The Band Merch Fashion Trend
Stranger Things scene featuring Metallica (courtesy of Netflix)
There seems to be a new trend over the past few years in which celebrities as well as every other fashion guru has started wearing t-shirts and other merchandise of bands (specifically rock and metal bands) that they likely never heard of…because it’s cool.
Of course this new trend has sparked some backlash from the communities of actual fans of these artists. “Name 3 songs” shouts the diehard Slayer fan. “Do you actually like them or are you wearing it to be trendy?” asks a loyal BMTH fan.
It’s actually quite odd. Being part of the metal genre ourselves, we often find that a lot of metal fans get pretty “gate keep-ish” about this whole thing. They become concerned with the path a new fan has taken to become a fan of their favorite band. “Oh you only like Metallica because of Stranger Things…poser!” If you did not become a fan of their favorite band in the method they wanted you to, then you’re not welcome. We rarely see this in other genres. In fact, a lot of people in other genres look at this and think “what the fuck is wrong with you?”
You’ll rarely see a Arianna Grande fan getting pissed off about someone wearing an Arianna Grande t-shirt. You’ll never see a Justin Timberlake fan upset that someone heard his song in Trolls and decided they liked his music.
Some things To think about
For most of us in these bands, we don’t mind. Do you know why we don’t mind? Well let’s break this down:
Artists really do not make much money anymore by selling their music. The internet has made music mostly free.
Artists do not make much money from concerts/tours because the combination of expense and venues taking cuts, managers taking cuts, labels taking cuts, etc has made a tour almost a complete financial loss for the artists.
CDs no longer sell like they used to (because of number 1). They still sell as souvenirs or merch (a keepsake) but even then…not so much.
When someone buys a shirt with an artist on it, that artist makes money. In fact, merch is about the only revenue source the artist still makes money on that is directly connected to them or their music.
If you hear one of an artists songs in a tv show or movie, that’s actually okay. It means the artist made money via sync royalties and their music was now introduced to a lot of new potential fans. This is actually a good thing for the artist and for you the fan of that artist.
Do not be upset at someone becoming a Metallica fan because of Stranger Things. If you’re that loyal to Metallica, it shouldn’t matter how someone learned about them. Remember that there was a time that you had no idea who they were either. Something caused you to be exposed to them the first time.
Don’t get pissed that someone is wearing a Motionless In White t-shirt that you don’t think has “earned the right” to do so. That’s money in MIW’s pocket that they can then use to write and record a new album (oh yeah, by the way…that shit isn’t free to do).
Being upset by these things and constantly gatekeeping the genre like this, only serves one end. That end being that your favorite artists will go bankrupt when no new fans are “allowed” to listen to their music or buy their merch because you said so. Nothing will make the music stop quicker than the artist not being able to afford to do it.
If it helps, try to remember how judgmental people were to you when you first started dressing differently, looking differently or acting differently when you began listening to this amazing music we call “heavy metal.” You were “the freak” to everyone else remember? I do. I was that kid. Long black hair, leather jacket, tight jeans, tattoos and loud awesome fuckin music. Don’t do that to someone else and for the love of fuck, don’t kill off your favorite artists by keeping new fans from liking them or buying their shit.
Fans don’t bankrupt their favorite artists. They try to make their communities bigger. 🤘🏼