Since Gaga first hit the scene, it was obvious that she was different. There were doubters at first, but millions have been won over by the substance underlying her pop persona. While Lady Gaga continues to push the bounds of innovation to drive her celebrity, is it fair to consider her a leader? Beyond the fashion and dancehall licks, which are worth exploring, lies a methodic and seemingly calculated performer who is inspiring, if not leading, much more than good beats and funky moves.
1. The biz
While often overlooked as a business maven, Lady Gaga recently topped Fast Company's list of 100 most creative people in business. While her music and wardrobe headline her act, Gaga's business style is just as eye-popping. As her personal brand skyrockets, she has lent her flare to other iconic outposts, serving as theCreative Director of Polaroid and a spokesperson for theMAC Aids Fund. With 2010 nearly behind her, it's hard to imagine that her star is continuing to rise. And with an estimated worth of $62 million and a No. 1 web and social ranking by Forbes, Gaga is revolutionizing the business side of the music industry--finding comfortable ground between a big record label contract and an indie style of connecting with fans through social media and free online music and video offerings.
2. Social causes
Sure Lady Gaga has a massive platform, but by no means does she use it solely to self-promote. She spreads her political weight around. Yesterday, Lady Gagaheadlined a rally in Portland, Maine, using her star power to speak out against the US Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Her intended audience was two Republican senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both undecided on the hot-button issue. At the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month, she walked the white carpet with four former servicemen and women who had either left the military voluntarily or been discharged because of their sexuality. Soon after, she tweeted about the event and asked her 6 million twitter followers to encourage Harry Reid to take up the cause. Further demonstrating Gaga's clout, Reid actually tweeted a response. Prior, Gaga has advocated for both AIDS awareness and immigration. While many entertainers are scripted and avoid controversy, Gaga isn't afraid to voice her opinion, for better or for worse.
There's no doubt that the world is changing, and through things like the internet and media, we are finding leaders in people we never thought possible. Although many people may not agree with the causes Lady Gaga recognizes and stands up for, it would be foolish not to consider her a leader in today's world. There's somewhat of a difference between leaders and role models. Both share the majority of the same characteristics, but Role Models focus solely on maintaining an image for those who look up to and want to be like them. Lady Gaga as a leader takes being a role model one step further. She is knowledgeable of what she addresses and she takes a stance on things she actually cares about. The main difference she gains from simply being an activist is the amount of people who truly look to her for inspiration and as a leader in their lives. This article clearly shows the impact Lady Gaga has had on not only a large scale in the U.S., but globally. Whether she intended for it or not, Lady Gaga has become a leader in today's world. I mean c'mon, Harry Reid tweeted her back the other day.
ReplyDeleteIn my eyes, she is a leader. Not just because she is a public figure and musician, but because she left that whole persona to take on a greater subject. To be a leader, you can"t be afraid of what lies ahead. Leaders take on more than one big task to show they can be leaders.
ReplyDeleteShe may not have intentionally set out to become a leader, as you pointed out. But she is using her platform to discuss issues that seem to be important to her. Obviously, the cynical side of me wonders if the DADT issue is one that is only meant to appeal to a large part of her fan base, but at this point I'm choosing to take it at face value. Which leads to my question - what kind of leader would she be if she was simply using controversial issues to further her own popularity?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that Lady Gaga is a leader. A leader is anyone who has followers and she has a tremendous amount of followers. She is someone who has a strong voice and opinion on many controversial topics, which she isn’t afraid to let everyone know about it. She has over 6.4 million followers which is a ridiculous amount and this is just a direct example that she definitely has people who care about what she has to say. Lady Gaga can be viewed positively and negatively. In the article it mentions her going to Maine to support a good cause which is viewed positively for her to use her fame to draw attention to a cause that is important to her. On the other hand, her wearing a meat dress to the VMA’s is not a positive representation of how to get a cause across. This statement could be taken different ways and is not positive for her younger viewers. Overall, Lady Gaga is a leader because she has followers that support her in most of her decisions as well as being an icon.
ReplyDeleteLady Gaga is definitely a leader. In fact she is a prime example of a leader. She has used her fame and power in a positive manner and not many musical artists in her position do the same. She doesn't have to do the things she does and thats what makes her a leader and a great role model.
