Ateen idol is acelebrity with a largeteenagefan base. Teen idols are generally young but are not necessarilyteenagers themselves.[1][2][3] An idol's popularity may be limited to teens, or may extend to all age groups.
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East Asia possesses a robustfan culture centered around idols, one that spans both genders and generates broad appeal. East Asian idol culture, which first began in Japan in the 1960s, would spread to neighboring countries in later decades: in South Korea and Taiwan, for example, it took root in the 1990s, and in China the 2010s. Idols are also not limited to singing, and may take part in more explicitly image-focused venues such aspin-up photography (gravure idols) and pornography (AV idols).
There are many different idols and idol groups spread across many countries. In Japan, there are pop starsAyumi Hamasaki andNamie Amuro as well asKana Nishino and music groups such asMomoiro Clover Z,Morning Musume,AKB48, andPerfume andJohnny & Associatesboy bandsArashi,NEWS,KAT-TUN, andHey! Say! JUMP among others. In Taiwan, there are pop icons such asJay Chou,Jolin Tsai, music groupsMayday,F4, andS.H.E. In South Korea, notable K-pop personalities include singersBoA andRain and groupsBTS,Blackpink,Twice,Exo,TVXQ,2PM,2AM,Beast,Shinee,Super Junior,2NE1,Big Bang,Wonder Girls,T-ara,Kara andGirls' Generation.[4] In Vietnam, there are the singersWanBi Tuấn Anh,[5]Sơn Tùng M-TP,Đông Nhi,Bảo Thy andTóc Tiên.[6][7]
European teen idols includeGerman popstarBill Kaulitz of the pop-rock bandTokio Hotel[8] and the members of the Anglo-Irishpopboy bandOne Direction,[9] andGirls Aloud, another Anglo-Irish band. In Spain,La Oreja de Van Gogh,Miguel Bosé,Mecano, andHombres G all enjoyed teen-idol status. In the Balkans, the late Macedonian singerToše Proeski was considered a teen idol.
In Latin America, idols ranges fromMexican pop starsTimbiriche (including their members,Paulina Rubio andThalía),Lynda Thomas,Magneto, Puerto Rican born MexicanLuis Miguel,ColombianShakira and the popular Puerto Rican boy bandMenudo in the 1980s and 1990s, andPaty Cantú,Anahí,Belinda, andRBD in the 2000s and 2010s.[10] Besides, former Menudo memberRicky Martin, their chief rivalsLos Chicos and former memberChayanne, Venezuelan actor and singerGuillermo Davila and more, to Argentina, where telenovela,Chiquititas, ushered in a new era of teen-idols for that country, including actorsBenjamin Rojas,Felipe Colombo,Luisana Lopilato, andCamila Bordonaba, who went on to form teen bandErreway, precursors to Mexican band RBD.Quinceañera (1987), starring byThalía andAdela Noriega became the firsttelenovela made for teenagers.[11]
Often teen idols areactors ormusicians. Some teen idols began their careers aschild actors, such asBritney Spears,Hilary Duff,Raven-Symoné andMiley Cyrus. There were teen idols before there wereteen magazines, but idols have always been a permanent feature in magazines such asSeventeen,16,Tiger Beat andRight On! in the United States, and in similar magazines elsewhere. With the advent of television, teen idols were also promoted through programs such asAmerican Bandstand,The Ed Sullivan Show,Soul Train. Today's teen idols have spawned an entire industry ofgossip magazines,television shows,YouTube,social media, and wholetelevision channels such asE!.
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The first known person to have been treated as a teen idol wasFranz Liszt, the Hungarian pianist who, in the 1840s, drew such a following among teen girls that the term "Lisztomania" soon came to describe the phenomenon. The kind of idolizing following Liszt drew in Europe would not be followed for several decades. American-bornRoger Wolfe Kahn became, arguably, America's first modern-day teen idol, when, in 1924 at the age of sixteen he launched his first jazz band. Throughout his teens, he became dubbed the 'Millionaire Maestro.'[12]Geraldine Farrar, American opera singer, had a large following of young women nicknamed "Gerry-flappers" in the early 20th century.[13][14]Rudy Vallée, who became a major success in 1929 with hits like "Honey" and "Deep Night", may have been the first Americanpopular singer to have been idolised by hundreds of teen-aged girls at sold-out concerts. He was also possibly the first popular singer to have astar vehicle created for him:The Vagabond Lover.
