How to Be a Real Fan in 2025 & Why Artists Need You Now More Than Ever
Supporting your favorite artists goes far beyond streaming their songs — it’s about connection, appreciation, and showing up when it counts.
As we come off the heels of Coachella and brace ourselves for ACL — the best lineup to come in my opinion — one thing is clear: festival season is booming, and artists are more visible (and vulnerable) than ever.
Post-pandemic, many artists have returned to touring with renewed purpose. Years in the studio gave birth to fresh music, and being back in front of fans has reignited their connection to the live experience. But here’s the truth many fans don’t realize: the majority of an artist’s income doesn’t come from streaming royalties or publishing deals — it comes from touring, performance fees, merchandise, and brand partnerships.
And yet… we, as fans, often underestimate our power to truly support them.
Image from actinart.org
The Real Cost of Touring
Creating and performing music isn’t cheap. Between travel, production, audio engineers, rehearsals, visas, crew, and equipment, the costs rack up fast. That’s why many artists — even big names — are rethinking how they tour.
If you’ve noticed more solo DJ sets, stripped-down performances, or late-night surprise gigs, it’s not by accident. I recently spoke with a Grammy-nominated artist who told me, point-blank, that I had just witnessed their final full-band live show.
At first, the fan in me couldn’t believe it.
But after decades of exhausting international travel, rising production costs, and ever-changing visa laws, the friend in me saw it for what it was: a pivot toward sustainability, sanity, and solo performances that still feed the artist soul.
Enter: The Direct-to-Fan Era
This shift has opened the door for something powerful — the rise of direct-to-fan platforms. These allow artists to control how they connect, monetize, and build community without gatekeepers.
I support James Blake through Vault.io, a platform that gives fans like me access to unreleased songs, early ticket links, and even text messages directly from him. It’s intimate, intentional, and incredibly humanizing.
Platforms like this are the antidote to the failed promise of NFTs. Artists were initially intrigued by NFTs for their revenue potential, but many backed away due to environmental concerns and fan backlash. Direct-to-fan tools like Vault, Bandcamp, and Patreon have since stepped up — offering ethical, meaningful ways for fans to support music they love.
Bandcamp alone has paid over $1.49 billion to artists, with $192 million in 2024 alone.
How You Can Actually Support Artists
The hard truth: liking a post or streaming a single isn’t enough anymore.
If you truly want to be a real fan in 2025, here’s how to show up:
Follow them on all platforms (yes, even the ones you never use).
Social Media: Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, YouTube, SnapChat
Music Streaming: Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Tidal, Audiomack, Deezer
Live Music Discovery: Bands in Town, Songkick, your favorite bloggers :)
Subscribe to their newsletters.
Buy their merch — online or at shows.
Comment on and share their content (algorithms matter).
Attend shows when you can.
Support platforms that put artists first (like Bandcamp, Vault.io, Patreon, Medallion.fm, and even curated Discords).
This isn’t just about money — it’s about recognition, validation, and keeping them going when imposter syndrome creeps in (which it often does).
Give Them Their Flowers
Over the years, I’ve seen artists — from global headliners to up-and-comers — break down in tears after hearing a simple, heartfelt thank-you from me. These aren’t staged moments. They’re raw. Real. And deeply revealing of the inner psyche of an artist (not including the self-indulgent, narcissistic, ego-driven ones - that’s an article for another time).
Many artists are stuck in a creative grind: studio time, promo cycles, tours, silence. Rinse and repeat. And while fans cheer, post, and celebrate, very few take the time to speak directly and say: “Your music got me through something.” Or, “That song says what I couldn’t.”
I always try to give artists their flowers — not for clout, but because I know what it means to hear those words after the trust has been built between us. It’s a lot easier to believe a non-biased opinion versus someone with a desire to “get something from them”.
A compliment out of the blue, whether you know them or not, can find them on one of their darker days, when a simple comment shows them that “someone is paying attention” and they’re on the right track.
Music Has Always Been There
In my review of LCD Soundsystem (yes, it was that 🍄 trip), I laid on the hood of my car and felt something that reminded me why I fell in love with music in the first place. Even in the loneliest moments, music has been there — to reflect what I couldn’t say, to soundtrack what I couldn’t name, to pull me back when I felt disconnected from everyone and my life.
That’s the power of music. And that’s why showing up for the people who make it — truly showing up — matters more than ever.
Final Thoughts
In a world where attention is currency and everything is moving a million miles an hour, being a real fan cuts through the noise like nothing else. Artists don’t just need an audience — they need advocates. Champions. People who see the actual human behind the mic.
So next time your favorite artist drops a single, plays a show, or shares a post that feels a little too quiet — let them know you’re there. Let them know they matter.
Because they do.
Clarissa Cardenas
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