The ties that bind? Online musicians and their fans

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Daellenbach ◽  
Rachael Kusel ◽  
Michel Rod

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between musician’s social network sites (SNS), the tie that fans may develop via these sites, and music acquisition, via legal and illegal means. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative approach was taken, gathering 352 responses from young adults via an online survey. Findings – Perceptions of interactivity and sincerity on musicians’ SNS are found to lead to stronger ties, enhancing the fan’s feeling of closeness to the musician, the fan’s inclination to spread positive word-of-mouth, and the time a fan spends on the site. Pathways are found between the fan activity, sense of closeness and time spent on the SNS. In terms of acquisition, the tie strength indicator of time spent on the SNS holds a positive relationship with purchase intent. While a sense of closeness holds a negative relationship to illegal downloading activity, the fan’s activity recommending the musician has a positive influence on illegal downloading. Research limitations/implications – Limitations of this study include a limited amount of information on the musician and extent of fandom, suggesting future research to tease out the effects of SNS on fans with varying levels of existing commitment to musicians. Practical implications – Stronger ties between fans and musicians may be developed via interactive and sincere SNS. Activities which encourage the fan to give recommendations and spread positive word-of-mouth are especially influential in driving purchase intent. Originality/value – These results provide theoretical and practical implications in relation to how SNS may influence the online fan-celebrity “tie” and music acquisition – three elements which have not to date been examined.

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1206-1222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Scott Rosenbaum ◽  
Mauricio Losada Otalora ◽  
Germán Contreras Ramírez

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that mall shoppers who participate in a mall’s experiential offerings, including entertainment and activities, do not necessarily exhibit more favorable attitudes or behaviors toward the mall than mall shoppers who do not participate in these offerings. Design/methodology/approach This study employs survey methodology from a sample collected in an expansive regional mall that offers customers experiential activities. Findings The findings show that mall shoppers who partake in mall-based activities are less satisfied, are less likely to spread positive word of mouth, and have lesser desire to return to the mall than shoppers who do not partake in these activities. The findings also reveal that mall expenditures are the same between shoppers who partake in mall activities and those who do not. Research limitations/implications Researchers have argued that malls can compete with digital retailers by offering shoppers experiential activities. Although segments of shoppers partake in these activities, this study finds that experiential investments do not result in significant favorable shopper outcomes. Practical implications Mall developers that implement experiential offerings as a means to combat competition from digital retailers may not attain managerially relevant results from doing so. Originality/value Although retailing academics and consultants espouse the idea that retailers can obtain financial benefits by creating memorable experiences for shoppers, this research offers empirical evidence that counters these speculations. In the case of enclosed malls, investments in experiential features and activities may not lead to improved shopper attitudes, behaviors, or sales.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chukwunonso Oraedu

PurposeThis paper explores the reasoning surrounding relationship value and quality, and further provides a blueprint on how positive word-of-mouth behaviour can be promoted through different routes.Design/methodology/approachSurvey strategy was employed with focus on quantitatively developed questionnaires. Informants were recruited through mall intercept. All diagnostic tests, path analyses and, by implication, research hypotheses were conducted using the SEM-PLS technique.FindingsAll the hypothesized relationships were supported. Relationship value directly relates to trust, satisfaction and word-of-mouth behaviour. Value was also indirectly related to word-of-mouth behaviour through the relationship quality construct, but trust stood-out as a better mediator. Trust and satisfaction also came out as antecedents of positive word-of-mouth behaviour.Research limitations/implicationThe relationship between relationship value and the relationship quality construct remains largely under-researched in literatures. This paper serves as a springboard for future research projects to extend understanding on how both constructs interact especially in a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) level. In addition, the paper offers a comprehensive insight on the behaviour of the relationship quality construct when it is tested as a mediator in a causal–effect model.Practical implicationsThis study holds that by engineering superior value, a telecom provider is better positioned to build a sound relationship quality network and stimulate positive word-of-mouth through different routes.Originality/valueGiven the dearth of research on this area, this paper represents the first attempt to map out relationship value as an antecedent of relationship quality and word-of-mouth behaviour on a B2C level, and simultaneously explore the direct and indirect behaviour of both constructs in promoting word-of-mouth behaviour in a non-Western setting.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naser Valaei ◽  
Gregory Bressolles ◽  
Hina Khan ◽  
Yee Min Low

