What does it take to be a celebrity in today’s culture? How important are social media and branding in contemporary stardom? Is it still possible to become a celebrity simply by excelling in a particular profession (ex: acting, music, writing, etc.)? Be sure to offer specific examples to support your points. Limit: 15 responses
Vera Helein (Part 1)
ReplyDeleteI think the term celebrity is vague in modern pop culture. Celebrities in the past had to specialize in a certain profession and excel in that profession to be considered a celebrity. Now, while there are plenty of celebrities who are stellar actors, musicians, and writers, those are not the only criterion. Celebrities can be people who just have an excellent brand, teens who make skits on social media, or people who are just widely accepted as attractive. I don’t want to demean the success of modern-day celebrities, but it is clear our standards of popularity have changed.
I think what it takes to become a celebrity in today’s culture is super subjective. Some people find it refreshing that “normal people,” like Charli D’amelio, have risen to celebrity status. Other people think that title should be held by people who contribute something substantial to pop culture. The idea that anybody can become a celebrity is more prevalent now than ever. I think people enjoy being able to see a path to stardom and modern-day celebrities have provided that. Charli D’amelio has managed to outearn some of the largest CEO’s this year just by making simple TikTok videos (Pisani). I think deep down we all hope we’ll have her same luck and that’s what makes her so appealing.
Another huge aspect of these micro-celebrities rising to the top is their branding, which has always been important, but for these new-age celebrities, it is essential. As aforementioned, these celebrities have become appealing to the younger generation because they represent our lives. We build parasocial relationships with them because they brand themselves as normal people who have risen to the top. We want to be like them, so we cling to the things we think make them successful. While micro-celebs do this, traditional celebrities have also risen because of this. Rihanna is a prime example. I don’t know anybody in the world who doesn’t want to be like Rihanna. Her releasing a beauty brand allows for “normal” people to feel like we’re living like her. It was no surprise that her brand became so successful. Her brand is outmatched and because of its success, she’s risen to billionaire status, rightfully so (Berg).
Vera Helein (Part 2)
DeleteI think it is still possible to become a celebrity by excelling in a certain specialization, but social media has made this more accessible. It has allowed for people who may not have had a chance otherwise to be recognized for their talent, or just for being a cool person. I think my first memory of this was the rise of Justin Bieber. While there’s no denying he’s an extremely talented individual, he was first found on YouTube, not through an audition. Social media is a powerful thing and I think we need to recognize that these new kinds of celebrities aren’t that far off from traditional ones. People love the artistry of celebrities, but what makes them so successful is their connection to their fanbase. People want to see celebrities acting like “real” people, they want to envision themselves in their shoes. I think that is why influencers have become so popular. “Influencers have become popular on TikTok because they’re quickly and easily able to create a real connection with the people who follow them or see their videos. The more people feel connected to someone, the more likely they are to trust them (“3 Reasons Why TikTok is Pivotal for Influencer Marketing - The Pixlee Blog”).” “Normal” people want to feel connected to celebrities and rationalize how that life can be attainable for them. So while I think celebrities who rise because of their specialization will always remain, these new celebrities won’t be going anywhere either.
Works Cited
Berg, Madeline. “Fenty’s Fortune: Rihanna Is Now Officially A Billionaire How the singer became the richest female musician on the planet. Hint: It wasn’t from performing.” Forbes, 4 August 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2021/08/04/fentys-fortune-rihanna-is-now-officially-a-billionaire/?sh=6b597f517c96.
Pisani, Joseph. “These TikTok Stars Made More Money Than Many of America’s Top CEOs.” Wall Street Journal, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-tiktok-stars-made-more-money-than-many-of-americas-top-ceos-11642078170?utm_id=46862&sfmc_id=4782528. Accessed 13 January 2022.
“3 Reasons Why TikTok is Pivotal for Influencer Marketing - The Pixlee Blog.” Pixlee, https://www.pixlee.com/blog/tiktok-influencer-marketing/. Accessed 24 March 2022.
ReplyDeleteAbigail Rica
I think it doesn’t take much to be a celebrity in 2022. Thanks to apps like TikTok and Instagram, being a celebrity can happen a lot faster because of reshares, likes, and followers. But also being a celebrity isn’t some magic formula to become famous. Being famous and being a celebrity are two different avenues. I think Charli is more of a famous TikToker than an actual celebrity. For instance, Charli D’Amelio blew up on TikTok. Now Charli has made a name for herself and tons of cash. According to one source, “ With 133 million followers on TikTok, she makes her money from a clothing line and promoting products in TikTok videos and other ads”. (Dow Jones & Company.) This is absolutely crazy to me because growing up I thought celebrities had to have some crazy talent to make them a celebrity. If it was dancing, singing, good at acting. I feel like when I was a kid when you thought of a celebrity you thought of The Jonas Brothers or Dylan and Cole Sprouse. I also feel like when you think of a celebrity you think of them going on tour, or waiting for the next season of a show to come out with that actor/actress. We live in such a different world from the last ten years. When I also think of celebrities my mind instantly goes to Dance Moms. The girls from the show have made quite the name for themselves. Some went on to sing,dance,act or even have a tour. The one girl who I think is a total celebrity is JoJo Siwa. The Business Insider states “ The 18-year-old does a little bit of everything, from acting to singing to vlogging. JoJo also has an accessories line with Clarie’s, portrayed T-Rex on Fox’s “The Masked Singer,” and was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people of 2020”. (Sorren.) JoJo Siwa is inspiring a lot of young girls with her music and dance moves. I feel like that's more important in today's society, than promoting a product on TikTok to make money. I think as the years go on, celebrities won’t be as powerful anymore. I think influencers will take that title now. I mean granted in the word influencers it literally states influence. According to Visual Capitalist “ Regardless, social media has become a mainstay platform(or soapbox) for today’s cultural influencers. Billions of people turn to social media for news, engagement, recommendations, and entertainment, and new platforms are always on the rise”.(Wallach.) This shows that in society, we count on influencers for new products, and deals to buy items. As many influencers have codes to get discounts or free products. I know brands like to partner with influencers as they can get a whole new customer base. Thanks to influencers we are swayed more than ever as a society.