Frank Sinatra, whose early career in the 1940s is often linked to his appeal tobobby soxers,[3] who got that name because they were forced to dance in their bobby socks so that their shoes would not damage the dance floor, is also regarded as having been amongst the first teen idols.[15]
Although he had only three major movie roles,James Dean earned two Oscar nominations. He also had the image of a rebellious youth, something that was popular among girls and young women. His performance inRebel Without A Cause (1955) and his untimely death in a road collision in 1955 cemented his status as an icon. Contemporary teenagers still wear white T-shirts and jeans in his style.[16]
Selected byWalt Disney in 1955 for his new showThe Mickey Mouse Club,Annette Funicello became popular among viewers by the end of the first season.[17]Elvis Presley made his debut in the mid-1950s and became a sensation. Deemed too dangerous to be filmed except from the waist up because of his sexually suggestive dance moves, he became popular among teenagers.[15] The success of young rock stars like Presley, film stars likeMarlon Brando,Paul Newman,James Dean,Tab Hunter, andSal Mineo in the 1950s, as well as the wider emergence ofyouth subcultures, led promoters to the deliberate creation of teen idols such as singersFrankie Avalon,Frankie Valli,Frankie Lymon,Fabian Forte,Bobby Rydell andConnie Stevens. Even crooners likeFrank Sinatra were still considered idols and rather handsome. ActorsEdd Byrnes andTroy Donahue and other artists deliberately cultivated a (safer) idol image, like Canadian musicianPaul Anka.
Anka initially modelled himself on a particular generic type, the teen idol [who] carried on the process ... ofchanging the image of male youth ... from wild to mild, by providing a cleaner, more wholesome image of masculinity than that of the previous era's rebellious rockabilly heroes [and (working-class) so-calledjuvenile delinquents, like those inWest Side Story]....
— [18]
Post-war teens were able to buy relatively inexpensive phonographs — including portable models that could be carried to friends' houses — and the new45-rpm singles. Rock music played on 45s became the soundtrack to the 1960s as people bought what they heard on the radio. The great majority of the music being marketed to 1950s teens was being written by adults, but 1960s teens were increasingly appreciating and emulating artists closer to their own age, to teen fashion, and to lyrics which addressed their own concerns. Their parents worried about their attraction to artists (and DJs) who were edgy and rebellious. Faces on magazines fed fans; fans buy records, see films, watch TV and buy fashions.
Marketing of the teen idol generally focuses on the image.... The teen idol is structured to appeal to the pre-teen and young teen female pop audience member and children in general.... [They] are commodified in forms and images that are relatively non-threatening to this young audience and to the ancillary market of parents... The teen idol never appears to be autonomous and therefore never appears to be threatening as an adult; he remains, as long as he is popular, perpetually childlike and dependent.
— [19]
Some marketers turned to film and TV for fresh, 'safe' faces.Tommy Sands's debut in atelevision film about the phenomenon,The Idol, made a teen idol out of Sands himself.
Teen idolRicky Nelson rose to stardom on the hit showThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and the show was successfully used to promote his songs, making him one of the biggest stars in music. His wholesome image was a stark contrast to the uproar caused by Elvis Presley, with parents often approving of Nelson.