ReplyDeleteIs a leader simply someone who has followers? Perhaps there is more to leadership than this often used equation. Regardless, it does seem that Lady Gaga is advancing her artistic and political views in through her fame, something few pop stars have chosen to do in recent years. Gaga sets herself apart with the intention she brings to her persona - she seems very calculated while also allowing her passions to inevitably shine through. It will certainly be interesting to keep track of her exploits, causes and efforts.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have seen and read I agree that Lady Gaga is a type of leader, not necessarily a good leader but she isn’t a bad leader either. When trying to define what category she fits in to it becomes very tricky. I think she is a tad bit ridiculous, but she is very innovative and she believes in what she is doing. In the sense of doing what she wants and not caring who stands behind her make her a very strong person, it’s not easy to step out on the red carpet in some of the hideous outfits she wears. She withholds a great deal of confidence and personal identification. I don’t personally view her as a leader I look up to but I can see how some people can view her as a get leader who stands up for what she believes in. To me she is just looking for attention, but who knows maybe she’s always been like this.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am not a fan of Lady Gaga’s music, I do think she deserves the title of “leader”. I believe a leader is someone who stays true to themselves, effects change on a large scale—or at least attempts to, and doesn’t follow; she posses all three of these qualities. Lady Gaga, as we all know, is very eccentric in every sense of the word! However, this sets her apart from everyone else on the scene right now. I believe this is why so many people to gravitate towards her and listen to what she has to say. Most recently, at the VMA’s, she showed up with four former service men and women who voluntarily left the military or had been discharged due to their sexual orientation in support of her opposition of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. I find this very commendable! She has used her star status to influence change in today’s society and bring to light issues that many may not have heard of or even cared about and in doing so she has reached a younger population. Celebrities are like candy for many people, we’re always interested in what they’re doing, what they wear, who they’re dating, who got arrested and for what, etc., but not very many use their fame as a platform to publicize and raise awareness to issues that are important to them, but she has. Whether or not she is using these issues to promote her fame is irrelevant because she is still talking about controversial topics and as a cause others are becoming interested and taking a stand as well.
ReplyDeleteI Believe that she is a leader though not intentionally, I think that she had gained so much power from her music and clout that she uses it to voice her own opinions. She isnt afraid to break down barriers that she believes to be wrong in her own image. She didnt mean to be a leader but once she found out that people went beyond liking her music and started to agree with her ideas then it was easy for her to launch them on a mass stage. However with most celebrities it is in my opinion that she will be under the microscope from here on out with her calling out of government officials so if she is going to walk the walk she better be able to talk the talk.
ReplyDeleteI support the idea that Lady Gaga is a leader. She obviously stands up for issues that she supports and pushes for others to support those causes and for people to stand up and fight for their own cause. There is no reason not to say that Lady Gaga is a leader in today’s world. As the writer said, she has 10 million people across the world following her on facebook and probably many more that support her and what she stands for world wide. I think we need more leaders like Lady Gaga that aren’t afraid to make their voice heard and proudly stand up for what they believe in.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe standing out so much and using her popularity to voice miscellaneous messages makes her a leader. She is a pop icon and nothing more. Her insane popularity comes from her catchy music and unearthly fashion sense. She is simply using this media attention as a crutch to voice her opinions on issues. If any normal, non pop star girl tried to do the same, it would gather no attention whatsoever. She simply stands out due to her being 'out there.' I am not saying her intentions are not in the right place, however she is in no way a leader because of this. She speaks up yes, but I believe a lot of her motivation comes from those around her like agents and other associates.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Lady GaGa speaking out about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" could give some much needed attention and fuel to this ongoing debate. If our service men and women are doing there job correctly and efficiantly, it should not matter what their sexual preference is. There objective is to keep America safe and serve with honor. America is known as the home of the free and if these service men and women are fighting wars in a foreign land then they should have the freedom to love whomever they want when they are home.
ReplyDeleteWell said Robert, and although this week's setback will likely be seen as a political frustration for many, one would have to believe that with time your sentiments will be more fully captured in the legislation.
ReplyDeletei dont feel Gaga is a real leader. Just because she is played on the radio doesnt make her a real leader. She may be a philanthropist but it doesnt make her a leader. If gaga says to start wearing xmas lights in your hair, im sure some girls will start following her by doing it. So will some people follow gaga's leadership, sure, but to me, that doesnt make her a real leader.
ReplyDeleteLady gaga is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet right now and it seems as if she came out of nowhere. She dominates the media and pop culture scene in this country as well as others. To decide if she is a leader is simple. She has more friends on twitter and facebook than anyone in the world! With that many people following and mimicking a single human being, I do not see how she can be viewed as otherwise.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a more compelling argument would be to discuss whether she is a good leader for all her fans to follow. Young girls and even adults everywhere support her and she seems to give back to them as well. She is known for her charity work and connection with her fans. Communication and setting the example are two big aspects in being a leader. Therefore, I do believe she is a leader and she must be a damn good one because her business is booming and all her costumers (fans) are behind her 100%.