Work cited
Dow Jones & Company. (2022, January 14). These TikTok stars made more money than many of America's top CEOS. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-tiktok-stars-made-more-money-than-many-of-americas-top-ceos-11642078170?utm_id=46862&%3Bsfmc_id=4782528
Sorren, M. (2021, October 22). Then and now: The stars of 'dance moms' over 10 years later. Insider. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.insider.com/dance-moms-where-are-they-now-photos#shes-one-of-the-most-famous-stars-to-come-from-the-show-20
Wallach, O. (2021, May 17). The world's top 50 influencers across social media platforms. Visual Capitalist. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-top-50-influencers-across-social-media-platforms/
Madison Bopp
ReplyDeleteThe term “celebrity” has now taken on a whole new meaning in today’s culture. Celebrities can range from athletes, musicians, politicians, and other personalities (Wallach, 2021). The standards of being considered a celebrity are truly endless. It does not take much to be a household name now in the digital age. Today, the most popular celebrities are being born from the world of social media. Names like Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, Addison Rae, Bella Poarch, and more would never have fame status without the power of Tik Tok.
In the modern digital world, the reach of social media equal's power. Hence, we are seeing social media and branding now launch individuals into quick and successful stars. Many celebrities have been able to boost their already large followings to new heights across social media platforms (Wallach, 2021). Yet, we are seeing a change in power here. In this modern digital world, social media is turning previously unknown personalities from platforms such as YouTube or Tik Tok into huge star power and influence (Wallach, 2021).
A fitting example of this would be Tik Tok star Addison Rae. Rae first posted to Tik Tok in 2019 and currently has around 87.3 million followers on the platform. She now has a net worth of $5 million (Robidoux, 2022). But Rae’s career does not start and stop here, she is now branching out to many other aspects of the entertainment industry. In January 2020, Rae signed with WME Agency (Robidoux, 2022). Robidoux stated that WME now represents Rae in modeling, fashion, music, dance, TV, film, podcasting, touring, books, licensing, and endorsements (2022). Addison Rae is a perfect demonstration that as a celebrity you do not have to box yourself into one single category for the duration of your career.
Therefore, most celebrities are known for a particular profession, however today the majority are expanding their own brand to new avenues. A fantastic example of this would be TV & Film personnel Dwayne Johnson also known as “The Rock.” The World’s Top 50 Influencers List in 2021 ranked Johnson #6 with 342 million combined followers (Wallach, 2021). Wallach adds that the list also has Johnson as the top influencer in Generation X (2021). However, his fame does not stop there, as The Rock has recently taken on a new endeavor.
Madison Bopp 2
DeleteJohnson would like to be seen as more than the world's biggest action star but rather a successful entrepreneur (Pener, 2021). He is making a big splash in the beverage sector now. In 2021, The Rock was co-founder of ZOA, an energy drink that is marketed as a health-conscious choice for pre or post workout regimens (Pener, 2021). Additionally, in March 2020, Johnson had founded and launched his own Tequila brand called Teremana Tequila (Pener, 2021). Johnson is a true model and definition of not being defined by one particular thing. Overall, he is a creator that has expanded his own brand beyond being a TV & Film star.
References:
Pener, D. (2021, November 2). Jennifer Lopez to Dwayne Johnson: Hollywood's next billion-dollar-brand builders. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/whos-heading-the-next-billion-dollar-brands-top-10-hollywood-entrepreneurs-1235036752/
Robidoux, B. (2022, February 14). Things about tik tok star Addison Rae you don't know. TheList.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.thelist.com/237612/things-about-tik-tok-star-addison-rae-you-dont-know/
Wallach, O. (2021, May 14). The world's top 50 influencers across social media platforms. Visual Capitalist. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-top-50-influencers-across-social-media-platforms/
Glenna Gobeil
ReplyDeleteToday, a celebrity can not just be talented but also have a specific personality that they promote. Ye is an example of a celebrity that built his personality on confidence, persistence, creativity, and the Kardashian family. His personality and contribution to the music and fashion industries keep him relevant to mainstream society. Forbes reports that he receives an annual royalty from Adidas and Yeezy was able to attain $1.7 billion in sales in 2020. This essentially is a significant amount of earnings Ye makes simply from his business and it's interesting that the fashion industry is not what helped him make his initial recognition as a celebrity. Therefore his net worth in total is $1.8 B which was not only built off of his music but his shoe brand (Forbes). When Kanye was first introduced to hip-hop culture he was not largely accepted as an artist and his personality coming from a middle-class background was one factor to that. However, Ye brands himself as being authentic to himself in his music and fashion which is why I would argue many people view him as artistic and an out-of-the-box thinker. With that said, I think that prevents his fans from viewing him as abusive specifically with how he has been harassing Kim Kardashian online.
Christi Carras writes about the concerns behind his recent music video Eazy. The video shows Ye burying a clay figure that has a close resemblance to Pete Davidson. He raps about his divorce from Kim Kardashian and her connection to Davidson (Carras). Carras reports that some fans viewed the video as a form of art and did not see the wrong-doing from it. I think the way in which he has promoted himself as a confident and creative musician enables people to see this work as a form of art rather than a form of harassment. I believe that Ye’s personality as being confrontational in this case helps with the online harassment he conducted. By still holding support from fans, Ye will not be affected in music or fashion sales unless an important partnership he holds in his brand backs out. Therefore, I believe developing a personality is critical for celebrities today because it is a tool you can use to protect yourself or build off of. Personality as a celebrity in general also provides some leverage for other side projects that they conduct.