Rick’s popularity continued to grow as Elvis and theEverly Brothers were in the military,Chuck Berry was imprisoned, andBuddy Holly andRitchie Valens died. However his popularity declined as theBritish Invasion hit the United States. whenthe Beatles arrived in 1964.[15] They had already been famous in the United Kingdom.[20] But after making their debut in the U.S. onThe Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, the Beatles soon became the most successful and influential band in modern musical history,[21] staying at the top of Billboard charts for a grand total of 58 weeks between 1964 and 1970. Adolescent hysteria was so loud that the band had trouble performing at concerts.[22] The level of stardom they achieved in the U.S.—dubbedBeatlemania—was never before seen in that country, not even during the heyday of Elvis Presley.[15] Many teenage girls waited outside the hotels the Beatles were staying at, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite musicians.[23] It is believed that a part of their success in the U.S. was because they brought hope and joy to a nation that was still recovering from the shock of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.[23][24] Another possible reason was that the Beatles were young, energetic, good-looking, and witty, which made it easy for them to become famous in the age of television.[20]
Some young TV stars were being hustled into studios to make recordings; for example, ex-Mousketeer Annette Funicello became one of the first big female idols as well asthe Lennon Sisters whom had cut out dolls and were always on the covers of the gossip magazines; another,Johnny Crawford ofThe Rifleman, had five Top-40 hits.[3] In 1963,Luke Halpin made a big splash as a teen idol in the television programFlipper. AfterBye Bye Birdie was released in 1963,Bobby Rydell became an instant teen idol.
In the 1960s as situation comedies and dramas on television using child actors became more popular, actorsPaul Petersen,Patty Petersen, andShelley Fabares fromThe Donna Reed Show,Dwayne Hickman fromThe Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,Sally Field ofGidget,Jon Provost ofLassie,Jay North fromDennis the Menace, andKeith and Kevin Schultz known as the "Schultz Twins" onThe Monroes all became younger preteen idols and grew into being teen idols.
Herman's Hermits,[25]the Rolling Stones, andthe Beach Boys were teen idols, especially during the earlier part of their careers, although they quickly grew out of that status. The Rolling Stones did it through a more rebellious image,the Beatles did it through their more developed (or "grown up") music. Similarly,Neil Sedaka had two distinct eras of his career, with about a decade in between: one as a teen idol in the 1960s, and a later career inadult contemporary music.Roy Orbison was known for his songs "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Only the Lonely," and "Crying." From the family bandthe Cowsills,Susan Cowsill,John Cowsill andBarry Cowsill became teen idols. Many of the teen idols of the era were the sons of older, established stars;Dino, Desi & Billy were active as teen idols during the mid-sixties. The group includedDean Paul Martin (son of singerDean Martin), andBilly Hinsche (a mutual friend whose parents were not famous).Gary Lewis, son of comedianJerry Lewis, frontedthe Playboys during this era.
All ofthe Monkees became instant teen idols in the late 1960s aftertheir TV show became an overnight success, especially forMicky Dolenz andDavy Jones. The British-born MonkeeDavy Jones was regularly featured inteen fan magazines. In 2008,Yahoo Music named Jones the number one teen idol of all time,[26] and in 2009 he was ranked second in a list compiled byFox News.[27]
Teen fan magazineTeenSet began publishing in 1964, focusing on youthful bands and musicians.Tiger Beat magazine began competing for the same audience in 1965.
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After Davy Jones cameBobby Sherman andDavid Cassidy, who held the title of Teen Idols from the late 1960s until the mid-1970s. Both Sherman and Cassidy wereactors on television and chart topping musicians in thepop-rock category at the time; withDavid Cassidy in particular enjoying immense international fame and success. Sherman was on hit TV showsShindig! andHere Come the Brides among many others. Musical series such as Cassidy'sThe Partridge Family, the animated seriesThe Archie Show, and (to a lesser extent)The Brady Bunch integrated television and teen-pop music to significant success during this time frame. The Brady Bunch'sBarry Williams andChristopher Knight, as was tennis pro/actorVincent Van Patten all were constantly in the fan magazines at the time. Popular actors such asJohn Moulder Brown,Leonard Whiting,Ray Lovelock (Raymond Lovelock),Leif Garrett,Mark Hamill,Mark Lester,Jan-Michael Vincent andJack Wild were the talk of the teenagers in the 1970s as well. Musical group theHudson Brothers were on many teen magazine covers for a number of years as teen idols. They had two shows on TV during the 1970s and recorded many albums.
