IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orisre/v28y2017i1p117-136.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Popularity or Proximity: Characterizing the Nature of Social Influence in an Online Music Community

Author

Listed:
  • Sanjeev Dewan

    (Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697)

  • Yi-Jen (Ian) Ho

    (Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802)

  • Jui Ramaprasad

    (Desautels School of Management, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1G5, Canada)

Abstract

We study social influence in an online music community. In this community, users can listen to and “favorite” (or like) songs and follow the favoriting behavior of their social network friends—and the community as a whole. From an individual user’s perspective, two types of information on peer consumption are salient for each song: total number of favorites by the community as a whole and favoriting by their social network friends. Correspondingly, we study two types of social influence: popularity influence , driven by the total number of favorites from the community as a whole, and proximity influence , due to the favoriting behavior of immediate social network friends. Our quasi-experimental research design applies a variety of empirical methods to highly granular data from an online music community. Our analysis finds robust evidence of both popularity and proximity influence. Furthermore, popularity influence is more important for narrow-appeal music compared to broad-appeal music. Finally, the two types of influence are substitutes for one another, and proximity influence, when available, dominates the effect of popularity influence. We discuss implications for design and marketing strategies for online communities, such as the one studied in this paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanjeev Dewan & Yi-Jen (Ian) Ho & Jui Ramaprasad, 2017. "Popularity or Proximity: Characterizing the Nature of Social Influence in an Online Music Community," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 28(1), pages 117-136, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:28:y:2017:i:1:p:117-136
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.2016.0654
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2016.0654
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/isre.2016.0654?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Card, David & Krueger, Alan B, 1994. "Minimum Wages and Employment: A Case Study of the Fast-Food Industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(4), pages 772-793, September.
    2. Dhar, Vasant & Chang, Elaine A., 2009. "Does Chatter Matter? The Impact of User-Generated Content on Music Sales," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 300-307.
    3. Hongbin Cai & Yuyu Chen & Hanming Fang & Li-An Zhou, 2009. "Microinsurance, Trust and Economic Development: Evidence from a Randomized Natural Field Experiment," NBER Working Papers 15396, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. David Godes & Dina Mayzlin & Yubo Chen & Sanjiv Das & Chrysanthos Dellarocas & Bruce Pfeiffer & Barak Libai & Subrata Sen & Mengze Shi & Peeter Verlegh, 2005. "The Firm's Management of Social Interactions," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 415-428, December.
    5. Chris Forman & Anindya Ghose & Batia Wiesenfeld, 2008. "Examining the Relationship Between Reviews and Sales: The Role of Reviewer Identity Disclosure in Electronic Markets," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 19(3), pages 291-313, September.
    6. Enrico Moretti, 2011. "Social Learning and Peer Effects in Consumption: Evidence from Movie Sales," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 78(1), pages 356-393.
    7. Egebark, Johan & Ekström, Mathias, 2011. "Like What You Like or Like What Others Like? Conformity and Peer Effects on Facebook," Working Paper Series 886, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    8. Matthew Blackwell & Stefano Iacus & Gary King & Giuseppe Porro, 2009. "cem: Coarsened exact matching in Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 9(4), pages 524-546, December.
    9. Chong Ju Choi & Carla C. J. M. Millar & Caroline Y. L. Wong, 2005. "Knowledge and the State," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Knowledge Entanglements, chapter 0, pages 19-38, Palgrave Macmillan.
    10. Michael Lechner, 2002. "Some practical issues in the evaluation of heterogeneous labour market programmes by matching methods," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 165(1), pages 59-82, February.
    11. Meyer, Bruce D, 1995. "Natural and Quasi-experiments in Economics," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 13(2), pages 151-161, April.
    12. Brown, Jacqueline Johnson & Reingen, Peter H, 1987. "Social Ties and Word-of-Mouth Referral Behavior," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 14(3), pages 350-362, December.
    13. Lesley Chiou & Catherine Tucker, 2011. "How Does Content Aggregation Affect Users' Search for Information?," Working Papers 11-18, NET Institute, revised Oct 2011.
    14. Mizerski, Richard W, 1982. "An Attribution Explanation of the Disproportionate Influence of Unfavorable Information," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 9(3), pages 301-310, December.
    15. Charles F. Manski, 1993. "Identification of Endogenous Social Effects: The Reflection Problem," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 60(3), pages 531-542.
    16. Ravi Bapna & Akhmed Umyarov, 2015. "Do Your Online Friends Make You Pay? A Randomized Field Experiment on Peer Influence in Online Social Networks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 61(8), pages 1902-1920, August.
