With an artist’s rise to fame comes a cult-like following, famously seen at Taylor Swift or Harry Styles concerts. Some of these die-hard fans see other, less involved fans as being “fake” or band-wagoning these artists just because they are popular. This could make people may feel insecure about their knowledge or connection to the musician’s work and may gatekeep, or keep information to themselves, as a way to compensate for this insecurity.

Some fans are among the first 100k listeners on Spotify and this can give them a sense of superiority over others that discover said artist later on. Gatekeeping can be an attempt to establish social dominance within a fan community. By claiming to be a “real” fan, they may try to elevate their status and be exclusive.

Others seek validation, so they may pretend to be true fans in order to fit in or gain approval within a specific fan community. They might be jumping on a bandwagon because the musician is currently popular or trendy, without a genuine interest in the artist’s music or career. An artist can rise to fame and their tickets can sell out quickly or become overpriced so it is disheartening to “real” fans when others who are not as obsessed buy tickets before them.

In some cases, individuals may feel a misguided sense of loyalty to a musician and believe that only they and a select few truly appreciate the artist. This can lead to gatekeeping behavior. Gatekeeping can attract attention and generate controversy, and some individuals may engage in it as a means of drawing attention to themselves or their opinions.

Some fake fans may genuinely believe that they are true fans due to a misunderstanding of what it means to be a fan or a lack of knowledge about the artist’s work.

It’s important to note that gatekeeping is generally not a positive or productive behavior. True fan communities should aim to be inclusive and welcoming, allowing individuals with varying levels of knowledge and interest to participate and share their enthusiasm. Gatekeeping often creates unnecessary divisions and can discourage people from exploring and enjoying music or other forms of art.

It’s tempting to label someone a “fake” fan for not meeting certain criteria, but this division can be counterproductive. Music is a diverse and inclusive art form, and fans come in all shapes and sizes.