One of the features of many teen idols is that their fans (and, in some cases, the musicians themselves) tended to develop a hate for the music once they became adults, and it is not much listened to by adults, except for nostalgia: the legacy ofbubblegum pop. Teen idol performers in this category would includeShaun Cassidy,Leif Garrett,the Osmond Brothers (particularlyDonny Osmond and their teen idol sisterMarie Osmond),[28]Andy Gibb,Tony DeFranco of the Canadian bandthe DeFranco Family, andthe Bay City Rollers (UK). Even modernclassic hits andoldies outlets, which cover this time period, rarely play cuts from the teen idols of the era. A notable exception isMichael Jackson ofthe Jackson Five, who began his career as a teen idol along with his brothers, but whose individual career eventually evolved far beyond the limitations of that description and into superstardom.
The Jackson Five were the first African-American music group to become national teen idols,[29] appearing along with famous white idols in magazines such as16 andTiger Beat.[30] In addition, the charismatic appeal, showmanship and flurry of fans towards leadMichael Jackson made him a teen idol and heartthrob amongst teens; his success as a soloist continued into the 1980s.[28][31]
In 1985, actressAlyssa Milano fromWho's the Boss? became a major teen idol.[32] In the mid-1980s there was a group of young actors calledthe Brat Pack; the whole group collectively and separately became teen idols. They wereEmilio Estevez,Anthony Michael Hall,Rob Lowe,Andrew McCarthy,Demi Moore,Judd Nelson,Molly Ringwald, andAlly Sheedy. They starred in many coming of age films together in some fashion and became very popular without being musicians. Molly Ringwald entered the limelight with the filmsSixteen Candles andThe Breakfast Club.[33]
ActorsCorey Feldman andCorey Haim also became teen idols during the later part of the 1980s with filmsThe Goonies and togetherThe Lost Boys,Dream a Little Dream andLicense to Drive among other films. They were dubbed "the two Coreys".[34] Before Corey Haim's death in 2010, they did a reality TV show for two seasons (2007–08) on A&E namedThe Two Coreys after their 1980s moniker. ActorRiver Phoenix during his teen years became a teen idol during the later part of the 1980s, as didChristian Slater. Australian singer-actorRick Springfield was regarded as the teen idol in the 1980s with such hits as "Jessie's Girl" and "Don't Talk to Strangers". TheGrammy Award-winning musician Springfield was known for playing Dr. Noah Drake on the daytime dramaGeneral Hospital. He originated the character from 1981 to 1983. He left acting after his music career took off.
During this decade, Puerto Rican boy bandMenudo, caused a sensation inLatin America compared to Beatles'Beatlemania.[35] At the end of the 1980s, actorKirk Cameron became a major teen idol. Cameron was best known for his role as Mike Seaver on the television situation comedyGrowing Pains from 1985 to 1992. AlsoScott Baio andWillie Aames ofCharles in Charge fame found themselves regulars in teen magazines. One of the most popular female singers of the 1980s, with teen idol status wasMadonna,[36][37] especially among youth female audience which was later namedMadonna wannabes.[38]
In popular music, the late 1980s was the boom of teenagers dominating the music charts.Debbie Gibson became the youngest person to write, perform and produce a number-one single, "Foolish Beat", and also had many hits from her first two albums.Tiffany, another teen icon, became a pop sensation at 15 years old thanks to an aggressive marketing strategy. She promoted herdebut album in shopping malls of the US. She is also the youngest person to have a debut album hit number one and have multiple number one singles from that album ("I Think We're Alone Now" and "Could've Been"). Having become a household name, she had then-unknown bandNew Kids on the Block as an opening act for her shows. However, the sudden popularity of the New Kids caused their roles to be reversed. Gibson and Tiffany's careers had stalled by the early 1990s; so had NKOTB by the mid-nineties. The other boy band from Boston,New Edition, was popular with the teen set by the end of the 1980s.