Interesting insights - sometimes the real arguments lie in the nuances. I particularly appreciate the points that people may follow Lady Gaga without her being a definitive leader, and that a more compelling issues is whether Gaga is a good leader or not. In terms of where I stand, I think followers show us leaders, and that good leadership and Gaga have yet to be linked. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteI personally don't consider Lady Gaga a leader in our society. Sure, she has initiated numerous fashion, music, and iconic trends. However, I don't think she makes her stints so public in order to lend to the causes she is speaking for. I truly feel she does not act with altruistic motives. She is doing all of these outlandish and "innovative" things in order to promote herself as an icon in society. She wants to make her mark, and I don't feel as though she has others' interests in mind. She is absolutely not a role model nor a leader. She may be an effective leader, because she has undoubtedly established a loyal set of followers. However, she is not an ethical one, and that is where my disgust lies with her.
ReplyDeleteDoes an individual need to act with altruistic motives in order to be considered a leader? Not sure I agree with that, but an interesting thought. Similarly, I'm not sure how Lady Gaga is unethical . . . Intriguing perspective nonetheless. Does intention dictate leadership?
ReplyDeleteLady GaGa is a leader. She is constantly breaking down the barriers to what is considered ‘conventional'. She is not afraid to do what no one else will, not just in an attempt to boost her stardom.
ReplyDeleteHer insights in the fashion and music industries has landed her many other roles, as mentioned in your article. She does not limit herself, but rather spreads her GaGa-ness for the rest of the world to adore and have a piece of. She goes out of her way to connect with fans, and doesn’t think of herself as being better than anyone else, which is a trait of most other celebrities.
You do not need to like her music to think she is a leader either. She is a leader because she does things that others are too afraid to do.
Also, she is not afraid to voice her opinion on social issues. If, for no other reason, you consider her a leader, this would be why. It is admirable that she does not care what effect letting the world know her opinions are on sensitive issues (such as the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell legislation) has on her career. She wants to make the world a better place, and because of her ‘selfless’ attitude towards these causes she is a leader. Too many other celebrities would be too concerned about the aftermath of voicing their concerns would be to actually go ahead and stand up for something they believe in. In a way, this also contributes to Lady GaGa’s innovative image.
Anyone has the potential to be a leader but I find Lady Gaga to be one of the best in the current entertainment industry. She knows who she is and where she came from which is where her passion stems from. She is constantly finding ways to stand out and better herself by helping and supporting charities and fighting for critical issues in America. I would have to admire her for not backing down and standing up for what she believes in. She looks risk right in the eye and rolls with the punches. I think she stands out in today's world not just as a music artist but as an individual who is not afraid to take music and her career one step further than the rest. Lady Gaga may seem weird or crazy to some people because of her style and mystery but I think she must be doing something right to have so many fans and followers.
ReplyDeleteYou both make good points. There is some dissent regarding GaGa's stances on social issues are for publicity, or because she truly believes in them. But at some point, it becomes a matter of faith - you choose to follow because you believe her stances are genuine, or you don't. But the fact that she actually takes the stands is impressive in its own right - as many "celebrities" don't want to rock the boat for fear of losing a subset of fans who might disagree.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Lady Gaga is a leader in her own way. She definitely has a large group of followers that she calls her little monsters. These followers are very devoted and supportive of Lady Gaga.
ReplyDeleteShe also has leadership roles outside of the music business. She is very involved in the gay community and works with the proposition eight campaign. She has also attended many rallies for the gay community and helped them fight for equal rights.
Although some may argue that Lady Gaga is not a leader because of some of the crazy things she does and the fact that she is a musician, I believe that Lady Gaga has a strong influence on the community. She is a big role model to many and when needed she is able to lead this group. The issues she supports outside of the music and fashion world are very important to today’s society.
