Fan clubs play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community and connection among music enthusiasts. Country singer Carly Pearce is advertising her first ever fan club right now whilst Ashley McBryde’s fan club ‘The Trybe’ can purchase tickets to her American and UK tour days in advance of the public sale happening Friday (11th August). We analyse some of the musicians who are renowned for having the best fan clubs, considering factors such as exclusive content, engagement opportunities, and the overall fan experience.
1. Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift doesn’t have an official fan club but ‘Swifties’ and the ‘Taylor Nation’ are well looked after by the singer if you sign up to her official newsletter or buy merchandise from her official store. Unofficial members gain access to exclusive pre-sales for concert tickets, merchandise, and even meet-and-greet opportunities. Swifties also receive personalised letters and surprise gifts from Taylor herself, creating a strong emotional connection with the artist. Tickets for Swift’s current ‘Eras’ tour, for example, were released as pre-sale events to people who purchased the ‘Midnights’ album and Swift goes out of her way to provide benefits to fans who spent money on her content without feeling the need to create an official club, making her probably the best value artist out there right now.
2. BTS: The BTS fan club, “ARMY,” stands out for its unparalleled dedication and global reach. ARMY members enjoy behind-the-scenes content, early access to music releases, and interactive events. BTS consistently interacts with fans through social media, acknowledging their contributions to the group’s success and further enhancing the sense of community.
3. Beyoncé: Known as the “Beyhive,” Beyoncé’s fan club provides members with exclusive content, merchandise discounts, and early access to concert tickets. The fan club’s website offers a platform for fans to connect, share art, and engage in discussions about Beyoncé’s work and impact on popular culture.
4. Justin Bieber: The “Beliebers” fan club offers a direct line of communication between Justin Bieber and his fans. Members receive newsletters, special announcements, and access to private events. The fan club’s focus on creating an inclusive and supportive environment has contributed to its popularity.
5. Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga’s fan club, “Little Monsters,” emphasizes artistic expression and empowerment. Members receive access to pre-sale tickets, exclusive content, and the opportunity to participate in fan-driven projects. The fan club celebrates individuality and encourages fans to embrace their unique identities.
6. Ariana Grande: Ariana Grande’s fan club, “Arianators,” offers members early access to concert tickets, exclusive merchandise, and personalized birthday messages from the artist. Grande’s engagement with her fans on social media platforms helps maintain a strong connection and a sense of intimacy.
7. Kiss: One of the biggest fan clubs in the world, the Kiss Army was started way back in 1975, only two years after the band formed. Two mates formed the group in an effort to get Kiss music played on their local radio station. Since then, they have become the official fan club of the group, holding an annual convention over in America, sharing stories and merch, and mainly sharing their love for the group.
8. Neil Young: Classic rock icon Neil Young offers a key example of what good value for good content can look like. Young built a website of his famously deep musical archives. Fans can access it in full by paying a modest subscription fee of $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. This gives users access to his entire catalog in high-resolution audio form, as well as (during normal times) the ability to pre-order concert tickets.
9. Ben Folds: Piano rocker Folds, whose fanbase dates back a quarter century, makes more than $100,000 per year from a Patreon page he operates to engage fans and as a way to offer livestreams—and more than 1,000 supporters pay Folds $10 a month for the honour. Patreon has come along in recent times and revolutionised musicians’ ability to connect with their fanbase, particularly newer musicians just starting out on their industry journey.
As far as Country music fan clubs go, Eric Church has always seemingly looked after members of ‘The Church Choir’ with exclusive content, releases and pre-sale ticket access. Carrie Underwood’s fan club, ‘The Care Bears’ seems to be quite a tight-knit community and Kenny Chesney’s ‘No Shoes Nation’ is well serviced with everything up to vacations and cruise opportunities!
Not all fan clubs are value for money though. Bon Jovi fans are often vocal in their dislike of the band’s official fan club. Various levels up to gold, costing $200 are needed to be paid for the JBJ Experience but very little actual benefit can be found from joining if fans online are to be believed. One of the benefits listed as being available is ‘4 seasonal boxes of Jon Bon Jovi’s favourite things’ – what the hell is this then? How weird. Who would pay $200 to receive a box of ‘favourite things’ from Jon Bon Jovi! Bon Jovi also have a ‘Runaways’ club which have hosted expensive events like cruises and one-off shows that have been somewhat hit-and-miss in the past too, according to fans on message boards and social media.
Fan clubs have evolved beyond traditional fan-artist relationships to create vibrant communities that offer exclusive experiences and a shared sense of enthusiasm. While the musicians mentioned above have notably exceptional fan clubs, it’s essential to recognize that the “best” fan club can vary based on individual preferences and the artist’s engagement style. Fans should consider the benefits, exclusivity, and community aspects of each fan club before making their decision to join. Ultimately, no band, artist or record label sets up a fan club with the aim of losing money so as long as you join knowing full-well that the aim is to extract more cash from you as a fan, and that the relationship with you will be transactional, fan clubs can be a valuable way of supporting the artists you love, particularly those smaller artists who won’t be seeing the benefit of streaming revenues or huge amounts of tour merch receipts.
