The use of web pages built around entertainers has developed multiple facets. What began as amateurs building web sites to gush over their favorite entertainer has developed into sophisticated use of the world’s newest and biggest communications device. Fan sites have become entertainer promotion sites; entertainer’s product promotion sites; commercial opportunities for enterprising webmasters from outside the entertainment industry; and features for larger websites that provide an opportunity for personal networking.
Official Sites vs. Unofficial Sites
Take for instance, your Justin Timberlake. His record company has at least two sites: justintimnberlake.com and justintimberlake/uk.com. Those sites promote his latest record and provide the opportunity to download tunes to your iPod. The record company has also created an official justintimberlake site on MySpace, which is basically a copy of their web page. This is an example of a mainstream artist following the highly successful track established by independent bands who posted their music on MySpace as an outreach tool, an alternative to the broadcast radio outlets that ignored them.
Then...