Online stan culture has now been around for over two decades, having evolved over time, with many people participating in it ranging significantly in age, gender, race, and sexuality (I hear there’s lots of straights on ATRL ). As time has passed many stan culture icons and legends have aged into their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond and continue to release music and tour because as it turns out, life doesn’t end at 30. 
 

The industry has changed and thanks to streaming, legacy artists are able to command quite a presence in the musical landscape with their impressive catalogues. Yet it seems like age is still an issue or a good reason to ridicule an artist in the stan community, which seems ironic given stans themselves are also ageing. At times I wonder if people cling to younger artists in order to feel more youthful and current, in the same way that people whose lives are absolute failures tend to compensate by stanning extremely successful artists and claiming their success as their own, rather than simply enjoying the music. 
 

Why is this? Does stan culture have an ageism problem? Do you think it will change as stans themselves go through the ageing process? Or is this just how things have to be?

 

Edited February 21, 20233 yr by Slap

Yes mostly female artists over 40. Male artists seem like they don’t suffer the same fate. 

No and it's lessening over time. Madge and Mariah still have very active/loyal bases. Gaga, Bey, Taylor, Lana will as they age too. It's the GP who disregard the abilities of these women after a certain age or expect them to look/act a certain way to be deemed acceptable but even then, they still won't be used or appreciated correctly by the majority of people. It's not really an issue in the stanworld.

 

Cher is another example. J.Lo for the GP. Shakira will always have a strong base. It's just not that big of an issue. Of course people will look for the next big, younger artist, but that's the way of the world. Madonna really has some stans thinking ageism is worse than it is when it comes to musicians. For her it's less about that, more about societal expectations in an appearance or behavioral based way. 

Edited February 21, 20233 yr by Big Bad Wolf

The reality is that the music industry in general is a young person's game. It's uncommon to see even a man putting out a smash record over the age of 45-50. If anything stans are more likely to stay loyal to their faves as they age. 

No, stans are the ones who support artists like Janet, Kylie, Madonna regardless of age.

Is the earth round?

39 minutes ago, izzyinsane said:

Yes mostly female artists over 40. Male artists seem like they don’t suffer the same fate. 

I mean, what 40 year old men even have an ounce of relevance? 

47 minutes ago, izzyinsane said:

Yes mostly female artists over 40. Male artists seem like they don’t suffer the same fate. 

Lol

yes but it's not exclusive to stan twitter

there's nothing wrong with being a stan/fan of an artist even if youre 40.

 

just dont go around bashing other artists etc. which a lot seem to do

23 minutes ago, Sesame said:

I mean, what 40 year old men even have an ounce of relevance? 

 

Unfortunately. 

we're the one community in music still actively supporting these women past their prime. make of that what you will

I don't think it's a stan thing. I think pop music in general has an issue with ageism. Once artists hit their late 30's/early 40's, their relevancy always seems to decline, sometimes into irrelevancy. Realistically, someone like Beyoncé, Britney, or Justin Timberlake isn't going to have an era like Future Nostalgia or After Hours, for example.

 

I don't think it's a gender thing either. Like I said, Justin Timberlake's popularity declined once he entered his late 30's. Usher was left behind too. Eminem, even though he's still doing fine, isn't pulling the huge hits like he did in the 2000's/early 10's.

There are ageist stans, but the stan world is one of the few places where ageism is taken seriously as a problem. Older pop girls have active fan bases, their music is discussed and rooted for, and this place usually cheers when an older act gets a hit.

 

The stan world does have misogyny, racism, transphobia and internalized homophobia issues tho, so it's by no means some progressive haven.

1 hour ago, Virgos Groove said:

There are ageist stans, but the stan world is one of the few places where ageism is taken seriously as a problem. Older pop girls have active fan bases, their music is discussed and rooted for, and this place usually cheers when an older act gets a hit.

 

The stan world does have misogyny, racism, transphobia and internalized homophobia issues tho, so it's by no means some progressive haven.

Yeah, these are the bigger issues, especially transphobia and racism

Im in my 30s and I still stan my boys denis & allday who are the same age as me so its not that weird. 

 

Ill be a old granny at my faves concerts idc.

I mean obviously

 

it's funny cuz this forum had a problem with fans stanning older acts

 

 

 

and in my head I am like: Who tf cares who stans who?!

no idea why some ppl get bothered so much

???

 

Yes the world has an ageism issue.

I think it’s only pop music. It orbits around youth and looks.

 

Rock, country and djs can peak later and have loyal followings.

 

Female popstars have to look good and be relatable to teens, which is a nightmare.

 

They should just switch genres after 35/40

Edited February 21, 20233 yr by Trent W