The 9 Most Powerful Female Fanbases in Music History
There’s a common thread that runs through the success stories of some of the most iconic artists in history, and that is the undeniable influence of their female fanbase.
These fans, passionate and loyal, have been the driving force behind numerous record-breaking milestones in the music industry. Female listeners have not only propelled artists to achieve staggering streaming success but have also been a key factor in sold-out arena tours, chart-topping albums, and ever significant industry movements. Is your fandom on the list?
Mixers
It’s no secret that female fans are the foundation for girl groups in the music industry. Little Mix fans, called the Mixers, created excitement around the group from the beginnings of their career, keeping the group relevant in a competitive era of music.
Due to their fan driven success, Little Mix had a number of #1 singles and sold out tours. Little Mix celebrated their female fans, releasing powerful and uplifting music. Based in the UK, the girls group became known throughout the world, with an international mix of fans. With a young audience, mental health and women empowerment became important themes to the fans and the artists and formed future discussions for women in the industry.
Stevie Nicks Fans
A monumental artist with a huge fan following is the one and only Stevie Nicks. When it comes to following Nicks, her fans don’t hesitate to commit, matching her clothing style, music taste and energy. Her fans may have not stuck with a specific nickname over the years, but they’ve definitely stuck with the artists over the years.
While younger generations praise her for her unique sound, lifelong fans of Nicks follow her for bringing tastes of rock into mainstream music. Stevie Nicks has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music history, bringing together music artists of many genres and making space for women in the industry. And while she has fans of all genders, her fans have made it clear that women in rock are here to stay.
Arianators
Driven by Gen-A, the Arianators support their fave, Ariana Grande, through everything from her musical endeavors to her more recent acting career. The enormous fanbase is quick to defend the actress and singer, and don’t mess around when it comes to Ariana slander. With a younger audience, Ariana’s fans are big supporters of mental health, Grande herself, and are strong advocates for change within the industry. Going hand-in-hand with their youth, the Arianators can often be found sharing their love for the artist on social media around the globe.
Billie Eilish Fans
Eyelashes, Avocados or Pirates? While the official name for Billie’s fans is still uncertain, their love for the singer is clear.
Billie’s fans are known for paying a special attention to causes important to Gen-z such as environmental and societal issues. Like the singer’s vulnerability in her music, Billie’s fans have a certain openness and transparency about their music tastes and preferences and aren’t afraid to voice their opinions whether it’s on Ellish’s latest releases or push towards social causes. The fan’s support shows most through her packed live performances, where her fans show up best.
Lanatics
Lana Del Rey Fans, also known as Lanatics, have been appreciating the artist’s music for over a decade. Her fans are known for not only following her music style, but the pop-cultural influence around her music in addition to Lana’s style and overall aesthetic.
A majority of Lana’s music follows themes of romance and tells a part of her story, which draws in fans with similar taste in music. This fanbase thrives off of content they receive from Lana, as she can often be found posting on Instagram. The fans can also be found posting their love for Lana on fan-made forums, supporting both the artist and each other. Fans admire her unique perspective for viewing the world, and portraying those thoughts through her lyrics.
While Lana is now well known, fans also seem to appreciate her down-to-earth nature and how she hasn’t wavered far from her original sound with her rising popularity. Like Lana herself, the Lanatics are known for supporting their communities and social causes that are important to the artist.
BeyHive
There couldn’t be a list for the most powerful female-fan bases without mentioning the BeyHive. Beyonce is known globally for her presence in music. From her early days as a member of the iconic group Destiny’s Child to her highly successful solo career, she has solidified herself as one of the most influential and celebrated figures in contemporary music. But her success in part, comes from her dedicated and loyal fanbase.
The BeyHive has consistently shown their support for women and black artists in the industry, with a significant impact on social justice. Beyonce reaches diverse audiences, reflecting her versatility across genres like pop, R&B, hip-hop, and soul, which is reflected in the unwavering support she receives from her audience.
Britney Army
From the #FreeBritney movement, with the hopes to provide her legal freedom to supporting the start of her early career in the 2000s Britney Spears fans, also known as the Britney army have been a force in the pop music industry.
If the Britney Army could only be described in one word, dedicated would suffice. With an ongoing career that’s still thriving, Brittney has attracted a wide variety of fans speaking to her ability to appeal to multiple generations. Britney keeps up with her fans and remains active on social media to keep her fans engaged with all of her current endeavors including podcasts and new merch.
Britney’s fans make up a crucial part of the pop industry fan base contributing to both the success of Britney’s career and young women in pop-music.
Barbz
A nickname given to the fans by Nicki Minaj herself, based off of her alter ego, Harajuku Barbie. This alter ego captures the style, attitude and music fans of the rapper and singer have come to love.
Infact, Nicki has an entire section dedicated to the Barbz on her official website, leaving what she calls #Nickimail, which may be why fans are so quick to come to her defense when faced with criticism online. In her #Nickimail messages, Nicki gets personal with her fans, sharing both the ups and downs of her music writing experience and memories from tour. The messages read like text messages to a friend, giving the fans an opportunity to feel connected with the artist.
Nicki’s music and lifestyle captures bold and unapologetic femininity, empowering women young and old. She attributes much of her success and enjoyment for her tour life to her fans and their commitment to her.
Blinks
K-pop groups are typically known for having strong fanbases, and Black Pink is no exception, having an outstanding female fanbase.
Among other fandoms, the Blinks have been responsible for connecting k-pop and western pop music, leading to the representation of a larger demographic and collaboration of artists from around the world. This increase in k-pop listeners also has encouraged smaller creators to pursue an interest in the industry and provided more of an interest in the genre.
The Blinks have been responsible for record-breaking numbers on streaming services, leading to numerous achievements and recognitions for Black Pink.
Little Monsters
There is no denying the impact that Lady Gaga has had on the music industry, a huge success of the support from her fans. One of the reasons Gaga has such support from female fans comes from her commitment to pushing the boundaries of what women could achieve in their careers and lives.
Despite her experience in the industry, Gaga is the queen of online engagement giving the fans what they crave with an active presence on social media. Fans of the artist encourage Gaga’s support for women and the LGBTQ+ communities, which often shows in her music. The Little Monsters pushed Gaga’s music to the top of the charts and contributed to sold out tours, making her one of the top touring female artists.
Swifties
Paving a way for female-fans across the music industry is one of the monumental fanbases in history. The Swifties dedication goes beyond Taylor Swift alone shaping modern music culture and the business of music and touring as a whole. As many have seen, when the Swifties want something done – it happens. With their large impact, it’s nearly impossible to find a social media platform that isn’t overflowing with the talk of Taylor Swift.
Not only is Taylor an inspiration for many fans, but has led to many women’s careers in the industry, pushing them to follow their goals, both career or personal. With Taylor’s 282m followers on Instagram alone, it’s clear that she, along with her Swifties, have built one of the greatest and most powerful female-fan bases of all time.