Like Ye, most successful celebrities have other side projects or businesses that they work on. Some celebrities that are repeatedly brought up in the readings for their success in social media popularity or social recognition include Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Christiano Ronaldo, and Selena Gomez. Most of those celebrities all share the similarity of not just being entertainers but also entrepreneurs and brand ambassadors. In “Jennifer Lopez to Dwayne Johnson: Hollywood's Next Billion-Dollar- Brand Builders”, Degen Pener lists a number of actors and singers that have succeeded financially because of their ability to build businesses or partnerships. Some of the businesses in which they hold are in the realm of cosmetics, fashion, fitness, and food (Pener). Though most of them such as Dwayne Johnson and Sofia Vergara knew what business in which they wanted to create for some time, it doesn’t really matter if what they created and promoted are top quality. Because celebrities have recognition amongst consumers they have the opportunity to create a product that is targeted to the people that like them. This is something that the average entrepreneur can not easily do because they either don’t have the following or recognition in the media to build off their identity. From these examples, I would argue that to be a celebrity today you need to do more than just work within your profession. Celebrities need to be relevant in mainstream media and need to build off the interests of their fans through their side business or partnerships with other brands.
ReplyDeleteSources:
Carras, Christi. “The Backlash over Kanye West's Pete Davidson Video Is Swift: 'Scary on so Many Levels'.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2022, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-03-03/kanye-west-ye-eazy-music-video-pete-davidson.
Degen Pener, Editor. “Jennifer Lopez to Dwayne Johnson: Hollywood's next Billion-Dollar-Brand Builders.” The Hollywood Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2021, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/whos-heading-the-next-billion-dollar-brands-top-10-hollywood-entrepreneurs-1235036752/.
“Kanye West.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, https://www.forbes.com/profile/kanye-west/?sh=7507847a56f1.
Paul Logue
ReplyDeleteBlog Post 7
Part 1
I would like to think people need talent to reach celebrity status, but that unfortunately isn’t the case in todays society. The term celebrity is incredibly overused. We consider some people celebrities today that we never would have even a decade ago. Today, we have some Tik Tok stars making more money than top executives. Charli D’Amelio pulled in 17.5 million dollars last year and seven of the platforms top earners made 55.5 million dollars collectively, (Pisani and Francis). In the most respectful way possible, these Tik Tok stars don’t have the most talent, but they are successful, and you can’t fault them for that. They don’t need to be talented at a skill necessarily, their talent comes from their branding and the people around them. Executives would kill to have some of these Tik Tok stars do a commercial for their company. Due to very good branding these stars make a lot of money, just because of their name. If they attach their names to a product, that product is instantly going to have a large audience. That’s where the talent lies. In their branding and how they market themselves. We as a society become so obsessed with these celebrities that we are willing to try any product they attach themselves with.
Paul Logue
DeletePart 2
There are plenty of celebrities that have talent, don’t get me wrong. However, today not all celebrities need it. They just must do something that gets people’s attention and from there it’s all about how they market themselves. These celebrities are businesses more than anything. They use their talents to get noticed and then that opens the door for endless opportunities from clothing to alcohol brands. These stars have an instant head start when they begin these business ventures. They have an instant audience that they have built. The Rock has been the highest paid actor for two years now and has over 275 million Instagram followers, (Pener). This is why branding is essential to any celebrity success. It’s not enough to just be good at something anymore. One thing that comes to mind is Michael Jordan’s partnership with Nike. Jordan is undoubtably one of the greatest athletes to walk this earth, but his legacy has lived on even further with his Jordan line. The talent got him the name, but the rest of it was incredible branding. The Jordan shoe line made over 70 million dollars in revenue in its first month of existence and made Jordan a billionaire, (Tabor). Now we see Tom Brady doing a similar thing with his Brady brand clothing line. In short, there are plenty of celebrities who have great talents, but talent alone isn’t enough anymore to get noticed. Currently celebrities need good marketing to really be successful.
References
Degen Pener, Editor. “Jennifer Lopez to Dwayne Johnson: Hollywood's next Billion-Dollar-Brand Builders.” The Hollywood Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2021, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/whos-heading-the-next-billion-dollar-brands-top-10-hollywood-entrepreneurs-1235036752/.
Pisani, Joseph, and Theo Francis. “These TikTok Stars Made More Money than Many of America's Top CEOS.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 13 Jan. 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-tiktok-stars-made-more-money-than-many-of-americas-top-ceos-11642078170?utm_id=46862&sfmc_id=4782528.
Tabor, Jessica. “Why a Celebrity Endorsement Is Always a Good Idea.” NUMA, 27 Jan. 2021, https://web.northeastern.edu/numa/why-a-celebrity-endorsement-is-always-a-good-idea/.
Allison Kelleher
ReplyDeletePart 1
In today’s culture, it takes a lot to be a celebrity. Most people may think you just need a talent to become a celebrity, but that is not the only requirement anymore. A lot of this is because of the huge influence that social media has on our society today. For instance, “social media has become a mainstay platform for today’s cultural influencers. Billions of people turn to social media for news, engagement, recommendations, and entertainment, and new platforms are always on the rise” (Wallach). The rise of social media and branding in contemporary stardom has brought a new and important aspect to a celebrity's success. A prime example of this can be seen from the surge of up and coming celebrities who grew large followings on social media platforms like TikTok. For instance, one of the most well-known TikTok stars, “Charli D’Amelio, who started posting videos of herself dancing on TikTok in 2019, brought in $17.5 million last year, according to Forbes, which recently ranked the highest-earning TikTok stars of 2021. With 133 million followers on TikTok, she makes her money from a clothing line and promoting products in TikTok videos and other ads” (Pisani). This goes to show how D’Amelio grew a fan base rather quickly for just her talent of dancing at first. But she was able to secure her relevancy by capitalizing through brand deals and endorsements with companies outside of just her talent for dancing. She was able to grow even more and profit outside of just the social media world, even though that is where she began. Not to mention, the D’Amelio even had their own show featured on Hulu. This is a common tactic for celebrities to expand in other industries in order to remain popular and successful.
