ABSTRACT
One of Gaga's signature rallying cries is "I'm a free bitch!" But her actions indicate how far from "free" she is. In theory, she plays the music business game however she wants; but if only one path—a path that emphasizes sex and shock value over musical talent—leads to stardom for female artists, so-called artist agency scarcely matters. Her ability to tap into universal narratives and cultural tensions simultaneously makes her powerful, resonant, and rare. Her success stems in large part from her ability to represent and empower large groups of people who have historically felt left out of pop cultural narratives and windfalls. In the music industry, these roles are inhabited by publicists, artist managers, bloggers, photographers, radio programmers, and retailers—basically anyone involved in assembling pop star symbols, images, messages, and narratives. The sociological factors that influence the relationship between pop star and fan contribute significantly to the way in which these women are marketed to the public.
