Richard Dyer's star persona theory argues that music artists are constructed images rather than real people. Their persona is built through various media like performances, interviews, music videos, and social media which fans engage with and discuss. Stars represent shared cultural values and help promote certain ideologies around materialism and sexuality. Their persona needs constant nurturing through discourse with audiences. Stars are commodities that entertainment companies produce to cater to different audiences and music genres.

1. RICHARD
DYER
STAR PERSONA THEORY APPLIED TO
MUSIC ARTISTS- KEY POINTS

2. DYER SAYS…
“A star is an image not a real person that is constructed out
of a range of materials.”
For music artists this would include media
coverage of their lives as well as their
performances, TV interviews, reviews,
publicity material, music videos, digipak
designs, merchandising, fashion tie ins,
magazine articles etc

3. One of the reasons so many pop performers are described as
pop stars is that they are quickly promoted to this status by
their management.
How is this achieved?

4. A true pop star does have a lasting significance, and has
"brand awareness" amongst a wider market over a period of
time.
These stars become the headliners at music festivals, the
award winners of the ‘hall of fame’ and the ones credited by
the newest artists as being their influences.

5. Stars are constructed, artificial images, even if they are
represented as being "real people", experiencing real
emotions.
Increasing proliferation of social media makes this a key tool
in documenting the lives of celebrities (many from the music
industry e.gs?)The commentary this material produces in
response, in turn, perpetuates it.
As most celebrities seem to rely on social media as a way of
maintaining a profile and a following, they also often
contribute themselves to the commentary of other ‘stars’ and
these dialogues provide even more interest.

6. It helps if their image contains a USP — they can be copied
and/or parodied because of it.
Pop stars have the advantage over film stars in that their
constructed image may be much more consistent over a
period of time, and is not dependent on the creative input of
others - they can be more self determining e.g. Madonna,
Miley, Adele etc

7. ON SAYING THAT…
TV programmes such as The X Factor show us the supposed
construction process, how an ordinary person is groomed,
styled and coached into fulfilling a set of record company
and market expectations.

8. “STARS
ARE COMMODITIES PRODUCED AND
CONSUMED ON THE STRENGTH OF
THEIR MEANINGS”
The industry provides us with a range of ‘commodities’ all
with different appeal. One way to achieve this is by
producing new stars of different types playing constantly
mutating genres of music - there's always something and
someone fresh to choose from.
Another way is to produce a star with long-lasting appeal,
who, once their brand is established, can cater to a fan
audience for decades.

9. IDEOLOGY AND
CULTURE
Stars represent shared cultural values and
attitudes, and promote a certain ideology.
Audience interest in these values enhances
their 'star quality', and it is through conveying
beliefs ideas and opinions outside music that
performers help create their star persona.
Stardom, and star worship in general is a cultural
value in itself. Ideologies drawn upon include
materialism and sexuality. Whole sites of
institutional support (eg radio & TV shows,
magazines, websites) are devoted to star scrutiny,
and it seems we can never get enough information.

10. IDENTITY
Much of the discussion of stars in celebrity magazines is
about how stars compare to the current hegemonic
(preferred by the majority) ideal, and how we compare to the
stars.

11. Pop stars establish their character and
personality through songs and
performance and will strive for immediate
star identity with a first album. They appear
to have more control over their persona in
that many of them write their own songs,
and that their body of work develops,
chronologically over time, along with
society.

12. A pop star's persona, therefore, as depicted in terms of
character and personality, is a fragile thing which needs
constant nurturing, and is the product of constant discourse
between the star and his or her audience.