Why fans throw things at the artists and celebrities they love

Why fans throw things at the artists and celebrities they love

Fandom and online pop music researcher, Kate Pattison, explains why fans throw things at artists and how social media has led to a rise in this problematic behaviour.

Kate Pattison, PhD candidate in music industry

Topics: concerts, live performance, etiquette, social media, fans and fandom, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Adele

“Throwing things at artists on stage isn't new, but the proliferation of social media platforms has further encouraged this behaviour. Concert videos are all over TikTok, from Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour to Taylor’s Eras Tour, and these types of videos gain traction online.

“Generally speaking, fans don't want to hurt their favourite artists. If they’re throwing things on stage, it’s often a gift. When Harry Styles came to Australia, we saw videos of him catching different things on stage: from pride flags and crocheted accessories to an iconic Bunnings hat.

“Having an artist catch or acknowledge something at a show is one of the ways that fans can interact with their favourite celebrities.

“In this post-Covid era, opportunities to meet celebrities are limited, and so these acknowledgements have become more valuable. Fans earn considerable cache for being ‘noticed’ by the object of their fandom. It’s one of the key ways to gain capital within a community.

“But there's a fine line between which behaviours are celebrated, and those that are frowned upon.

“Each fan community establishes their own norms, and thus the bounds of appropriate fan behaviour can only be determined by each group. When fans are seen to have crossed a line, it can have a detrimental effect on their status within the community. Over the last few weeks, many fans have spoken out and distanced themselves from these more problematic behaviours.

“The artists themselves are also setting the tone for behaviours at their shows. For example, Adele recently spoke out at one of her Las Vegas residency shows, warning fans not to dare to throw anything at her. This is likely to help curb the behaviour as fans will generally listen to the object of their fandom.”

Kate Pattison is a PhD candidate in music industry at RMIT University. Her research looks at online pop music fandom, with a focus on fans of Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Delta Goodrem and BTS.

***

General media enquiries: RMIT Communications, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au

13 July 2023

Share

13 July 2023

Share

Engage

Related News

Person using ruler to draw on construction plans

Five guides to address wellbeing woes in architecture

Researchers have created a series of guides to support wellbeing for architects, after a survey found architecture workers had a lower-than-average quality of life compared with Australia’s general working population.

Students and Dave Anderson gathered around controls looking into recording booth

Sound production students take part in out-of-this-world collaboration

Students from the Advanced Diploma of Sound Production recently worked with international group The Cambodian Space Project, helping to record and mix songs for their upcoming album The Golden Phoenix.

A journalist is working on a computer at their workplace.

Australian media need generative AI policies to help navigate misinformation and disinformation

New research into generative AI images shows only over a third of media organisations surveyed at the time of research have an image-specific AI policy in place.

Key design and creative subjects ranked #1 in Australia, top 20 in the world

RMIT has secured its position as the nation’s leading institution for design and creative fields, with Architecture / Built Environment and Art & Design both ranked #1 in Australia and in the top 20 globally in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Show more
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

More information