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I think we must be connected somehow because earlier today at the gym I was thinking to myself about how to approach different aspects the illusionary empowerment of fans in my Master's Thesis. I was not aware of this case and I'm definitely gonna take a closer look! Lastly I want to say that, I often feel that decisions that explicitly refuse to go towards what fans seem to be requesting are probably based on a perception (data-driven or not) that there will be a demand anyway. I'm a friend of Kara from The Idol Cast and I'd love to talk a bit about my research when you have the time ^^

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I came up against this "standom" last year myself in Oslo. Against my better judgement I paid 150 dollars for a Bob Dylan concert in Oslo to sit on an uncomfortable plastic chair for 2,5 hours. "See the legend while you can" they said. A red spotlight shone direct into the eyes of the first 40 rows, security patrolled the aisles to make sure that nobody spoke or laughed, and bathroom breaks were only permitted in the pause between songs. I don't know what the hell it was I attended, but it wasn't rock and roll and there was not a single recognisable song.

The strangest of all? Everyone I spoke to who went loved it. I had a migraine for days and wondered for long after what am I not getting? Was the concert a collective validation of an identity curated by Dylan or was it spectular and I just don't have any taste?

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