Pop Group Charging Membership to Fan Club

[Cypress]

I have been following a trio of singers from Italy for several years now. They routinely come to USA to tour and have done quite well artistically. They have a fan base from North, South and Central America as well as Western Europe.

On their web site, they started selling merchandise with their logo. It's typical Italian, classy and prices seem competitive.

They just started an Official Fan Club with a forum. There is no preview to the forum as we have here. Fans have to buy an annual membership at 20 Euros. The membership card returns:



EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE FORUM
10% OFF ON THE MERCHANDISING
EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS ON THE SHOP
SOON NEW EXCLUSIVE CONTENTS AND SERVICES


The fan social network in the USA are reporting problems with purchasing the card and using the forum. I expect technical glitches as it is USA to Italy. I have huge doubts about becoming a member. I never heard of a performing group charging fans to be members to their club. If I could see the forum and how it works, I might be interested to join. I have big doubts about giving out credit card information to an Italian website. There has to be a user fee, exchange fee on a credit card. And, I am not sure my USA card would work without calling them and telling them my plan of purchase. If there is a glitch, who do you call for service? The website doesn't provide customer service contact information. I just feel red flags going up as a consumer.

It's different, I am not sure if I am a luddite and this is now the way pop artists interact with fans.

[ToomuchStuff]

Let me start with the obvious; Do you speak Italian?
Since the forum, is Theirs, on thieir "official recognized" forum (as compared to fan run) and probably in Italy, (which probably has its own laws that govern this, that they should have a lawyer setup), I expect they might interact with that forum, more often.
That said, you might just look for a FAN organized forum, (language of your choosing) as there is bound to be someone who may be a member of both.

[iris lilies]

Back in the days before computers, fan clubs did charge a fee. You paid a small amount of money to belong, and you received newsletters and probably a signed photo of the musical artist, and various other small perks. That was 40-50 years ago, so its not a new concept.

But charging for online access in ths day and age, hmmmmm. I guess it is retro.

I am guessing, OP, that their merchandise isnt something you buy, so the value to you would be in access to forums. Is there enough content in forums to make this worthwhile? The membership would --hopefully --give you an advantage in buying tickets, too.

i see that this group is doing a U.S. Tour. They are in my city in October 2016. Wow, Meet and Greet tickets for 4 go for $1800! These guys are out to monetize their images. Nothing wrong with that.

For me, I would not hesitate to use my charge card online for a product I want. I doubt that the "European" aspect of the busness transaction will be a problem.

[Cypress]

Yes, I can read and write in Italian. I've been to Italy as well. The USA based fan network is pretty clicky, unofficial and way over the top with celebrity glorification imho. I like the music but hold back and recognize the halo effect. It's a tough fan group as if you don't buy into their "perfection" they give you the cold shoulder. Too high on a pedestal for me, but the USA fan group seems pretty happy with giving them a high celebrity treatment.

I like the comment it is official now and the interaction would be different. It's one way for me to keep up with my language skill.

And, when I go back to Italy next year, I would try to see them in their native country. That would be a lot of fun. So, I hadn't thought of it that way. Typically, people buy for concerts and events in Europe through TicketOne.com

No, the group is not touring in October 2016 in USA. Perhaps you have another group in mind. I'd rather not say who this is. But, you are right that Meet & Greets are part of the USA tour and can be troppo caro! Very expensive. It's at least $150 for a handshake, and photo op. That I won't do.

[iris lilies]

Sorry OP, i got your group mixed up with one of similar name.

[Cypress]

Update on this post. I did receive my membership card in the mail. The package was mailed from England gratis. The cost was about $23 USD. Apparently, the forum is being marketed by the group as an official fan club. The forum is accessible only to members.

The group caused an uproar in the fan community last week by posting on their official page that the forum is being moderated by a dominant unofficial fan club. There are four moderators appointed so far and all from the fan community. The group stated they wanted a friendly environment, were seeking more moderators, would select them by nomination from the various fan groups but the moderators are unpaid. The fan community hasn't taken the news well. The response to this post was largely that an official fan club was wanted, but that it be managed by people outside the fan community. That professionals only, unbiased and unconnected to the group, moderate the forum.

One of the moderators from the most popular unofficial fan club had some bad habits that are now moving into forum community. The moderator deletes posts from the unofficial fan page, uses other people's creative writing, artistic or photographic pieces as their own, they block fans routinely from the site for reasons I actually don't know as I don't participate in the unofficial fan page. One of the artists has started making unfriendly comments to fans via Twitter. In fact, the entire family as come out with negative comments about the situation calling fans jealous, evil, and fakes. The trouble is, the claims are not substantiated in any way. If pressed to explain these statements, no reply is made. This moderator from the popular unofficial group is now doing the same behavior in the forum. Fans are being blocked and groups are being blocked from participation.

What may have been a good idea is now being scuttled by unpopular and confusing behavior. People are complaining about having to buy membership to a forum being run by fans. I see their point.

Anyway, several other popular pages have left statements explaining their position. Even the Italian fan groups are experiencing blocks, and being pushed off the forum. The groups manager has always shown preference for this most popular group. He is openly showing their connection on his FB page. They are clearly a unit.

I've never seen anything like it. I belong to this forum, one for Star Wars fans, classical music/opera, and travel. All are run by average people with a definite interest and dedicated hobby, almost a job, but they are all run by average folks and none charge for membership. Fans can run forums, that I know, this group appointed moderators don't seem to have had the same background I have in forums. Forums are fun and have rules to protect everybody.

It's really something to see how the management has made a decision that's received so much negative push back from the community. The reasoning was clear. Fans want the forum, but they want it run professionally. The general communication may have also been assigned now to these unpaid staffers. So, fans are confused, not certain about leadership, many don't know what a forum is, most haven't bought a membership card and the moderators haven't explained what their goals are for fans.

Talk about a case study in communications! I am watching all this and surprised that one of the artist is pushing back at fans. Pushing the bread and butter? I love their music but the management is displaying interesting ethical choices. While I believe fans can run the forum, the appointed moderators seem clueless about public communications. What a story!