The manufacturing of teen idols has been marketed more aggressively and with greater sophistication since the 1980s.[39] Many of the major teen idols in the 1990s were bands and musical acts. The rise ofMTV in the 1980s and the success of theboy bands andgirl groups during the 1990s and 2000s continued to fuel the phenomenon.[19][40] Besides a combination of good, clean-cut looks and a ubiquitous marketing campaign, such bands typically include a variety of personality types (e.g. "the shy one", "the smart one", etc.) These idols were often found on the covers and pages of teen magazines during the 1990s as teen idols as well. Classic examples of boy bands includeMenudo,New Kids on the Block,Take That, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC, all becoming the best-selling pop groups of the decade.Hanson was initially marketed as such a band, but eventually outgrew this label to become a successful indie band.Christina Aguilera,Jennifer Lopez,Mandy Moore,Jessica Simpson, and Britney Spears, along with female bands such as theSpice Girls,[15]TLC, andDestiny's Child, also became very popular at the end of the decade. Even though the Spice Girls split in 2000, they remain fairly popular in England.[15]
During this decade, the Latin artistShakira was described as a "teen idol", her songs reached number 1 on Latin radio, her videos were among the most viewed, while her hair and clothing style was emulated by girls and young women. from the continent identifying with their songs, this was called "Shakiramía" or "Shakira Fever"[41][42][43]
TheBackstreet Boys' popularity grew in 1997 with "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," a song produced byMax Martin.[15] Opting against joining a girl band,Britney Spears released the music video "...Baby One More Time" in 1998 on MTV, which pushed her into the public consciousness.[15] Her first albumof the same name made its debut at the top ofBillboard's charts,[44] and became the world's best-selling album by a teenage solo artist.[45] Before she turned 20 years, Spears was also recognized by theGuinness World Records as the best-selling teenage artist.[46][47] Spears andBillie Piper also became the youngest artists to have accumulated more number-one songs in the UK singles chart.[48]
After the movieClueless (1995),Alicia Silverstone became a teen idol.[49] The 1997 filmTitanic madeLeonardo DiCaprio a teen idol; during "Leo-Mania" his face appeared on many teen magazines.[50] Fraternal twin sisters and actressesAshley Olsen andMary-Kate Olsen were major tween idols and as they grew up they later became teen idols during the 1990s.[51]
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The 2000s would be a decade of transition due to increasing amount of media platforms coming from TV and the internet, though Hollywood would still be a spring board for many names in the early years of the decade. Actors such asJosh Hartnett,Heath Ledger andAshton Kutcher would dominate the teen idol scene for the early 2000s. Hartnett become the most prominent face of the young Hollywood actors entering the 2000s. He appeared on dozens of major magazine covers and was the subject of aVanity Fair cover story remarking on his meteoric rise to fame. The intense attention he received during this time period caused him to turn down high-profile roles, including a reported $100 million offer to playSuperman, before temporarily leaving Hollywood.[citation needed]
The Walt Disney Company and its numerous outlets (e.g.Disney Channel,Radio Disney andWalt Disney Pictures) were the first to successfully develop a new generation of teen idols in this period, starting with the careers of actresses and singersHilary Duff andLindsay Lohan, initially targeting youth and female teen audiences. While still teenagers, Duff became famous for her starring titular character in theDisney Channelteen sitcomLizzie McGuire and her multi-Platinum second studio albumMetamorphosis (2003), with which she became one of the youngest artists to reach the top of theBillboard 200, and Lohan became famous for her starring roles in many successfulteen movies, includingFreaky Friday (2003),Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004),Mean Girls (2004) andHerbie: Fully Loaded (2005), and her platinum debut studio albumSpeak (2004). The success of this marketing led to further development of the genre, including new teen idols such asRaven-Symoné,Dylan and Cole Sprouse,Zac Efron,Aly & AJ,Jesse McCartney,Vanessa Hudgens,Ashley Tisdale,Corbin Bleu,Brenda Song, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez,Demi Lovato and theJonas Brothers. Disney has also used another one of its own TV channels,Freeform, to develop shows and stars popular among teen girls.Mean Girls, a well-known comedy written byTina Fey, also saw the performances ofRachel McAdams andAmanda Seyfried (in her first role).[49]
Raven-Symoné had already gained popularity as a child actor for her roles onThe Cosby Show (1989-1992) andHangin' with Mr. Cooper (1993-1997) along with appearing in theDr. Dolittle films, but became a household name from being the titular character on the extremely popular and successful Disney Channel showThat's So Raven (2003-2007) as well as being a part ofThe Cheetah Girls and thefilms (2003-2006). She also had a supporting role inThe Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), a leading role inCollege Road Trip (2008) and voiceover roles inKim Possible andTinker Bell.
