Gatekeeping Music Never Made Sense

Gatekeeping Music Never Made Sense

Every artist’s fanbase has toxic stans. From racist Swifties to doxxing Barbz, there are countless examples to be made of fans taking things too far in defense of their favorite artists. With our current society, it’s simply par for the course. But a new problem has arisen in the music community that’s single handedly destroyed the ability to casually enjoy music; gatekeeping.

The act of controlling someone’s access to something, or gatekeeping, is nothing new. The internet coined the term in [cite date here,] however, and it has been astoundingly popular ever since. Media such as music, books, shows, and movies are the most common examples. You'll often find a post stating, “You don’t mess with [artist] like I do,” or other things of the sort. Content like this has become the new norm, and most people don’t even bother to question it. So, you might be wondering, what’s really the issue here?

New Fans Not Allowed

The biggest issue I have with gatekeeping media, especially music, is that it creates a barrier for new fans. Liking an artist shouldn’t be a VIP club - you don’t need to know a certain amount of songs, or buy a specific number of merchandise to appreciate that person’s craft. Not everyone has been their #1 supporter since their humble beginnings, and that’s okay! Music is supposed to create community; to bring people with similar interests together. You don’t see people debating over Van Gogh paintings nearly as intensely as music enthusiasts. Art is meant to be interpreted, and encourage discourse. By turning newer fans away, you do the exact opposite.

An argument could be made that these posts aren’t preventing new listeners, just expressing a greater passion for said artist. Which, while there’s nothing wrong with showing enthusiasm, the method of going about it feels demeaning. It invalidates newer and more casual fans, essentially stating, “You don’t consume this media as intensely as I do, therefore you like it less.” When there’s 0 evidence to say that they don’t. How does that feel beneficial to anybody?

Too Many Rules

There’s always something to conform to in music fanbases. You have to know this song. You have to like this album. You have to know all the popular songs, but they can’t be your favorite because that’s basic. You must side with them at all times. Sign your name on the dotted line below. Entering a fanbase feels like a full time job, and anyone who dares question these terms gets cut off. We’re trying so hard to gatekeep that we make it impossible for anyone to breathe. What’s the point of art if it comes with all these complications?

And this isn’t just a one time issue. For example:

Melanie Martinez fans feeling forced to buy her merchandise/justify the insane prices simply to blend in

People aren’t allowed to listen or relate to music by LGBTQ artists, such as Chappell Roan, without being apart of the community because, “they wouldn’t understand,” and, “straight people are trying to erase the only Lesbian representation there is.” Even though there is no lack of LGBTQ artists, both mainstream and otherwise

Sabrina Carpenter fans, the ones who inspired this article in the first place, can’t like her music if they haven’t known her since her acting days, or since her first few album, ext.

Any normal person can see how extreme this is. Fanbases have become cultish; it’s strict enough to rival a sorority. And don’t let your favorite artist get into discourse - prepare the pitchforks, and gear up for war. Switching sides or understanding both arguments is treason by their law. Your beheading shall be held live for the world to see. Casual listeners feel like they need to commit themselves to an artist, to deny all their flaws and agree with the majority of their fans. Absolve yourself of personality to be a part of our club, essentially.

But those same people will then complain about said artist being “underrated,” as if they weren’t actively discouraging newer fans. If your favorite artist is now mainstream, there’s always going to be new fans. Just because their favorite song is the most popular one doesn’t automatically mean their taste is invalid. And yes, some new fans don’t “properly” appreciate the artist, or bother to listen to any other albums. That being said, who are you to judge? People can’t control their favorite song, or their desire to buy merch, or their sexuality. They can choose to research the artist more, but at the end of the day, that’s their decision.

How this affects you

You’re likely reading this thinking, “why should I care?” And truthfully, there’s nothing serious at first glance. Toxic fans will be toxic fans. But it opens a conversation of inclusivity. In a strive to be different, many people alienate those around them. However, art is made to be shared. It’s a form of expression and vulnerability. When an artist puts out their work, they want it to be shared. So instead of gatekeeping your favs from the newbies, take some time to consider what would happen if you did the opposite. And maybe, by sharing a piece of yourself, you’ll form a new bond with someone just like you.