    17. Sinan Aral & Dylan Walker, 2011. "Creating Social Contagion Through Viral Product Design: A Randomized Trial of Peer Influence in Networks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 57(9), pages 1623-1639, February.
    18. Brett Danaher & Michael D. Smith & Rahul Telang & Siwen Chen, 2014. "The Effect of Graduated Response Anti-Piracy Laws on Music Sales: Evidence from an Event Study in France," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(3), pages 541-553, September.
    19. Catherine Tucker & Juanjuan Zhang, 2011. "How Does Popularity Information Affect Choices? A Field Experiment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 57(5), pages 828-842, May.
    20. Sushil Bikhchandani & David Hirshleifer & Ivo Welch, 1998. "Learning from the Behavior of Others: Conformity, Fads, and Informational Cascades," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 151-170, Summer.
    21. Hongbin Cai & Yuyu Chen & Hanming Fang, 2009. "Observational Learning: Evidence from a Randomized Natural Field Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 99(3), pages 864-882, June.
    22. Sanjeev Dewan & Jui Ramaprasad, 2012. "Research Note ---Music Blogging, Online Sampling, and the Long Tail," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(3-part-2), pages 1056-1067, September.
    23. Catherine Tucker, 2008. "Identifying Formal and Informal Influence in Technology Adoption with Network Externalities," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(12), pages 2024-2038, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kim, Hwang & Rao, Vithala R., 2022. "The role of network embeddedness across multiple social networks: Evidence from mobile social network games," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 867-887.
    2. Gen-Yih Liao & Tzu-Ling Huang & Alan R. Dennis & Ching-I Teng, 2024. "The Influence of Media Capabilities on Knowledge Contribution in Online Communities," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 35(1), pages 165-183, March.
    3. Cantone, Giulio Giacomo & Tomaselli, Venera, 2023. "A network-based matching design for text mining of hyper-polarised online reviews," SocArXiv v7u3h_v1, Center for Open Science.
    4. Wang, Le & Luo, Xin (Robert) & Li, Han, 2022. "Envy or conformity? An empirical investigation of peer influence on the purchase of non-functional items in mobile free-to-play games," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 308-324.
    5. Zhijun Yan & Lini Kuang & Liangfei Qiu, 2022. "Prosocial behaviors and economic performance: Evidence from an online mental healthcare platform," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(10), pages 3859-3876, October.
    6. Liangfei Qiu & Arunima Chhikara & Asoo Vakharia, 2021. "Multidimensional Observational Learning in Social Networks: Theory and Experimental Evidence," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 32(3), pages 876-894, September.
    7. Sang-Hyeak Yoon & Hee-Woong Kim, 2019. "What content and context factors lead to selection of a video clip? The heuristic route perspective," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 603-627, September.
    8. Zhihong Ke & De Liu & Daniel J. Brass, 2020. "Do Online Friends Bring Out the Best in Us? The Effect of Friend Contributions on Online Review Provision," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 1322-1336, December.
    9. Cheng Yi & Zhenhui (Jack) Jiang & Mi Zhou, 2023. "Investigating the effects of product popularity and time restriction: The moderating role of consumers’ goal specificity," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 32(9), pages 2723-2739, September.
    10. Che-Wei Liu & Guodong (Gordon) Gao & Ritu Agarwal, 2019. "Unraveling the “Social” in Social Norms: The Conditioning Effect of User Connectivity," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(4), pages 1272-1295, April.
    11. Behnaz Bojd & Hema Yoganarasimhan, 2022. "Star-Cursed Lovers: Role of Popularity Information in Online Dating," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 41(1), pages 73-92, January.
    12. Bhatnagar, Amit & Papatla, Purushottam, 2019. "Do habits influence the types of information that smartphone shoppers seek?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 89-98.
    13. Johannes Loh, 2022. "Selection, Consumption, and New Music Exploration in an Online Social Network: A Dyadic Approach," CESifo Working Paper Series 10120, CESifo.
    14. Cantone, Giulio Giacomo & Tomaselli, Venera, 2023. "Quasi-experimental network-based design for semantic analysis of small clusters of bi-polar online reviews," SocArXiv v7u3h, Center for Open Science.
    15. Qiang Zhang & Ji Wu & J. Leon ZHAO & Liang Liang, 2024. "The antecedents and consequences of social interactions in firm-sponsored community: a social network perspective," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1967-1995, September.
    16. Hao Zhang & Mingzheng Wang, 2024. "Tapping vs. Scrolling: Effects of Different Content Acquisition Modes on Content Consumption," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 1835-1855, October.
    17. Prasanta Bhattacharya & Tuan Q. Phan & Xue Bai & Edoardo M. Airoldi, 2019. "A Coevolution Model of Network Structure and User Behavior: The Case of Content Generation in Online Social Networks," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(1), pages 117-132, March.
    18. Yun Young Hur & Fujie Jin & Xitong Li & Yuan Cheng & Yu Jeffrey Hu, 2023. "Does Social Influence Change with Other Information Sources? A Large-Scale Randomized Experiment in Medical Crowdfunding," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(4), pages 1476-1492, December.