Miley Cyrus claimed her fame by playing a fictionalized version of herself on the television showHannah Montana (2006-2011). Her 2009 singles "The Climb" and "Party in the U.S.A" were both mega hits. However, as she began metamorphosizing into something more mature, her popularity fell as parents considered her new materials inappropriate for their children.[15]
Selena Gomez made her debut by starring in the Disney situational comedyWizards of Waverly Place (2007-2012) and released her first albumKiss & Tell in 2009. She became an icon for adolescent girls and women, yet details of her personal life put her under public scrutiny.[52]
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ViacomCBS-ownedNickelodeon, a competitor to Disney Channel, has also developed its own slate of stars for its television shows, includingAmanda Bynes,Drake Bell,Josh Peck,Emma Roberts,Miranda Cosgrove,Jennette McCurdy,Nathan Kress,Jamie Lynn Spears (sister of Britney Spears),Ariana Grande,[53]Victoria Justice,Elizabeth Gillies, and groupsthe Naked Brothers Band andBig Time Rush, many of whom have not only starred in TV shows, but recorded songs as well. Many of the modern-day teen idols are females marketed as "role models" to teen and tween girls, a departure from the traditional role of the male teen idol marketed as the idolized teen "heartthrob". ActressMischa Barton became a teen idol through her role onThe O.C., withEntertainment Weekly naming her characterMarissa Cooper “It Girl" of 2003.
In 2002, Canadian singerAvril Lavigne dominated the music scene and eventually became a worldwide teen idol. Listed at #4 on Yahoo!'s Top 25 Teen Idols of all-time.[54]
During the popularity of her sisterJessica Simpson'sMTVreality television seriesNewlyweds: Nick and Jessica with then-husbandNick Lachey,7th Heaven actressAshlee Simpson developed a music career through her ownMTV spin-off reality seriesThe Ashlee Simpson Show in 2004, and soon became a teen idol.
American musicianTaylor Swift entered the scene at age 16 by co-writing the song "Tim McGraw" withLiz Rose in 2005, after which she became a well-known and successful artist[55][56] as well as a teen idol.[57]
Before reaching the age of 20,Ariana Grande had already been popular among secondary schoolchildren by starring in the teen comedy showVictorious (2010-2013). She left acting for singing, and although her singing career got off to a rocky start, she did capture the attention of producer and songwriter Max Martin, who had worked with many successful artists before.[53]
Teen idols were also popular in the R&B and Hip-Hop realm throughout this decade, includingChris Brown,JoJo,Bow Wow,3LW,Ciara,Mario,B2K, andRihanna, among others.
In the late 2000s, bands likeLillix,KSM,Everlife, andClique Girlz became teen pop idols and have a teenage fanbase.