Lady Gaga is probably quite arguably one of the most outrageous and unique performers who has entered into the music world. Not only is she good at what she does, but she is an inspiration to artist everywhere as well as to her enormous fan base. The question is, does being a successful music artist make her a good leader just because of her huge fan base? In my opinion it doesn’t. Based on her career, her success and popularity come from her skills as a performer, not a leader. I’m not at all saying she isn’t a leader though because Lady Gaga does more than just sing. Anyone will agree with me that she is one of the most popular and successful of the performers in the music industries, but what makes her a good leader, in my opinion, is how she takes her high status role and uses that position to lead her followers in becoming aware of the problems and events that happen around us that need action to be taken. She has been taking action against the issues that surround us like being the spokesperson for the MAC Aids Fund, rallying against the “Don’t ask, Don’t tell policy”, and walking the white carpet with servicemen and women who left the military voluntarily and or have been discharged because of their sexuality. These are the actions that, in my opinion, classify her as a good leader. By her taking this action and responsibility upon herself, she has become a role model for her followers to take more of a role in the issues that surround us.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the article about Lady Gaga, I feel that there were a lot of good points that point out her characteristics as a leader. When I first heard her music on the radio, I enjoyed how upbeat they were, but thought the lyrics were a little different. Then I saw her music videos and they explained everything. They were so creative and eccentric, but some people are very judgmental of her stepping outside the box. It is wonderful to see that she is involved in the business side of the music industry. I also love the fact that she stands up for what she believes in. She is not afraid of what people think about her, and that tells a lot about her character. She has goals and she is trying to make a difference on issues that concern her. Her twitter account is proof that people are interested in her; I think that a lot of people might just be intimidated by her. Intimidation is not a good leadership quality, but I feel that as Gaga builds up her reputation, people will become more accepting of her and realize she truly is a leader no matter how peculiar her music videos and fashion can be at times.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to distinguish between "leader" and "entertainer". I would also argue that popularity doesn't necessarily imply leadership. Just because we "follow" something - on the news, social networks, etc - doesn't mean that the subject in question is a leader.
ReplyDeleteGaga is an entertainer - but to her credit, she seems to use that platform to voice her opinion and lead on a few major social issues.
I think Lady Gaga stands up for many groups and I would consider her a leader. If I had kids I would not want my kids acting like her, from the stand point of the way she dresses. But I would want my kids to take a stand. The wilder she is the more attention she gets. So in her eyes she needs to keep pushing the envelope to get noticed. She has used her fame for positive things. In order to be a leader you have to have followers and she has many followers. She talks about the hot topics that no one else will talk about. I think Lady Gaga is a leader because she has followers who support her and will take a stand with her.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Lady Gaga got into hte music business to become a leader. She did it for one of the many reasons anyone might enter the musci industry. That could be for the love of music and performing or fame and fortune. Either way I don't think her main goal was to become a leader. Because of her success and large fan base she has a lot people listening to what she has to say and that makes her a leader. Her fans, and even those that are not fans of her, will hear what she has to say because of the media coverage she receives. Those same people will either agree or disagree with what she is promoting, just like any leader, and those that agree with her are her followers. There is a problem with looking to people like Lady Gaga and other big music acts for leadership. They are too temporary. Lady Gaga is huge right now but in a few years her albums might be better used as coasters and her fan base is gone. The only thing that makes her or any other celebrity a leader is the number of people that listen to them. As soon as she is out of the spotlight her views will go unnoticed.
ReplyDeleteFor arguments sake, aren't most leadership positions "temporary"? Does that really detract from the (potential) impact of the leader - if we know that they are temporary? Many "causes" or "change efforts" are also temporary - so it seems fitting that leadership positions are also temporary. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteFirst, I must admit that I am a fan of Lady Gaga’s music. However, I personally might not classify her as a leader simply because I have never thought of music idols as being leaders. As our society changes, so does the concept of ‘who is a leader’ and ‘how a person can lead.’ I say this as a young person who was raised to acknowledge figures of authority as leaders, like military or political persons. To view a music artist as a leader is a newer concept, at least to me.
ReplyDeleteI like that she can use her fame and unique persona to draw attention to some taboo topics. I wonder if Lady Gaga will inspire a social or media revolution, prompting other celebrity figures to voice their opinions. Though this may be premature, wishful, thinking.
I would like to politely disagree with the statement that “she is simply using this [media attention] as a crutch to voice her opinions on issues.” I feel that she has used this attention as a ladder, not a crutch, to propel herself forward in our society. She was a funky singer, then a pop icon, and now a major music celebrity with a powerful voice. I do not presume that she is a charismatic speaker; though she may very well be such, but rather that she speaks out where many other public figures would simply shy away. I feel admiration towards her for this. But I cannot say I would “follow” her because of it; perhaps if we shared closely related moral and ethical values and ideals.