Allison Kelleher
DeletePart 2
I would say of course it is still possible to become a celebrity simply by excelling in a particular profession. There are plenty of artists who are just famous for their singing, or movie stars who are popular strictly because of their acting abilities. However, there is a slim chance of a celebrity remaining famous if they do not incorporate other outlets such as social media and brand deals. Social media offers a quick and easy way for celebrities to engage with fans everyday. For example, “just like Social Media is used by the Brands to make them stand out from their competition, Celebrities too use them to get maximum followers and build on their image” (BrainCandy). This goes to show just how much influence the use of social media has, and why celebrities need to utilize these platforms and deals to remain relevant in today’s society. Everyone knows that fame comes and goes, so it makes sense for celebrities to keep up with an online presence.
Works Cited
Wallach, Omri. “The World's Top 50 Influencers across Social Media Platforms.” Visual Capitalist, 17 May 2021, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-top-50-influencers-across-social-media-platforms/.
Pisani, Joseph, and Theo Francis. “These TikTok Stars Made More Money than Many of America's Top CEOS.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 13 Jan. 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-tiktok-stars-made-more-money-than-many-of-americas-top-ceos-11642078170?utm_id=46862&%3Bsfmc_id=4782528.
“Why Do Celebrities Need to Use Social Media.” Braincandy, 17 June 2021, https://www.braincandy.in/celebrities-need-to-use-social-media/.
The term “celebrity” can be loosely defined as the criteria and factors are constantly expanding and on the rise. Becoming a celebrity in today's culture seems much more easily achievable compared to when we were growing up. In the past, celebrities would specialize in specific professions that are well known to the public. This included actors, singers, dancers, sport players and writers as well. These professions are widely looked to as what a “celebrity” is, but now, we can see a wider option of people becoming celebrities because of the rise of social media. A perfect example of this is Charli D’Amelio and her rise to fame on TikTok. She started off by making innocent TikTok dances in 2019 and has now made over $17.5 million at the end of last year. This made her one of the highest-earning TikTok stars of 2021 (Dow Jones & Company, 2022). Brand deals and sponsorships helped get her name out to a wider audience and officially become known as a celebrity.
ReplyDeleteSocial media and branding play a big part into the success of a celebrity. Many celebrities boost large following across their platforms to make it a powerful reach to their audience. I think that engaging with fans and using social media as a way to promote brands is a big factor in that success. Some examples of ways celebrities utilize this is through authenticity and transparency. Fans like to think of their favorite celebrities as their friend, so interactions and engagements will cause positive reactions (Cohen, 2013). Growing these connections and relationships will overall play a part in having a favorable platform. Branding is also important for a celebrity when it comes to creating more awareness or buzz surrounding them. Authenticity also plays a big role in branding as well because it aligns talent with a product that is accurate to the lifestyle and personality of this celebrity (Degan Pener, 2021). This also creates an emotional connection to the consumers and allows a space that can help fuel the mass global appeal that they need. By branding yourself in the right way, a connection to the audience will be built and allow room for better relationships.
I think it is still very much possible to become a celebrity by excelling in a particular profession. In the past, this was the main reason for people rising to fame. There are plenty of artists who are specifically good at one profession that has granted a lot of success from it. A celebrity who this can apply to is Billie Eilish. She started her career by releasing her own music until it gained popularity all over the world. While she's been featured in many sponsorships, she is still a singer/songwriter that I see continuing to gain success in this specific field. However, in the last several years, we don’t see celebrities in just one light. Social media platforms have allowed people the access to excel in different fields. We can see this through TikTok as people act in different scenes, create new trending dances, and also provide comedic relief. There are a lot of different genres and types of professions that allow for people now to bounce around. However, it is still greatly possible to excel in one specific profession.
Works Cited:
Cohen, P. (2013, June 24). How celebrities use social media to build their brand. Social Media Today. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/how-celebrities-use-social-media-build-their-brand
Degen Pener, E. (2021, November 8). Jennifer Lopez to Dwayne Johnson: Hollywood's next billion-dollar-brand builders. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/whos-heading-the-next-billion-dollar-brands-top-10-hollywood-entrepreneurs-1235036752/
Dow Jones & Company. (2022, January 14). These TikTok stars made more money than many of America's top CEOS. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-tiktok-stars-made-more-money-than-many-of-americas-top-ceos-11642078170?utm_id=46862&%3Bsfmc_id=4782528
Elisa Leone
ReplyDeletePart 1
In today’s culture, it does not take much to be considered a celebrity. A celebrity to some people can be a social media influencer or a person who does something well in their eyes. But in today’s world, social media has made it somewhat achievable for the average person to become a celebrity. The app that made this possible is TikTok. People have become famous overnight including, most notably, Charli D’amelio. Charli’s TikTok that went mega-viral was a TikTok of her duetting a dancer and she gained overnight success. She was just a small-town girl from Connecticut and now 2 years later she is the most followed person on TikTok going to award shows and collaborating with actual celebrities and making lots of money. The Wall Street Journal states, “Charli D’amelio, who started posting videos of herself dancing on TikTok in 2019, brought in $17.5 million last year, according to Forbes, which recently ranked the highest-earning TikTok stars of 2021” (Pisani, 2022). Obviously, Charli built herself a name and a brand to be earning higher than most CEOs, but it is just crazy that just from her posting videos of herself dancing or lip-syncing, she has created an empire. To answer the question, it does not take much skill to become a celebrity in today's culture. Before social media was a thing, yes, it was way harder to even be considered a celebrity because most celebrities were actors in big-name companies and films.
