Back in the day, there used to be “fan clubs” for celebrities. There were fan clubs for favorite actors, actresses, sports stars, politicians. etc. They had meetings, wrote letters, traded collectables, and sought to have things signed by the celebrity or a photo taken with him.
I guess “social media” has taken over, but has it entirely?
Not totally. There’s still fan clubs on websites. You give them your information (and pay a few dollars) and in return you get a newsletter, a some stuff and what you’re really looking for, promocodes to get concert tickets early and discounts on new music.
Fan clubs seem to be a critical part of K-Pop, apparently sponsored by the label. I like f(x) and their modest success compared to other groups is continually blamed on the delay in setting up a fan club, or naming it or something.
I won a chance to do a meet & greet with Kesha before a concert last year by being in her fan club. The gist of it was that the first five people to sign up at a certain time won the opportunity, and I was one of the lucky five for her Chicago show.