High accessibility to internet technology and popularization of focus media has given rise to various emerging subcultures among the younger generation who constantly seek novelty and unique lifestyles. The Otaku subculture is one such adolescent subculture, a culture of avid ACG (animation, comic, games) collectors, while pop music fans belong to another youth subculture deeply involved in gathering and tracking the lives and performances of pop music stars. As the adolescent is becoming the most purchasing power consumer group of fashion product, this research aims at comparing the traits of the above two adolescent subcultures and their influences on buying behavior tendencies toward subculture-specific merchandises. This research is also attempting to develop an analytical model through comparison of two studies. The research framework is constructed based on the assumption that the traits of adolescent subcultures influence the subculture-specific consumptions and is examined on two studies of Otaku and pop music fans subcultures respectively. The same investigation methods are applied in two studies. First, the review of prior studies and findings of focus group interview with sample of five representative adolescents were integrated into a tentative model. Then, the questionnaire was developed based on the tentative model and the focus group interview findings, and sample of survey in two studies are 105 and 101 respectively. Survey data were examined by factor analysis and structural equation modeling for the verification of the tentative model, and finally a revised model is developed based on comparison of two studies results. Results show that the personality, values and lifestyle of subculture¡¦s main traits dimensions influence their buying behavior, although the Otaku and pop music fans take part in different activities and embrace different personality traits and values. The results also verify a feasible generalized analytical model for measuring the influences of the traits of specific adolescent subcultures on their buying behavior. This research offers some implications for consumer behavior and marketing communication including (1) comprehensive customer investigation is needed to understand what adolescents think and want; (2) providing attractive content and (3) adopting modern media to attract and access adolescent subculture group; (4) marketing communication appeals should match adolescents self-images to get their identification; and (5) providing total subculture solution in integrated marketing programs.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Université de Montréal, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

I takt med den digitala revolutionen som musikindustrin genomgått, har frågor angående hur musikfans online blir lojala mot artister framgått och skapat ämne för diskussion. Syftet med denna uppsats är att utveckla en djupare förståelse för hur musikfans online skapar varumärkeslojalitet genom gemensamt engagemang. Studien har genomförts utifrån en kvalitativ metod med en abduktiv forskningsansats. Nio kvalitativa intervjuer samt en fokusgrupp innehållande sju deltagare har genomförts för att ge svar på forskningsfrågorna. Utifrån studiens empiri och analys kunde det fastställas huruvida musikfans är en betydande faktor i marknadsföringen av en artist. Analysen kommer även fram till huruvida musikfans existerar samt beter sig i en online miljö. Studien visar att musikfans genom gemensamma engagemang kan skapa och stärka varumärkeslojalitet. Vilka faktorer som påverkar musikfans interaktioner som leder till engagemang diskuteras i mer detalj i den avslutande slutsatsen. / The rise of social media has given birth to new marketing means and in the music industry different ways to make fans engage with artist content. Thus, marketers are in need to understand the new way fans engage with artists and other fans. The purpose of this study is to examine how music fans online engage with other fans and how this correlates to the creation of brand loyalty towards artists. The study aims to provide new insight from brands and marketers in how they can improve their strategies towards the creation of brand loyalty. The study's empirical data is based on single interviews and a focus group which have been based on qualitative methods. The study indicates that music fans play an important role in how an artist's music is distributed and engaged with. Furthermore, the findings show a correlation between music fans engagement with other music fans and the creation of loyalty towards an artist. Finally the study shows ways a fan is created and what method could be used for future researchers on the subject. We propose that further research needs to be conducted where more specific fan groups are examined as well as how interactions and engagement differs between generations.

This report chronicles the process of investigating social theories and their relation to music experience in order to create a specific online community. The purpose of this community focuses on an historical perspective of music while facilitating the formation of varied knowledge-networks and relationship levels. Social theories are correlated with web applications and tools to support design choices that will appeal to users by providing opportunities for specific social functions. This research allows for an organized, detailed, and theoretical approach to the design of the online music community, Vinylsqueegee.com. / text

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