Social media is important when it comes to making stars because of how fast you can grow on TikTok and even Instagram. Also, current big-time celebrities who are active on social media can become more relevant every time they post. For example, Jesse McCarthy is a celebrity but was only relevant 10 years ago. I had totally forgotten about him until he was on my TikTok for you page this past week and got a lot of likes and views. Just like that people are following him and talking about him again. Lil NasX is great at keeping the attention of his fans. He is always posting, singing, or wearing something insane. By him doing this he keeps the attention of his fans and gains the attention of new followers which is keeping him relevant (Rindner, 2021). Some big celebrities aren't on all social media platforms which could really benefit them and their brand. Usually, when celebrities post on social media, it's them and they are the ones interacting with their fans and have the freedom to post/comment on whatever they want. Socialmediatoday states, “They market their movies or their music or their concerts. They strengthen their fans' loyalty. They bring awareness to themselves” (Snow, 2015). It is really a free advertisement just by them posting a picture or video of themselves.
Elisa Leone
DeletePart 2
It is definitely still possible to become a celebrity simply by excelling in a particular profession, but it is not as likely in today’s culture. Yes, people can be famous for writing, music, and acting but I really feel like they would have to market themselves heavily on social media. If they are a person with zero following or fans, they are going to have to work at it to gain the recognition that they deserve. But if someone is truly talented, then I believe that they will most likely go viral with average effort. It is really a tricky world that we live in now for celebrities. Someone’s future life could all depend on one post, which is crazy.
Work Cited
100+ fascinating social media facts and stats [infographic]: Social Media today : Http://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-networks/100-fascinating-social-media-facts-and-stats-infographic. LondonSEOPPC. (2016, April 24). Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://londonseoppc.wordpress.com/2016/04/24/100-fascinating-social-media-facts-and-stats-infographic-social-media-today-httpwww-socialmediatoday-comsocial-networks100-fascinating-social-media-facts-and-stats-infographic/
Dow Jones & Company. (2022, January 14). These TikTok stars made more money than many of America's top CEOS. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-tiktok-stars-made-more-money-than-many-of-americas-top-ceos-11642078170
Rindner, G. (2021, September 17). How Lil Nas X mastered the modern art of attention. GQ. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.gq.com/story/lil-nas-x-montero-rollout
Olivia Kettell 1/2
ReplyDeleteThe term “celebrity” is becoming harder and harder to pinpoint in today’s society as social media continues to launch seemingly ordinary people into stardom. While traditional celebrities continue to dominate in terms of revenue and popularity, social media influencers or internet celebrities are to be taken seriously in the future. While half of the list is comprised of musical artists, such as Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, there is a wide range of celebrities from other backgrounds who draw enormous followings as well. Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed celebrity, with more than 500 million followers, and became famous through sports. Barack Obama is in the top 20 of the list, drawing his fame from politics. While not entirely traditional professions in the celebrity field, these two personalities are very well-established in the public eye and even more well-established on social media. Charli D’Amelio is the highest social media celebrity on the list, coming in at number 35 with almost 170 million followers. She is more popular than Kourtney Kardashian and even Adele in terms of followers, placing her pretty competitively in the celebrity landscape on social media (Wallach). While Charli leads the internet celebrity pack for now, that arena is going to continue to grow and more and more regular people are going to be placed in the public eye.
While it is becoming easier to rise to fame via the internet, traditional celebrities are still dominating across social media. Celebrities especially in the entertainment industry have an advantage in that any announcement, award, or collaboration regarding themselves instantly causes them to trend across any platform. For example, according to the article “20 of the Top Trending Celebrities on Social Media in 2021,” Doja Cat has been rising to fame in the music industry, and last year became trending after winning Best New Artist at the iHeart Radio Music Awards and collaborating with big names like Ariana Grande, SZA, and Megan Thee Stallion. Similarly, Harry Styles’ popularity on social media peaked last year when he won a Grammy and additionally during his massive tour in the fall (Busick). However, while celebrities continue to bounce their fame off of one another and themselves, social media influencers and celebrities are increasingly being offered deals and promotions that increase their popularity and revenue as well. For example, Charli D’Amelio was able to make $17.5 million dollars last year through brand promotion deals and additionally her clothing line through Hollister called “Social Tourist,” in collaboration with her sister, Dixie. Dixie also was invited to perform and promote her music at the Jingle Ball concert series alongside huge music industry names like Ed Sheeran. Another TikTok star that is using her fame to her advantage is Addison Rae. In 2021, she appeared in a Netflix movie, “He’s All That,” which debuted at #1 on the platform for a short while. In addition to acting, she is making her way into the clothing and beauty industries as well. Similar to Charli and Dixie, she has a sponsorship deal with American Eagle, her own makeup line called Item Beauty, and a fragrance line called Addison Rae Fragrance (Brown).
Olivia Kettell 2/2
DeleteEven though social media celebrities are on the rise, I do still think that fame can be found for those in a specific specialized profession. TikTok can also boost new artists’ music, for example, and the vast majority of the large celebrities we see today are still specialized in some industry. However, social media’s power should definitely not be discounted and I think going forward it will be the main determinant as to fame and popularity.
Works Cited
Brown, Abram. “Top-Earning Tiktok-ERS 2022: Charli and Dixie D'Amelio and Addison Rae Expand Fame-and Paydays.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 5 Mar. 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2022/01/07/top-earning-tiktokers-charli-dixie-damelio-addison-rae-bella-poarch-josh-richards/?sh=39554d8c3afa.
