Seeing the fanbase so divided recently as well as comments about what is and is not a fan, this question has been plaguing me. Is it someone that likes everything a band has done, someone who likes about half, someone or likes and album or two, or can someone be considered a fan if they like just the radio singles...other? I am personally inclined to say that if you like the music and consider yourself a fan, you're a fan. Thoughts? PS Sorry if this belongs more in random chat, I really had a hard time choosing where to put this. But I figure it's music related.
What constitutes a fan is support. I could like every damn song that an artist puts out, but if i don't support them, then I don't consider myself a fan at all. I am an avid supporter of Linkin Park, and find myself to be a pretty big fan of them.
People are going to disagree but I think it really is as simple as that. You can be a dick when it comes to the way you act as a fan of something, but you still are one, but that's probably where people are going to disagree.
Enjoying a group. Those commenting on other mediums insisting one must enjoy all their material are more then silly sounding.
What constitutes as a fan is someone who self-identifies as a fan. You're a fan if you declare yourself to be one. There's no grandfather clause or litmus test, because there's no test that takes everything into account. Often "true fan" debates are convulted into actually meaning "someone who agrees with me" and I resent it when people use the phrase "true fan" as if it carried any weight. To say that you have to like EVERYTHING or even most of something someone does is a rather high and not accurate mark. Yeah, people are allowed to disagree with things. That doesn't make them not fans.
You're a fan of the music if you love the music (any of it) and it means a lot to you. That's what I go by. But I guess there's probably a massive flaw in that logic somewhere, so Kathy's idea is probably the one to agree with.
If you like most of what a band does and are somewhat excited to hear more from them. P.S. don't try to use the Linkin Park fanbase as a microcosm of the average fanbase. The LP base unfortunately is one of the worst I've ever seen for a "rock" band. Ever.
If you enjoy any aspect of an artists work, I consider you a fan. You don't have to be a fan of EVERYTHING they do, but a fan no less.
A fan is someone who becomes a facebook fan etc.. But seriously, I don't think a fan would have to like every single thing a band puts out. Even a hardcore fan could dislike some things. For example, if someone still avidly follows LP and visits sites like this or joins LPU etc., but only likes Hybrid Theory, they could still be a pretty hardcore fan. I think staying active for 10 years after the last thing you loved is hardcore and shows a good deal of loyalty to the band. I personally like it all, but I can see how a fan might not. To me, its more about keeping up with news, wanting to go to concerts, listening to the music, and supporting the band, whether it be by purchasing merchandise or promoting the music to friends so they buy albums etc.. I agree that there is no absolute definition. It's whether or not you identify yourself as a fan or not.
Someone who follows the band regularly, keeps up to date with the albums, whether or not he or she likes them doesn't really matter, just so long as there's an overall enjoyment of the material.