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The Critical Music Fan: The Role of Criticality in Collective Constructions of Brand Loyalty

Obiegbu, J; Larsen, G; Ellis, N

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Authors

J Obiegbu



Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how the act of expressing criticism against a music brand fits with the identity and practices associated with being a loyal fan of that brand. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on insights from theories of brand loyalty and fandom, this interpretive inquiry makes use of data from an online forum dedicated to the band, U2, and interviews with forum members. A combination of online ethnography and discourse analysis is employed. Findings: The findings reveal how interpretations of the act of expressing criticism within a space that ostensibly functions as a place to celebrate all things U2 related, shape the construction of loyalty to the b(r)and in diverse ways. The apparent in-group tensions between being loyal and being critical pose a challenge to the taken for granted nature of brand loyalty and fandom, highlighting the nuanced ways with which they manifest. Originality/value: By examining the role of criticality within otherwise loyal spaces, the authors contribute to brand loyalty theory by revealing the malleability of the concept, as meaning is constantly being reshaped depending on individual realities.

Citation

Obiegbu, J., Larsen, G., & Ellis, N. (2019). The Critical Music Fan: The Role of Criticality in Collective Constructions of Brand Loyalty. Arts and the Market, 9(1), 65-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/aam-01-2019-0006

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 5, 2019
Online Publication Date May 7, 2019
Publication Date Jan 1, 2019
Deposit Date Mar 19, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Arts and the Market
Print ISSN 2056-4945
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Issue 1
Pages 65-80
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/aam-01-2019-0006
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1305961

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Copyright Statement
This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here https://doi.org/10.1108/AAM-01-2019-0006. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.





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