Busick, Madison. “20 Of the Top Trending Celebrities on Social Media in 2021.” Shareablee, Shareablee, 29 Dec. 2021, https://www.shareablee.com/blog/20-of-the-top-trending-celebrities-on-social-media-in-2021.
Wallach, Omri. “The World's Top 50 Influencers across Social Media Platforms.” Visual Capitalist, 17 May 2021, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-top-50-influencers-across-social-media-platforms/.
Katie Mone
ReplyDeleteThe term ‘celebrity’ has taken on a new meaning in the last few years. To be a celebrity in today’s age has different requirements than it used to. The rise of social media has introduced more and more opportunities to be seen and go viral, therefore making celebrity status seemingly easier to obtain.
TikTok has been the root of many of today’s celebrities. With TikTok, everyone has an equal opportunity to be recognized. It is easier than it’s ever been before to gain a large following and reach. The power of TikTok’s algorithm has continuously proven to be extremely impactful, turning so many average people into influential celebs. While there are plenty of TikTokkers who have other talents, most famous TikTok stars did not ever plan or expect to become famous. Many of them gained fame after going viral on a random video. But this doesn’t mean TikTok fame comes easy. One source explains that TikTok is “a virtual battleground for content creators” and how content can “easily drown in the tonnes of binge-worthy content that is uploaded there every second” (Geyser). So while rising to stardom may seem very simple nowadays, it’s really not. A lot goes into it, and creators must be conscious of their content if they really want it to succeed.
We’ve seen countless ordinary people turn into overnight sensations with just a few clicks in recent years, proving “it’s not only celebrities that dominate social media” (Wallach). Personalities like Charlie D’Amelio have dominated the TikTok world and even turned it into a branding tool. The Wall Street Journal shares that D’Amelio brought in “$17.5 million last year, according to Forbes, which recently ranked the highest-earning TikTok stars of 2021” (Pisani). D’Amelio sisters Charli and Dixie have both partnered with countless brands including Morphe, Hollister, Takis, and Invisalign to name a few. Hulu even released a reality TV show last year about their family, all promoted on social media. The stars share their victories and struggles of living a celebrity lifestyle. Social media plays a huge role in marketing for these brand partnerships, as well as celebs branding themselves and creating their own image.
People like the D’Amelio’s have made modern fame look like a dream. But in reality, it’s been filled with hardships, challenges, and scrutiny from the public. The stars are often hated on for having so many opportunities “handed to them” and that their fame wasn’t earned. In all honesty, that is how contemporary stardom works. Some people may not know that Charli D’Amelio is actually a talented competitive dancer and that she’s been dancing since she was little. Dancing has been the main focus of D’Amelio’s videos since she started TikTok, but her prior talent is often overlooked in an instantaneous digital world.
DeleteIt’s clear that being a celebrity looks a lot different than it once did. Social media has proven to be an extremely powerful tool in creating stars and also marketing them. Though rising to celebrity status has become easier with social media, it’s certainly no cake walk. And while there’s always a good chance that a meaningless video will go viral, having talent will always be an important factor in becoming famous.
Works Cited
Geyser, W. (2021, June 28). How to become tiktok famous. Influencer Marketing Hub. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://influencermarketinghub.com/how-to-become-tiktok-famous-in-4-easy-steps/
Pisani, J., & Francis, T. (2022, January 13). These TikTok stars made more money than many of America's top CEOS. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-tiktok-stars-made-more-money-than-many-of-americas-top-ceos-11642078170?utm_id=46862&sfmc_id=4782528
Wallach, O. (2021, May 17). The world's top 50 influencers across social media platforms. Visual Capitalist. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-top-50-influencers-across-social-media-platforms/
Kyra Moos
ReplyDeletePart 1
I think that to be a celebrity in today’s culture, it takes someone who contributes to gossip, is a good actor, and has a good public relations team behind them. In a time when social media is used to promote and spread information, especially when it comes to celebrity communications, a strong public relations team is critical. A celebrity publicist will establish clear and consistent messaging for the celebrity to post. Many celebrities today rarely post on their social media accounts themselves. Public relations teams establish strategic plans with tactics to help them accomplish their goals. Oftentimes, celebrities receive backlash from the media and the public for lying or acting in ways that do not align with the values they share publicly. “Celebrities often make more money from their endorsements than they do from their work” (Milano, 2021). In other words, celebrities make the most of their money through relationships formed by publicists, proving the importance of their positions.
Today’s A-list celebrities are also some of the most followed profiles on social media. In his article, Wallach mentions how the biggest of stars may have the biggest number of followers, but that does not equate to the highest engagement (2021). Typically, social media profiles with fewer followers, have more engagement with the content they post. In one of my previous internship experiences, the company I worked for did not have an Instagram account. When I suggested creating an account, my boss responded by explaining the reason he doesn't think Instagram is worth it, is because the engagements on Instagram are lower than those on other social media platforms due to the fact that you cannot use links in captions. I found his response interesting especially when looking at the data in Wallach’s article showing that nine out of the ten most followed social media platforms are on Instagram (2021). This data proves the power of Instagram and the possibilities of reaching wide audiences. My boss was correct to a certain extent. Instagram’s engagement rates for Reels are significantly lower than TikTok’s for individual creators such as celebrities, but for brands, Reels received higher engagement rates (Kline, 2021). Celebrities needs to be highly creative on social mediain an effort to remain relevant in the media and increase their engagement rates that advertisers are looking for.
DeleteOne way in which many celebrities stay relevant in the media is by contributing to gossip. Social media allows information and headlines to spread rapidly. Social media also allows audiences to have access to more information than ever before. Because of the easy access to news and entertainbement, media outlets and celebrities have to try harder to gain attention. A perfect example of this can be seen by taking a look at the Kim Kardashian and Kayne West drama. The couple split up and Kayne West took to Instagram with disturbing posts threatening his ex wife and her current boyfriend (Carras, 2022). Many fans of the Kardashians wonder if the public fight is part of a tactic to gain viewers for the new Kardashian Hulu show coming out in the next few weeks.
