Twentieth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations

Abstract

The “pop idol group” is a cultural phenomenon and popular business model in the twenty-first century. Entertainment companies fully cover the training and accommodation expenses of trainees with the expectation of branding them in groups for their performance to generate revenues. Roughly 20% to 40% of fans have spent money on supporting their favorite pop idol groups’ debuts and performances. Considerable research related to pop idol groups has focused on the social media exposure of pop idol groups. However, fandoms–an inalienable element of the culture surrounding pop idol groups–have been neglected in the literature. A content analysis coded more than 150 comments posted on pop idol groups’ performance videos on Chinese social media platforms. All comments were collected from one of the most popular reality shows in China, Producer 101, which closely revealed the day-to-day life of pre-idol trainees and how they compete for positions in a new pop idol group. A series of correlation analysis revealed that idol groups’ likeability is positively associated with how fans perceive familiarity, companionship, and controllability from idol groups. The appearance of idols is not a significant determinant of pop idol groups’ likeability and popularity. Theoretically, the research highlights the idol phenomenon in China and the ways in which the relationship between fans and idol groups has changed in recent decades. Practically, this study provides pop idol group agencies with a comprehensive understanding of fandoms, which is helpful to companies marketing and branding pre-idol trainees.