy bands, teen bands etc. 

•The record industry (independent) also has a duty to provide bands/artists who are perceived as 'real' (for 'real, maybe read 'ugly' or unpolished) for these audiences.

•Pop stars, whatever their nature, are quite clearly the product of their record company — and they must be sold – One Direction