    19. Wenyi Wang & Qiang Guo, 2023. "Subscription strategy choices of network video platforms in the presence of social influence," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 577-604, March.
    20. Warut Khern-am-nuai & Matthew J. Hashim & Alain Pinsonneault & Weining Yang & Ninghui Li, 2023. "Augmenting Password Strength Meter Design Using the Elaboration Likelihood Model: Evidence from Randomized Experiments," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(1), pages 157-177, March.
    21. Yan Leng & Xiaowen Dong & Esteban Moro & Alex Pentland, 2024. "Long-Range Social Influence in Phone Communication Networks on Offline Adoption Decisions," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 35(1), pages 318-338, March.
    22. Geneviève Bassellier & Jui Ramaprasad, 2023. "All External Reference Prices Are Not the Same: How Magnitude, Source, and Fairness Shape Payment for Digital Goods," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(4), pages 1761-1774, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Johannes Loh, 2022. "Selection, Consumption, and New Music Exploration in an Online Social Network: A Dyadic Approach," CESifo Working Paper Series 10120, CESifo.
    2. Liangfei Qiu & Zhan (Michael) Shi & Andrew B. Whinston, 2018. "Learning from Your Friends’ Check-Ins: An Empirical Study of Location-Based Social Networks," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(4), pages 1044-1061, December.
    3. Tingting Song & Jinghua Huang & Yong Tan & Yifan Yu, 2019. "Using User- and Marketer-Generated Content for Box Office Revenue Prediction: Differences Between Microblogging and Third-Party Platforms," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(1), pages 191-203, March.
    4. Chong (Alex) Wang & Xiaoquan (Michael) Zhang & Il-Horn Hann, 2018. "Socially Nudged: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Friends’ Social Influence in Online Product Ratings," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 641-655, September.
    5. Mina Ameri & Elisabeth Honka & Ying Xie, 2019. "Word of Mouth, Observed Adoptions, and Anime-Watching Decisions: The Role of the Personal vs. the Community Network," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 38(4), pages 567-583, July.
    6. Jurui Zhang & Yong Liu & Yubo Chen, 2015. "Social Learning in Networks of Friends versus Strangers," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(4), pages 573-589, July.
    7. Yang Jiang & Yi-Chun (Chad) Ho & Xiangbin Yan & Yong Tan, 2022. "What’s in a “Username”? The Effect of Perceived Anonymity on Herding in Crowdfunding," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(1), pages 1-17, March.
    8. Shan Huang & Sinan Aral & Yu Jeffrey Hu & Erik Brynjolfsson, 2020. "Social Advertising Effectiveness Across Products: A Large-Scale Field Experiment," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(6), pages 1142-1165, November.
    9. Katrine Kunst & Ravi Vatrapu, 2019. "Understanding electronic word of behavior: conceptualization of the observable digital traces of consumers’ behaviors," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(3), pages 323-336, September.
    10. Kick, Markus, 2015. "Social Media Research: A Narrative Review," EconStor Preprints 182506, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    11. Sinan Aral & Dylan Walker, 2014. "Tie Strength, Embeddedness, and Social Influence: A Large-Scale Networked Experiment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(6), pages 1352-1370, June.
    12. Fishman, Arthur & Fishman, Ram & Gneezy, Uri, 2019. "A tale of two food stands: Observational learning in the field," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 101-108.
    13. Khim-Yong Goh & Cheng-Suang Heng & Zhijie Lin, 2013. "Social Media Brand Community and Consumer Behavior: Quantifying the Relative Impact of User- and Marketer-Generated Content," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 24(1), pages 88-107, March.
    14. Liangfei Qiu & Arunima Chhikara & Asoo Vakharia, 2021. "Multidimensional Observational Learning in Social Networks: Theory and Experimental Evidence," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 32(3), pages 876-894, September.
    15. Gandal, Neil & Bar-Gill, Sagit, 2017. "Online Exploration, Content Choice & Echo Chambers: An Experiment," CEPR Discussion Papers 11909, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    16. Miguel Godinho de Matos & Pedro Ferreira & Michael D. Smith & Rahul Telang, 2016. "Culling the Herd: Using Real-World Randomized Experiments to Measure Social Bias with Known Costly Goods," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 62(9), pages 2563-2580, September.
    17. Jing Wang & Anocha Aribarg & Yves F. Atchadé, 2013. "Modeling Choice Interdependence in a Social Network," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(6), pages 977-997, November.
    18. Laurina Zhang, 2018. "Intellectual Property Strategy and the Long Tail: Evidence from the Recorded Music Industry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(1), pages 24-42, January.
    19. Gal Oestreicher-Singer & Arun Sundararajan, 2012. "The Visible Hand? Demand Effects of Recommendation Networks in Electronic Markets," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 58(11), pages 1963-1981, November.
    20. Naveen Kumar & Liangfei Qiu & Subodha Kumar, 2018. "Exit, Voice, and Response on Digital Platforms: An Empirical Investigation of Online Management Response Strategies," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(4), pages 849-870, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:28:y:2017:i:1:p:117-136. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.