Fans prefer tweets to autographs, survey says

Herald online

15 Sep, 2015 04:20 AM2 mins to read

JK Rowling is one of many stars who interact with fans over twitter, something many say is preferable to an autograph.

More fans would prefer a chat on Twitter with their idol to an autograph, a new study reveals.

An online survey of music fans had 74 per cent of respondents agree that a retweet is more appealing to Twitter users than an autograph, The Independent reported.

Fans said interaction on Twitter was better than an autograph because it made them feel like the artist was taking a genuine interest in them.

Twitter was cited as the most popular social media platform, with fans saying it "allows them to get to know artists as real people".

One 46-year-old Duran Duran fan has experienced both forms of fandom. She said she preferred interacting online.

"I think I possibly prefer the connection on Twitter to actually seeing them in the flesh. When they are at the concert there are loads of girls but on Twitter if you get a tweet it's going to me and they are answering a question I have asked them, so it's more personal," she told the Independent.

"A re-tweet is better. With an autograph it's just a scribble but a re-tweet is more personal. They (the artist) have taken the time to read your tweet and re-tweet it out of a thousand."

Dr John Curran, a cultural anthropologist, said: "The retweet is better than the autograph, it says, 'We almost could share a beer together'."

Harry Potter author JK Rowling is well-known for her interaction on Twitter and often sends messages of support to fans who tweet her.

The flipside is stars open themselves up to negative interactions in the free-for-all online, although if you've got a quick wit this can also help your image.

Pop star James Blunt, who has copped a fair bit of flak over the years for his style of singing, hit back at trolls who said he had "an annoying face and a highly irritating voice," replying "and no mortgage".

When a critic said "my mum hates James Blunt" he responded: "Because I won't pay the child support?"