Works Cited
Carras, C. (2022, March 3). The backlash over Kanye West's Pete Davidson Video is swift: 'scary on so many levels'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-03-03/kanye-west-ye-eazy-music-video-pete-davidson
Kline, J. (2021, December 16). Research shows that TikTok has an edge over Instagram's reels. PR Daily. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.prdaily.com/research-shows-that-tiktok-has-an-edge-over-instagrams-reels/#:~:text=Our%20data%20indicated%20that%20engagement,they%20have%20established%20on%20Instagram.
Milano, S. (2021, February 16). What does a celebrity's public relations representative do? Work. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://work.chron.com/celebritys-public-relations-representative-do-22353.html
Wallach, O. (2021, May 17). The world's top 50 influencers across social media platforms. Visual Capitalist. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-top-50-influencers-across-social-media-platforms/
What it takes to be a celebrity in today’s culture is quite different from what it used to be 10 years ago. With the evolution of social media, virtually anyone can become famous, but it takes more than a social media presence to become a celebrity. It is very rare for today’s celebrities to only partake in one career. While social media has become a stepping stone for people to reach stardom, the work doesn’t stop once your name has been made known. Whether you’re a worldwide-known celebrity or not, stars will continue to build their branding as much as possible which brings in more revenue and spreads their name. For example, Harry Styles who was already well-known around the world has recently created his own skin-care line. While the brand, “Pleasing,” is not marketed as promoting Harry or his music, his team made it a point to have Harry market it as a new, sustainable skincare brand so that everyone knows that he is affiliated with it. Because of this, “Pleasing” already has a loyal following despite their items being luxury-priced, shipping mishaps, and limited quantity items. On the other end of the spectrum, lesser-known celebrities that made their fame from social media such as Addison Rae have also begun to branch out into other ventures such as acting. People who may not be active on tiktok would not recognize Addison’s name, but now that she has her own Netflix movie, she is able to bring in a whole different demographic. The most iconic example of celebrity branding is Rihanna’s makeup line, “Fenty.” While Rihanna was already known as Rihanna the singer, “The beauty line has helped her enter one of the world’s most exclusive ranks: Billionaire. Rihanna is now worth $1.7 billion, Forbes estimates - making her the wealthiest female musician in the world…” (Berg). In addition to this, branding can create a household name from someone who may be associated in the world of fame, but not have their foot in the door yet. The Kardashians are a great example of this because what started out with them being related to Caitlyn Jenner who is a gold-medalist Olympian, grew to become a reality TV show and later became a clothing line, a makeup line, a model, etc. Because of their widespread success, “the Kardashians have dominated both popular culture and business, and are estimated to be worth more than $5 billion,” (Wagmeister). All in all, while it is still possible to excel in a particular profession and succeed, marketing off of an already-existing brand (celebrity) is a surefire way to ensure that your name stays relevant. Chairman of IMG Artists and managing director of social media management firm Two Pillar Management, Barrett Wissman, says, “Celebrities can be in the driver’s seat as much as any brand they work with - they just have to know how to leverage their power,” (Olenski). From the vantage point of a celebrity, there are certainly more upsides than downsides when using your already famous name to gain more money and traction from marketing and selling products outside of your already-established profession.
ReplyDeleteSources:
Berg, Madeline. “Fenty's Fortune: Rihanna Is Now Officially a Billionaire.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 6 Aug. 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2021/08/04/fentys-fortune-rihanna-is-now-officially-a-billionaire/?sh=1da49f957c96.
Olenski, Steve. “Brands, Branding and Celebrities.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 2 Apr. 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveolenski/2018/04/02/brands-branding-and-celebrities/?sh=52ed4eec4db9.
Wagmeister, Elizabeth. “'Money Always Matters': The Kardashians Tell All about Their New Reality TV Reign.” Variety, Variety, 9 Mar. 2022, https://variety.com/2022/tv/features/kardashians-hulu-kris-kim-khloe-1235198939/.
Today’s society is as reactive as ever. Social media not only allows for information to spread rapidly, but it gives anyone a platform to share thoughts, opinions, and decide what’s trending. That means one viral moment can turn a random person into an internet celebrity. And that means unlike decades ago, it’s much easier to become famous without a traditional talent — singing, dancing, acting, playing sports are no longer the quickest ticket to stardom.
ReplyDeleteWhat social media also allows is for traditional celebrities to retain their status without actively performing or playing. When aggregated, “the 25 Highest-Paid Entertainers earned a combined $4.4 billion before taxes and fees in 2021, the vast majority of whom did it without creating anything new. Says Tom Freston, the former Viacom executive who greenlit South Park back when VHS tapes were still circulating: ‘There is so much choice these days. People gravitate to what they know’” (Voytko). That’s how celebrities stay relevant, by making sure their name stays in the collective dialogue that exists on social media. Sure, it was embarrassing for Chris Rock to get slapped by Will Smith on live television at the Oscars, but when was the last time Rock was in the media for something related to his talent? I’m sure his manager is over-the-moon thrilled that Rock is now guaranteed to stay relevant for years to come and didn’t even have to risk getting “canceled.”
As we’ve seen time and again, maintaining an image and brand on social media is enough to create a celebrity in this day and age. If making money is the goal, “clicks” or views are the way to achieve that. Eyeballs are what get clicks, and the algorithms of the various social media sites are what drive people to view certain content. How do you play into all these factors, like TikTok sensation Charli D’Amelio did so perfectly? According to Alessandro Bogliari, a TikTok expert, “Charli's rise can really be attributed to the perfect storm of elements: a little bit of luck, the right timing, consistency, and TikTok's algorithm” (Raphael).