Discovered on YouTube by media entrepreneurScooter Braun at the age of 13,Justin Bieber was ushered into fame with his 2009 albumMy World.[15]
In Japan, more and moreJapanese idol groups have appeared. In Japanese culture, persons called "idols" are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularlyattractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g. as singers forpop groups, bit-part actors, TV personalities, models in photo spreads published in magazines, advertisements, etc. One of the most successful groups isMomoiro Clover Z. Their performances incorporate elements of ballet, gymnastics, and action movies.[58] During 2014, about 486,000 people attended their live concerts, which was the highest record of all female musicians in Japan.[59] Momoiro Clover Z has been ranked as one of the most popular female idol groups from 2013 to 2017.[60][61][62][63][64][65]
In the late 2010s, many young actors developed large followings amongst teenagers after portraying famous contemporary literary characters. The most notable among these wereAnsel Elgort (Augustus Waters),Timothée Chalamet (Elio Perlman), andNick Robinson (Simon Spier). These actors were referred to by the media and general public as "White Boys of the Month", with the term becoming a popularmeme since.[66][67]Noah Centineo became popular among teenagers and young adults following the release ofTo All the Boys I've Loved Before, having amassed over 15 millionInstagram followers within eight weeks of the film's release; he was dubbed an "internet boyfriend" by the media.[68][69][70]
Although the future members of the boy bandOne Direction got elimated as solo acts on the third season ofThe X Factor, guest judgeNicole Scherzinger suggested that they form a group together. The result was much fame and fortune for the band, who burst onto the scene in 2012.[15] The group went on indefinite hiatus in 2016,[71] and since 2017, its members have been pursuing solo projects.[72]
Kylie Jenner rising to prominence in the mid-2010s can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, her appearances on her family's hit TV seriesKeeping Up with the Kardashians gave her a platform to showcase her unique personality and relatable experiences. Additionally, her bold and ever-changing sense of fashion, coupled with her flawless makeup looks, made her a style icon for many teenagers. Moreover, her active presence on social media platforms likeInstagram andSnapchat allowed her to connect with her fan base on a more personal level, giving them a glimpse into her glamorous lifestyle. In 2014 & 2015 she was named amongTime magazine's 100 most influential people in the world citing her considerable influence among youth on social media.[73][74] Kylie's influence in the beauty industry with her lip kits and cosmetics brandKylie Cosmetics also contributed to her teen idol status.
Similarly, in 2016 the Cuban-born American singerCamila Cabello left the girl groupFifth Harmony, which went on indefinite hiatus in 2018, in order to pursue a solo career. She makes use of her Latin American heritage in her rhythms.[71] At age 18, American musicianBillie Eilish won four Grammy Awards in 2020, and was commissioned to perform thetheme song for the James Bond movieNo Time to Die (2021).[75] The song topped the charts in February 2020.[76] She wrote it with her brother,Finneas, becoming the youngest artist to do so. She has tens of millions of followers on social media, and is well known for her lyrics concerning mental health such as depression and anxiety.[75]
Millie Bobby Brown rose to fame from her role asEleven in theNetflix seriesStranger Things. Her co-starsFinn Wolfhard,Gaten Matarazzo,Caleb McLaughlin,Noah Schnapp, andSadie Sink have also achieved fame from their roles in the series.
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American artistOlivia Rodrigo had previously worked as a child actress on the Disney comedy seriesBizaardvark (2016–19) and starred in the first three seasons ofHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019–present).[77] In January 2021, she released her debut single, "Drivers License", which went on to become one of the most streamed songs onSpotify at the time and spent eight weeks on top of theBillboard Hot 100 chart.[78][79] She sings with profanities in an emotionally charged manner of the struggles of an adolescent and commands a large following on social media networks, includingTikTok, where she has many teen-aged supporters.[77][79][80][81] Some sources consider Rodrigo to be a representative ofGeneration Z.[80][81]
Italian rock bandMåneskin was ushered into international attention after winning theEurovision Song Contest 2021, with their winning track "Zitti e buoni" as well as "I Wanna Be Your Slave" and their cover ofThe Four Seasons' "Beggin'" reaching the top 10 on theBillboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, supported by a growing following on TikTok and other social media platforms.[82][83] Prior to their Eurovision win, the band finished as runner-up in theeleventh season of the ItalianX Factor in 2017. Måneskin are credited as one of the first rock bands to heavily appeal to Generation Z.[84][85][86][87]
