There has been a fundamental change in the traditional relationship between celebrities and the fans who adore them. Of course, the star culture is still very much alive today. And athletes, movie stars, and yes, even radio personalities often make gobs of money and live a great life full of riches and material things.
But there’s a price to be paid. There have always been the paparazzi stalking the biggest stars. But today, the “Internet of things” has opened the door so that anyone and everyone can take potshots at stars from all walks of life, with virtually no responsibility or risk.
We all know about trolls – the people who live online and love to be snarky – often to the point of cruelty. But today, people are encouraged, and even empowered, to say whatever they damn well please – not just around the lunchroom – but in the online universe for all of us to see.
Jimmy Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets” video series has taken on this often nasty phenomenon – full force – by bringing celebrities from all walks of stardom on camera to read these cruel missives about themselves. “Mean Tweets” shows off the self-deprecating side of big names that have the stones to go on screen, look the tweeters right in the eye, and give their nasty words a great read. It’s powerful and often funny.
But you can see the hurt that’s below the surface, as well as the sad reality that these peasants with digital pitchforks are unleashed, free to say whatever they damn well please without impunity.
This “Mean Tweets” video from the Kimmel show is very NSFW so either skip it if f-bombs bother you or watch it in a private environment. It speaks powerfully about the need for stars to develop even thicker skins than have been necessary before.
>EMAIL RECIPIENTS: CLICK HERE TO WATCH JIMMY KIMMEL’S “MEAN TWEETS” VIDEO<
So a big takeaway from this change in tone is that fans are enabled by the web to go after these stars, often with an angry tone. While being a celebrity has its perks, survival is not possible in this digtal world if you cannot take a hit – or maybe a lot of them.
I was reminded of this the other day when Chicago radio journalist, Robert Feder, ran a blog post featuring Steve Dahl’s tirade against WGN and Jimmy deCastro. It was followed-up by Steve Cochran’s counter-attack on Dahl.
Hard hitting comments from both of these radio guys? Absolutely.
But the angriest, meanest one-liners didn’t come from either Dahl or Cochran. They were launched by the hundreds and hundreds of comments posted by ostensibly “regular folks.” In shot after shot, both Dahl and Cochran suffer fan attacks that illustrate just how easy it is to say whatever you want to say, click “submit,” and grab another beer.
It’s like a heavyweight fight where two veteran boxers are duking it out. And then hundreds of fans storm the ring to get their licks in. It’s truly amazing that some of the ugliest, most acerbic comments don’t come from Dahl or Cochran, but from the digital peanut gallery in Feder’s comment section.
“Radio Wars” have been redefined, not by the shock jocks but by the audiences who listen – or used to listen – to the Stern vs. Mancow, Bubba vs. M.J. controversies. Today, it’s about the fan, for better for worse.
If you’re on the air in 2014, it is truly time to grow an even thicker hide.
Tomorrow: The audience strikes back – in the courts.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Great read Fred and so very true. To go even further, just look at how the Internet has changed the way we interact with everyone…not just those in the limelight.
People have unfortunately become more daring and uninhibited on the Web. It’s like being drunk without the need for alcohol. It seems the anonymity of the Internet gives people a fearlessness, as if they are invisible and will suffer no consequence; as if the Internet and social dare people to be as bad as possible. Only the little devil remains on our shoulders; the angel has long fallen off in despair.
I mean spouses even cheat more nowadays because it’s easier and more readily available with sites that actually promote it. People are just mean spirited because they can be; hiding behind the cloak worn with a simple screen name or Twitter username.
Thick skin? Yep we all need that now. But how about we still all just try to use the basic manners and kindess our parents taught us? # civility # benice #novelidea
Bob, I appreciate you taking the time to chime in. As someone who sits with a lot of consumers week in and out, you see changing behavior front and center. And I couldn’t agree more about the need to remember that words can be hurtful, whether spoken, on the printed page – or on posts and comments. Thanks for the reminder that just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
I think that the uninformed angry mob took over Feder’s blog and he didn’t do anything to stop it, with the same old opinions of “RADIO IS DEAD!” (despite the fact that most people still listen to at least a little of it), “SIRIUS XM RULES!” (25 million subscribers rule?–and more subscribers listen to the most mainstream music channels than listen to Stern) and “PODCASTS RULE!” (how many people listen to Dahl’s podcast compared to when he was on terrestrial?). In addition, WGN has been a target all throughout his Chicago career, back to when he started and Wally Phillips was still around. Why should he change now? It just seems to me that it’s a bunch of angry Boomers who are still pissed that they can’t hear the Beatles on every station now.
Mark, thanks for adding to the conversation. “Angry Boomers?” That’s part of it, but I think the other piece is in Bob Lawrence’s comment about the lack of civility in our culture. I’m fortunate that on this blog, the comments rarely – if ever – get angry or weird. I also usually just get a handful so it’s not that difficult to acknowledge them all. In Feder’s case, it is a much more mainstream, public forum, he can get scores of comments on a good day, and the end result is there for all to see. Sometimes, it gets a little ugly. He might be able to direct the conversation into more constructive zones, but it takes a ton of work, and he’d probably tell you that he’s one guy. It’s tough to be sheriff in a town where there virtually are no rules and anything goes. Thanks for again for taking the time.