DeleteI don’t consider myself a celebrity, but I do have a sizable following on Twitter with people who care about and look forward to the information that I post. I have found that consistency and reliability is what helped build that following and dedication to the craft is what has maintained it. Twitter does a good job of pushing my content to other people who are interested in Mets information. Smaller accounts like mine are a microcosm of social media’s impact on society, as “many influencers with relatively small followings have more consistent engagement, and are often able to demand high advertising fees as a result” (Wallach).
Works Cited
Raphael, Shannon. “A Tiktok Expert Explained Exactly How Charli D'Amelio Got Famous on the App.” Distractify, 13 Jan. 2020, https://www.distractify.com/p/tiktok-charli-damelio.
Voytko, Lisette. “The Highest-Paid Entertainers 2022.” Forbes, 6 Mar. 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/02/09/the-highest-paid-entertainers-2022/.
Wallach, Omri. “The World's Top 50 Influencers across Social Media Platforms.” Visual Capitalist, 17 May 2021, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-top-50-influencers-across-social-media-platforms/.
Nick Federico
ReplyDeleteIn today’s society the definition of what it takes to become a celebrity is an ever-changing concept. Given the rise of social media and the digital age, the further we travel into this new landscape the easier it will become for individuals to reach celebrity status. The criteria required to be deemed a “celebrity” have gotten much looser as social media apps have begun to provide everyday people with the opportunity to achieve unheard of levels of fame. While the new social media age is giving birth to new celebrities, traditional celebrities have still managed to stick around. Better yet, many of these traditional celebrities that include actors, musicians and athletes, have begun to wisen up to the changing times and use these platforms to not only sustain but grow their brand identity.
Although it has become easier than ever for individuals to find fame and success via the introduction of social media, traditional celebrities still continue to dominate the landscape in terms of revenue and total following. There are of course exceptions to this, as some modern day “celebrities” have found large amounts of success through social media alone. The most glaring example of this would be Charli D’Amelio, whose rise to stardom was thanks to TikTok. D’Amelio, a teenage native of Norwalk, Connecticut, skyrocketed to fame and popularity after her short videos gained traction on the platform. The videos primarily featured her recreating trending dances. Being a teen and having a relatable image has helped D’Amelio appeal to a wide, young demographic. This fanbase includes both younger children and teens. This following has shown their enormous support by boosting the teen superstar to a total of 170 million followers, ranking in as the highest social media influencer on the Top 50 list. (Wallach). Although she didn’t achieve her fame by the same means as many talented sporting or musical professionals, she has done a fantastic job marketing herself and building a brand. She now has successfully partnered with one of the biggest food chains in the United States, Dunkin Donuts, and also has several other business ventures and sponsorship deals with various companies. (Pisani). D’Amelio serves as a great example of how the digital age and eruption of social media into the landscape has helped catapult seemingly ordinary individuals into the limelight.
On the other hand, there are the more traditional A-list celebrities, who have achieved their likeness and status by means of actual talent or skill. The best example of this is none other than the greatest soccer player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese soccer superstar is the face of the sport, but he doesn't only crush records on the pitch. He also is now the most followed individual across all social media platforms, with a whopping 500 million followers. Ronaldo is a prime example of how hard work and skill pay off in the long run. He comes from Madeira, Portugal, where he didn't grow up much. He would put in countless hours alone, working and practicing his skills. This dedication would ultimately pay off as he is now one of the highest paid athletes in the world, and many would argue the best player the sport has ever seen. Cristiano Ronaldo serves as proof that celebrity status can still be awarded to those who have actual skill/talent, not just luck of becoming viral on the internet. His fame was a result of hsi accolades and unbelievable skill on the field, the rest came afterwards. However, Cristiano also serves as a great testament to the importance of building one’s brand and likeness. His 500 million followers across social media and his skills on the field have allowed him to accrue a plethora of massive sponsorships and promotional deals. Some include his insanely lucrative soccer cleat deal with Nike, as well as launching his own CR7 brand (clothing,fragrances, shoes and even hotels). One excerpt from an article published by The Guardian highlights how Ronaldo has used his social media following to continue to grow his success and earnings off his name. The excerpt reads as follows “Cristiano Ronaldo has shot to the top of Instagram’s annual rich list of celebrities who can charge the most for a sponsored post, with the footballer able to command as much as $1.6m (£1.2m) to endorse a product on social media.” (Sweney). Ronaldo is the finest example of building an excellent brand for yourself, and more importantly how talent can still reign supreme in terms of achieving celebrity status.
DeleteIn conclusion, celebrity status has continued to become easier and easier to reach in today’s new era of digital devices and social media dominance. However, it remains clear that those “celebrities” who earn the most and have the largest followings, are still those who have the natural talent/skill in their respective areas. While there may be some exceptions for a select few individuals who have continued success from social media stardom, those who are truly talented have the most success in the long run. Above all else, building a reputable brand name for one’s self is arguably the largest factor that contributes to long standing success as a celebrity figure.
Works Cited:
Sweney, Mark. “Cristiano Ronaldo Shoots to Top of Instagram Rich List.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 30 June 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/30/cristiano-ronaldo-shoots-to-top-of-instagram-rich-list.
Wallach, O. (2021, May 14). The world's top 50 influencers across social media platforms. Visual Capitalist. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-top-50-influencers-across-social-media-platforms/
Pisani, Joseph. “These TikTok Stars Made More Money than Many of America's Top CEOS.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 14 Jan. 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-tiktok-stars-made-more-money-than-many-of-americas-top-ceos-11642078170?utm_id=46862&%3Bsfmc_id=4782528.