In the West, the Beatles,Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones were extremely popular among theBaby Boomers when they were growing up.[88][89] Parents, by contrast, saw their influence greatly diminished.[90] In the United Kingdom, for instance, a combination of theLady Chatterley trial (1959) and the first long-play of the Beatles,Please Please Me (1963) triggered a change public perception ofhuman mating, a cause subsequently taken up by young people seeking sexual liberation.[90][a]
During the 1960s and 1970s, the music industry made a fortune selling rock records to people between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five. This era was home to many youthful stars—people likeBrian Jones of the Rolling Stones orJimi Hendrix—who had lifestyles that all but guaranteed early deaths.[90][b] The death of a (former) teen idol can have a serious impact on fans, leading to outbursts of emotions. This was certainly the case when people like Davy Jones or Michael Jackson died.[91] And if an artist who reached fame at a young age were to die prematurely, he or she could spark conversations about the cost of fame.[92] This has been a recurring theme following the deaths ofAmy Winehouse (at age 27),Avicii (at 28), orLiam Payne (aged 31). These stars lacked a stable home environment, had an extremely busy and stressful schedule, were exposed to an adult environment as a teenager, face frequent and intense public scrutiny, and were prone toalcoholism orsubstance abuse.[92] Their deaths also fuel the myth that such endings are common among talented musicians, an idea that could be traced back to the antique world. In the fourth century B.C., Greek playwrightMenander claimed, "Whom the Gods love die young." But the myth that they die at the age of 27 is a modern phenomenon.[93] Statistical analysis has debunked this myth; there is no peak risk of dying at around age 27 for famous individuals, even if those who die at this specific age may garner more attention.[93][94] However, famous young artists face an elevated risk of dying in their 20s and 30s relative to the general population. In the United Kingdom, the risk is two to three times higher.[94]
But even as their fans age, the audience of idols does not necessarily shrink, as the fans who became parents can introduce their children to their music. People tend to be nostalgic about music from their youth.[91] In the twenty-first century, (former) teen idols can continue to be highly successful years after they made their debut as can be seen from the number of streams, digital downloads, CDs, cassettes, and vinyl records shipped.[95][96] To-date, the Beatles remain one of thebest-selling bands of all times.[21][97] Their success is unlikely to be replicated in the twenty-first century because trends have much shorter lifetimes and musical genres have splintered.[24]
The charm and charisma manifested by American actor James Dean onscreen proved strongly appealing to the audience,[98] and his persona of youthful rebellion provided a template for succeeding generations of youth to model themselves on.[99][100] Various artists, including Leonardo DiCaprio,[101]Buddy Holly,[102] andDavid Bowie,[103] cited Dean as an influence. Musician Taylor Swift referenced him in "Style" (2014).[104] Meanwhile, wearing white T-shirts and jeans remains iconic among young people today.[16]
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TheK-pop bandGirls' Generation has generally been considered as a cultural icon of not just South Korea,[105] but also a part of theKorean Wave, the rising popularity of Korean culture on the international stage.[106][107][108] As of 2019, another K-pop band,BTS, was reportedly worth more than US$4.65 billion, or 0.3 percent of the GDP of their home country.[109] They attracted one in every 13 foreign visitors to South Korea and were cited as one of the key acts in boosting global music sales to US$19 billion in 2018.[110] Data from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) shows that BTS became the best-selling artists of 2020 worldwide, ahead of Taylor Swift, Drake, the Weeknd, and Billie Eilish.[111]
A 2023 report by theFederal Reserve estimated that Taylor Swift'sEras Tour was responsible for $4.6 billion of consumer spending in the United States alone; local economies were significantly boosted by her presence.[112][113] Besides the Fed, various state and local authorities have credited Swift with increasing demand for their tourism and hospitality industries,[114][115] despite the slow recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.[116] During the early 2020s, a number of American universities offered courses pertaining to Taylor Swift, her music, and her cultural impact.[117] Taylor Swift is also seen as a positive role model for young people onprosocial behavior and on dealing withbody-image issues and unrealistic cultural expectations.[118][119]
