Hanson Is Cool. . . Seriously
Published on June 8th, 2010 in: Current Faves, Music, Over the Gadfly's Nest |
Photo credit:
Hanson.net
By the way, while the rest of the world forgot about them back in 1998, Hanson has maintained a loyal fanbase that will buy from them and die for them. The band knows they owe their continued success to their (obsessively scary, 90% female) fans, and they do not take this for granted—they consistently give back to those who support them to make their fans feel special.
The band was one of the first to start a successful, paid, online fan club back in 2000 that remains a fan community and active resource of all things Hanson to this day. Hanson.net serves as a multimedia testament of their every project, including journal entries and video blog updates from the band and certain restricted access only available to paid members. One fan club member is randomly given the honor to be a “reporter” for each Hanson concert in exchange for a meet and greet with the band, so every show is well-documented on the official site in detail including set lists, photos, and interviews with the guys, all from a fan’s perspective.
The band has spoken openly about the importance of the artist playing an active role in the music experience and maintaining a connection with their fans in the present-day over saturation of Internet resources and shoddy business deals. While on their college Q&A tour, Taylor explained that as musicians, it’s not just their job to create songs; they’re also responsible for “bring[ing] the music to the masses.” In closing the gap between the band and their fans, they allow the fans to be “a part of [the band’s] evolution.”
Just this year, Hanson began a partnership with LiveStream.com to deliver streaming footage in real time to fans on LiveStream and MSN.com, as well as their own site. They debuted this new endeavor by broadcasting their five night stint at the Gramercy Theater in New York this April, performing each one of their albums in its entirety each night, in chronological order.
The “5 For 5” concert series led up to the live debut of their soon-to-be-released album Shout It Out on the final night. Thousands of fans who were unable to attend the sold-out shows were given the opportunity to tune in from around the world and watch the concerts from the comfort of their homes. They chatted with their fellow Fansons (yup, that’s a term) on the side of the screen while watching the performances and on certain nights were treated to a sound check and a stream of the band backstage after the show.
Isaac has pointed out that the key to success is “to be in control and know your audience,” and they’ve figured out how to do just that. Because there’s no big record company involved, they run all their operations internally and collect all the profit. They are their own infrastructure and control all creative projects they put out to the world, and they always use this freedom and control to reward their supporters for being so integral to the process. As a fan, I’ve watched all the videos and read the blogs and learned the dances and gotten to watch the band create and grow and change over the years. Hanson makes us feel like we’re a part of it all, because we are.
14 Responses to “Hanson Is Cool. . . Seriously”
June 8th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Very extensive and an interesting read.
June 8th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Awh I really liked reading this. I feel just like you, being a Hanson fan is something special, Hanson are special, but they are hardly the best musicians out there (as a lot of fans believe!) – they are however the most giving musicians I know and certainly among the most passionate about their music.
I have to admit parts of this almost gave me goosebumps. Having followed Hanson from the start reading their career all chronicled like this is kinda like reading about part of my life for want of a better way to put it!
Anyway great article!
June 8th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Very impressive and extensive article. As a fan of 15 years, I full appreciate your commentary and honesty about the band and their music.
Fantastic! 😀
June 8th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
I don’t usually leave comments, but this was a great read, especially after some other article that mentions nothing about the new album.
Found this article quite humorous & informative for non Hanson fans to get up to speed with what the band’s been up to since 1997. Well done!
June 9th, 2010 at 2:07 am
this article was amazing. thank you for writing this, it made my whole day =]
June 9th, 2010 at 3:27 am
I’m a fan and a psychologist. You could be a Hanson fan whatever profession you have.
I read the 5 pages and I enjoyed your article so much I will recommend it to my close friends -who are not fansons. I’m not from the United States, so the band hasn’t been mentioned here many times.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Thanks for writing a very fair and honest perspective from a fan. I agree with Nikki up there that having followed this band since 87 has been like reading about a part of my life. My son was born in 87, his name is Taylor and I have taken him and my older son to Hanson concerts to introduce them to music since they were little and now they are older, playing guitar, listening to Hanson and The Beatles and other bands like Weezer and Red Hot Chili Peppers etc. and I feel like Hanson was a great start for them.
The Hanson guys ARE special. And it’s true that if you don’t “get it” you won’t get the music. I think it takes a special sort of mind/heart connection to get it entirely. It’s like these boys are my long lost sons or something…. the family I had in another life. They write of things that matter to me, sing like soulful angels and have a great fun/funny but yet endearingly sweet nature. And that is COOL. Very happy for them that things are going so well for them and I hope it continues, as I will be watching and listening and cheering them on!
June 9th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
What an incredible, in-depth analysis! I never knew Hanson was so interesting and respectable! Top notch work.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Ashley, thank you for reposting links to this article all over Facebook!
It is much appreciated.
Thanks everyone for your positive comments on this article.
LLM
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Incredible writing and fascinating story.
October 19th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Would it have killed you to post a more recent pic? It’s not like they’ve been in hiding for 13 years. THere are thousands of post-bop pics to choose from, and plenty from each album. Dig a little deeper, won’t you?
October 19th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Hi Jessie, thanks for commenting.
If you click through the rest of the article, you’ll see that there are several more recent photos of Hanson, not just the one of them on the first page.
Happy reading!
LLM
October 20th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Hey Jessie, dig a little deeper, won’t you?
January 8th, 2013 at 7:08 am
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