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Explaining the Star Shift in the Media– Why “Manufactured” Celebrities are More Lucrative than “Self-Made” Superstars

Author

Listed:
  • Egon Franck
  • Stephan Nüesch

    (Institute for Strategy and Business Economics, University of Zurich
    Institute for Strategy and Business Economics, University of Zurich)

Abstract

Media companies enjoy increasing marginal returns if more customers watch a program. The viewer drawing capability of stars serves as a prominent instrument to increase audiences. However, lately there has been a significant shift in the kind of stars employed by the media from “self-made” superstars to “manufactured” celebrities. Our paper analyzes this trend exemplified by shows like e.g. Pop Idol and explains its driving forces by comparing the abilities of different kinds of stars to generate and to capture value.

Suggested Citation

  • Egon Franck & Stephan Nüesch, 2006. "Explaining the Star Shift in the Media– Why “Manufactured” Celebrities are More Lucrative than “Self-Made” Superstars," Working Papers 0057, University of Zurich, Institute for Strategy and Business Economics (ISU).
    • Handle: RePEc:iso:wpaper:0057
    as

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    File URL: http://repec.business.uzh.ch/RePEc/iso/ISU_WPS/57_ISU_full.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. The economics of Pop Idol
      by chris dillow in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2006-10-31 20:33:49

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Star attraction; superstars; celebrities; Pop Idol; media;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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