“First come the girls, then the gays, then the industry.” – Samantha JonesÂ
For decades, screaming fangirls have been a symbol of teenage hysteria; mocked in the media and stereotyped for their obsessive and irrational loyalty to their favorite artists. From Swifties to Beyonce’s Beehive, Arianators, Barbz, and BTS’s ARMY, vibrant communities of mostly young women and LGBTQ+ fans dedicate countless hours not just to supporting their favorite artists, but also building connections, content, and culture within their fanbases. From coining viral slang to inspiring memes, fan art, and fashion trends, their dedication and creativity often seeps into mainstream culture long before anyone else even has the chance to notice. Outsiders may not always understand them, but whether you get it or not, there’s no denying: fangirls are a cornerstone of the cultural landscape we’re all living in.
Fangirls often spot what’s “cool” before the general public. Their early adoption of songs, fashion, slang, or aesthetic choices signals to brands and other consumers what will become mainstream next.
And this is not a new phenomenon.
Long before Swifties or ARMY, there were the fandoms who set the standard for modern fan communities. Many of the artists we remember as “the greats” of music history are immortalized by their fandoms of young women. In the 1950s, teenage girls swooned over Elvis Presley, flooding arenas with screams and fainting spells that both terrified and fascinated the media. A decade later with the debut of our favorite historical boyband, Beatlemania took over on an international scale. With girls lining the streets of London and New York just to catch a glimpse of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Before being known as the cultural zeitgeist they are today, the Beatles were seen by the public as just another “teenybopper phenomenon” with boy-crazy fans. When their more sophisticated work transformed the public perception of their music, their original fans remained loyal; The first to recognize what would go on to be one of the greatest bands of all time.
The loyalty and dedication of female fans is recognized and coveted by the industry. The “Taylor Swift Effect” is a recent observation of how fandoms can serve as a real driving force in economic and cultural landscapes. During Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’s tours, the presence of their fans translated directly into real-world spending, boosting local economies through concert tickets, merchandise, travel, and dining. And the influence of these “fangirls” is not just on the economy, but on the industry as a whole. Their streaming habits, social media campaigns, and online communications influence concert set-lists, marketing strategies, and even the way albums are produced. In other words, fangirls aren’t just a market; they’re tastemakers, trendsetters, and an indispensable force shaping the modern music industry.
With that in mind, I can’t help but wonder why these fan communities aren’t given their due credit for the impact they have on pop culture. Is it because their enthusiasm is seen as less sophisticated? I’d argue that the presence of devoted fangirls actually gives artists the freedom to explore more creative and ambitious work.Â
The loyalty of large female and LGBTQ+ fanbases has provided a solid foundation for many artists, allowing them to take risks and experiment with more diverse projects. Take Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and even the Beatles: they all started in spaces with simpler, less “sophisticated” sounds, yet with supportive communities behind them. Due to the nature of the music industry, the previous chart success reached by these artists (fueled by the support of their fanbases) gave them more creative liberties in future projects meaning they could spend more money and time exploring new sounds and experimenting with their music. Today, all of these four examples have earned critical acclaim, collectively racking up 65 Grammy Awards.
Fangirls aren’t just the stereotypes we’ve seen of boy-crazed hysteria; they are the architects of culture. Spotting trends, shaping the industry, and giving artists the freedom to take risks that redefine music through their unwavering loyalty. From Elvis to BeyoncĂ©, their dedication in fan communities has been the quiet force behind many of the biggest moments in pop history, and it’s about time we give them the credit they deserve.