PurposeEven though there is a noticeable market value in the mobile gaming apps industry, there has been limited research examining experiential value of gamers with respect to in-game ads in gaming apps. This study fills the void in the literature by examining factors associated with “experiential value of gamers through ads in gaming apps” as well as investigating its antecedents (cognitive and affective involvement) and consequences (positive word of mouth and intention to continue playing the mobile game).Design/methodology/approachA total of 600 valid responses from gamers was used to test the model fit, measurement and structural models, conditional probabilistic queries, and nonlinearity.FindingsThis study found that experiential value of gamers through ads in gaming apps is a second-order factor of four constructs: escapism, enjoyment, social affiliation and entertainment. Most of the structural paths between cognitive/affective involvement and dimensions of experiential value are supported. Surprisingly, only social affiliation and entertainment values predict positive word of mouth and intention to continue playing the mobile game, in a nonlinear way.Originality/valueThis study is the first to introduce “experiential value of gamers through ads in gaming apps”. The findings have important implications for companies to develop brand and communication strategies by leveraging specific advertisement formats and present their ads to the right audience in the right gaming apps and at the right time.


Author(s):  
Alyssa Eve Brown

This paper seeks to better understand the festivalgoers’ experience by determining what festivalgoers want at UK rock music festivals. Examining the experience journey, important attributes were identified in pre-, peri- and post-festival phases. Qualitative data was collected from 124 festivalgoers through semi-structured group interviews that were conducted on-site at three different UK rock festivals. Thematic analysis revealed the importance of co-creation and engagement through each phase of the festivalgoer experience. The practical implications of this study provide festival organisers with the opportunity to direct their management efforts on the strategic optimisation of experiences that may promote preferred consumer behaviour through positive word of mouth and future reattendance. Moreover, this article offers a conceptual model of the festivalgoer experience.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kesha K. Coker ◽  
Richard L. Flight ◽  
Dominic M. Baima

PurposeDigital engagement with advertising remains challenging for marketers. This research examines “being hooked” as the mechanism of narrative transportation associated with digital video storytelling ads. Its purpose is to examine the efficacy of digital video ad format (storytelling vs argumentative) in hooking viewers (i.e. grabbing attention and interest in the ad). This research also presents a conceptual model of the effect of being hooked on digital engagement with advertising.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a quasi-experimental research design with a final sample of 273 undergraduate students. It tests the hypothesis that digital video storytelling ads hook viewers more effectively than argumentative ads do. It also tests a conceptual model of the positive effect of being hooked on digital engagement with advertising.FindingsDigital video storytelling ads hook viewers more effectively than argumentative ads do. SEM analysis shows that being hooked positively impacts intentions to view, share, promote and spread positive word of mouth. Attitude toward the ad partially mediates the relationship between being hooked and intentions to promote and spread positive word of mouth.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are applicable to target audience profiles that match the sample in this study. Despite this and other limitations, findings advance theory on the process underlying digital video storytelling advertising effects on consumer engagement.Practical implicationsMarketers are advised to invest in more digital video storytelling than argumentative ads. In doing so, marketers are more likely to hook viewers on the ad, thereby generating positive digital engagement with advertising.Originality/valueThis research focuses on attention and interest dimensions of narrative transportation as measured by “being hooked.” It also extends past models of narrative transportation by including more representative measures of digital engagement with advertising.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-78
Author(s):  
Meenakshi Handa ◽  
Shruti Gupta

Purpose With the rising concern for the planet and people dimensions of the triple-bottom-line, an increasing number of firms are using cause-related marketing (CRM) to create a win-win situation for all stakeholders. With growing internet and social media access the Indian consumer is being invited to participate in such campaigns through digital platforms. The purpose of the present study is to examine consumer perceptions about select digital CRM campaigns in terms of perceived fit between the brand and the cause being promoted and the extent of participation effort required by the campaign and further to investigate the relationship between these two variables and consumers’ intentions to participate in the campaign, engage in positive word-of-mouth about it and their brand purchase intentions. Design/methodology/approach Six online CRM campaigns in the consumer products space were taken up for study. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire in an online mode, which provided an advertisement snapshot and a brief description of each CRM campaign. Items to measure variables under examination were adapted from the extant literature. Three versions of the questionnaire were created, with each version involving two of the six campaigns. Thus, each respondent was responding to items pertaining to two campaigns only. A total of 242 responses were collected, using non-probability sampling. Findings The study indicates overall positive responses to the digital CRM campaigns included in the study. It finds that for the online CRM campaigns taken up for examination, respondents perceive a high extent of brand-cause fit. A fit between the cause being promoted and the brand’s sphere of activity is a factor that needs to be considered for its impact on consumer willingness to participate in the campaign and intention to engage in positive word-of-mouth about it. The study does not indicate a significant relationship between participation effort for online campaigns and consumer behavioural intentions. Consumer participation intentions and word-of-mouth intentions are found to be positively related to intentions to purchase the brand associated with the campaign. Practical implications In their efforts to design effective CRM campaigns, marketers should use creativity in looking for a common thread, which ties their business or brand with the cause being promoted. Consumers tend to perceive this congruence between the cause and the brand and this impacts their behavioural responses. It is possible that the fact that consumers are not required to make a purchase but are being invited to support a cause by performing a non-transaction-based activity, may also underlie their positive response to this genre of CRM activities. The study provides an understanding of factors that contribute to the effectiveness of non-purchase-based online CRM campaigns in garnering consumer engagement with the campaign and the brand. Originality/value The results provide important insights regarding non-transaction based digital CRM campaigns and the relationship between brand-cause fit, perceived participation effort and targeted changes in consumers’ behavioural intentions. Online CRM campaigns involving consumer participation in forms other than brand purchase are an emerging area of effort towards customer engagement and thus warrant further investigation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Blaise Issock Issock ◽  
Mercy Mpinganjira ◽  
Mornay Roberts-Lombard

