ABSTRACT
In the context of cultural commodities, music has undergone some of the most striking changes in the digital era. To discuss the impact of music's changing technologies on fans and fan cultures, we brought together three phenomenal music scholars, Nancy Baym, Daniel Cavicchi, and Norma Coates. Together, these scholars discuss how digital technologies have influenced (and continue to influence) music fandom. In their exchange, they explore a wealth of topics including definitions of "music" and "fan," the changing relationships between musicians and fans, emotion and gender, and approaches for studying music fandom as it continues to evolve. Digital media provided infrastructures for fan productivity, from the enduring archives of live recordings, tour dates, releases, and so on, to the creation of fan art, cover songs, fan videos, and the like. The digital age has certainly presented new tools for performers and fans to enact ongoing interests.
