The document discusses the star theory in the music industry, highlighting how music performers create and control their images to attract and engage audiences. It emphasizes the constructed nature of star images, the paradoxical qualities stars possess, and the role of media in shaping these images. Case studies of Wolf Alice and Katy Perry illustrate different approaches to stardom, with Wolf Alice maintaining relatability through music, while Katy Perry capitalizes on mainstream appeal and commercial products.

1. Star theory

2. Star or performer?
In order to understand the relationship between the music industry
and its audiences, it is important to consider the roles of music stars.
The term “star” refers to the semi-mythological set of meanings
constructed around music performers in order to sell the performer to
a large and loyal audience.
For example, Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Alex Turner.

3. Image
Are stars in control of their image?
Stars could create different looks in order to gain
more attention or publicity.
Stars sometimes try to create a new image for
themselves.
Gossip stories are a key part of stardom, the music
industry puts stories out there in order to create a
certain image for the star.

4. Here are some common values of
music stardom
• Youthfulness
• Rebellion
• Sexual magnetism
• An anti-authoritarian attitude
• Originality
• Creativity/talent
• Aggression/anger
• A disregard for social values relating to drugs, sex and polite behaviour.
• Conspicuous consumption of sex, drugs and material goods.
• Success against the odds.

5. Richard Dyer
Dyer has written extensively about the role of stars in a film. TV and music.
Irrespective of the medium, stars have some key features in common.
 A star is an image, not a real person that is constructed out of a range of
materials.
 Stars are commodities produced and consumed on the strength of their
meanings.
 stars depend upon a range of subsidiary media-magazines, tv, radio, the
internet. In order to construct an image for themselves which can be
marketed to target audiences.
 The star image is made up of a range of meanings which are attractive to
the target audiences.
 Fundamentally, the star images is incoherent, that is incomplete and
“open”. Dyer says that this is because it is based upon these two
paradoxes.

6. The paradoxes
Paradox 1:
• The star must be simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary for the consumer. E.g. Alex Turner.
Paradox 2:
• The star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer. E.g. twitter
feeds/accounts.
• The incoherence of the star image ensures that audiences continually strive to ‘complete’ or to
‘make sense of’ the image.
• This is achieved by continued consumption of the star through his or her products.
• In the music industry, performance seems to promise the completion of the image, but it is
always ultimately unsatisfying.
• This means that fans will go away determined to continue consuming the star in order to carry on
attempting to complete their image.
• Finally the star image can be used to position the consumer in relation to dominant social values.
• depending upon the artist, this may mean that the audience are positioned against the
mainstream or within the mainstream, or somewhere in between.

7. Case studies: Wolf Alice
• Wolf Alice are a four-piece alternative rock band from North London, consisting
of Ellie Rowsell (vocals, guitar), Joff Oddie (guitars, vocals), Theo Ellis (bass),
and Joel Amey (drums, vocals).
• They released their debut single "Fluffy" in February 2013, the "Bros" single
followed this in May. In October 2013, they released their debut EP Blush. Their
second EP Creature Songs was released in May 2014 on Dirty Hit Records. On 24
February 2015 they released the lead single "Giant Peach" from their debut
album My Love Is Cool, which was released on 22 June 2015, also via Dirty Hit
Records. My Love Is Cool was released in the US on 23 June 2015 via Dirty
Hit/RCA Records. The single "Moaning Lisa Smile" charted within the top 10 of
the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, peaking at #9.
• Wolf Alice in some ways apply to the star theory, they are always known as
similar to the paradox 1 ideas, they remain ordinary and relatable for audiences
everywhere. Their fame is based upon their musical performances. Their image
is all about the music and they remain defiant towards the theories of fame.

8. Case studies: Katy Perry
• Katheryn Elizabeth "Katy" Hudson (born October 25, 1984), better
known by her stage name Katy Perry, is an American singer,
songwriter, and actress.
• Katy has worked with many stars such as Kanye West, Snoop
Dogg, Juicy J etc.
• Katy has released many products in relation to her stardom, like
perfume, calendars, outfits along with many more products.
• Katy has also based some of her songs around being relatable to
consumers in terms of social values. Such as I kissed a girl and
her many love anthems.
• Audiences are positioned within the mainstream when promoting
and supporting Katy Perry, she is a pop star and her fame does
not just rely upon the music but everything else that comes with
fame.