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of consumption values, green customer satisfaction and customer trust in energy-efficient labels on green customer loyalty and positive word of mouth (PWOM) towards energy-efficient products, and how environmental knowledge moderates these relationships. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach was followed using a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 440 consumers in South Africa, who used electronic home appliances that have energy efficiency labels. A structural equation model and a multigroup analysis were used to test the hypothesised relationships. Findings The results revealed that consumption values partially influence green customer satisfaction, which, in turn, affect green customer trust and loyalty, and PWOM. Environmental knowledge only marginally moderates the relationships in the model. Practical implications Green marketing practitioners should work on improving green customer satisfaction, which is central to a sustainable green consumption lifestyle. Originality/value The theoretical contribution of this study is through the application of a multidimensional approach to testing the impact of consumption values on green customer satisfaction. Moreover, this paper provides greater clarity on the specific determinants of PWOM and examines the interplay between green customer loyalty and positive word of mouth towards green products. Furthermore, the moderating effect of environmental knowledge on the relationships in the proposed model is explained.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-108
Author(s):  
Rosemary Matikiti ◽  
Mercy Mpinganjira ◽  
Mornay Roberts-Lombard

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the precursors and outcomes of service recovery satisfaction and customer commitment among airline business customers. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from airline travellers in South Africa using a structured questionnaire. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results revealed that recovery expectations and perceived equity exert significant influence on levels of recovery satisfaction, which in turn influence overall satisfaction, trust and commitment. The study also revealed that trust and overall satisfaction are antecedents of customer commitment and that customer commitment has a significant positive relationship with positive word of mouth. It was also established that the quality of past service performance moderates the relationship between recovery satisfaction and commitment. Practical implications Airlines are advised to stimulate customer trust in the service delivery process through transparency in the procedures by which they resolve service failures and to remain committed to their service recovery promises to customers. It is also proposed that airlines should secure increased positive word of mouth through offering satisfactory service recovery. Originality/value Very little research in the South African context exists which focusses on the influence of customers satisfaction and commitment in the airline industry. This paper helps in establishing the antecedents of customer commitment after service failure in the airline industry.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Thompson ◽  
Samuel Lane

Purpose – This study aims to evaluate both intelligence and job satisfaction of workers in the USA and China. Each topic will be studied individually, first, to determine the relationship between intelligence and job satisfaction. The statistics between China and the USA will then be compared and contrasted to assess how different cultures will affect emotional intelligence and job satisfaction of those in the workforce. Design/methodology/approach – A review of the empirical studies on intelligence and job satisfaction was performed and used to develop a model to guide future research. Findings – There is a negative relationship between intelligence and job satisfaction in the USA, but no studies have been done to compare both constructs cross-culturally. Research limitations/implications – The proposed study can be used to gain an understanding of the relationship between intelligence and job satisfaction across different cultures. Practical implications – The link between job satisfaction and intelligence can be used by employers to determine information about other aspects of their business, such as turnover rates of productive employees. Originality/value – Although there has been some research on the relation between intelligence and job satisfaction, notably by Ganzach (1998), very little has been done across cultures.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 54-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Erturkoglu ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
En Mao

Due to the penetration of the Internet, social mobile games have become one of the most popular entertaining virtual activities and hence, created a new market for online social networking. In this project, the authors examine the factors that drive consumers' intentions to play social mobile games and spread positive word-of-mouth about the games. Expanding the Uses and Gratifications Theory, a research model is developed to test six factors, including perceived entertainment, social interaction, pass time, game popularity, usability, and trust. The research model was tested with 387 responses from online participants using SmartPLS. The results revealed that four factors - perceived entertainment, game popularity, usability and trust - significantly influenced both intentions to play social mobile games and spread positive word-of-mouth. Social interaction was found to influence intention to spread word-of-mouth only. Practical implications and theoretical contributions of the study findings are discussed in the context of social mobile networking.


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