I agree, in part, that most leadership positions are, or can be viewed as, temporary. This is because most leaders do not hold their position or office indefinitely. I assume that the duration of leadership does, in some way, influences on the followers. Yet, I would prefer to believe that the quality of the leadership is more important to the impact. I feel compelled to recall Julius Caesar; he was a leader, and the impact of his leadership is still prevalent in today’s world. We still look to ancient philosophers and past presidents for guidance. Perhaps this branches too far into the realm of leader’s as role models, but I think Lady Gaga could be viewed in a similar context. That is to say, perhaps the future generations will study her in text books, for her accomplishments with both media and social impact. I do not know where Lady Gaga is going in life, but I do know that she has made an impact on many people and will continue to do so, whether that impact is positive or negative. I look forward to seeing where Lady Gaga goes next.
First, I commend the effort of the blog post - nice work! There's obviously a lot of nuance in leadership - it's not a black/white subject where someone either is a leader, or isn't. You do well to draw the distinction that although Lady Gaga is someone who you can admire, you'd draw the line at suggesting that you "follow" her. I also agree with the sentiment that the impact of a leader is measured by his or her quality, as opposed to the time in a leadership position (although one can definitely impact the other.) My question to you is this: what is the difference between a role model and a leader, and how do you cross from role model to leader?
ReplyDeleteThe differences betwixt a role model and a leader, for me, are difficult to determine. I aspire to be like my role models, but not because he/she is a leader and certainly not all of them are. I believe that a role model is a person to which another looks up to for a variety of reasons. When I see in others qualities that I would like to emulate, for whatever reason, I think of that person as a role model. A leader is more often both a role model and someone that leads others. It is possible to be a role model with leadership qualities, but normally I think of leaders as a sort of unspoken role model.
ReplyDeleteA role model isn’t necessarily a leader, but someone you probably admire and/or respect. I recognize that not all leaders are ideal role models, but I think there are our role models nonetheless. Personally, I think it depends on the situation. I tend to gravitate towards role models and leaders with traits similar to my own, making them more relatable. A role model is, hopefully, a positive influence on one’s life, of which one can model his/her own life after. But this doesn’t always pan out. As to how a role model crosses the threshold into leadership, I’m not quite certain. It seems to be a thin line, on which many people may stand. Perhaps decisions throughout our lives cause us to lean in one direction or the other? A role model may not have a huge impact upon the population, as a leader might, but he/she is more likely to have a profound effect upon a few individuals. The kind of influence that may prompt someone to become a leader.
Does innovation equal leadership? This is a very vague question. It all depends on what you are innovating. If you are Lady Gaga and you are creating new styles and making a statement, I’m not so sure if that qualifies as leadership. A lot of younger people look up to her and see her as an idol and they idol her traits…such as being able to rebel and make a statement with fashion. Therefore, she could be considered a leader because she is setting an example to take risks and stick with what you are comfortable with and trust yourself. It’s all in how you look at the term “leadership”.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with and find this article one of the most interesting on this blog. I would definitely define Gaga as a leader, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for her not only as a musician but in the capacities mentioned within this blog. I commend you guys for looking at it this way, and I am honestly glad to see someone besides me outside of the gay community agreeing with these points of view. I am socially liberal and all for gay rights, but Gaga stands for that and much more. Because she is so liberal and gay-friendly, her other messages often get lost in translation and if more people bring them back into focus they will be more clear for everyone. I think it's a fantastic and incredibly important thing that Gaga is doing, here, and she is truly revolutionizing the platforms of social change and the way music is utilized... I believe she is perhaps the Queen to Michael Jackson's King of Pop.
ReplyDeleteInnovation absolutely equals leadership, along with many other things that I'm unsure if Lady Gaga possesses. More so than leadership I believe Lady Gaga is a source of power in the music industry. Before she came out with her first hit "poker face", she was writing songs for other pop artists like Christina Aguelara and Taylor Swift. At first the music industry buffs didn't think Gaga was good looking enough to be the main attraction. I see leadership in her in regards to initiative, courage, and boldness. Her looks alone aren't going to sell but her catchy songs, voice, and image pick up the slack. I begin to think, are music business executives thriving off a girl who is willing to do anything for fortune and fame or is it really Gaga with the unique style and power moves that exploited the world. In the music business nowadays, it's hard to determine whether something is authentic or not, especially in the pop culture.
ReplyDeleteI think Lady Gaga is definitely a leader mostly because she has spearheaded many issues as you pointed out, particularly the gay rights issue. She has done so through rallies, twitter, interviews, and her music and she has not been shy about it. Many if not all of Gaga's fans like her not only for her catchy music but also for the messages therein. She is not afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in, and that combined with her celebrity platform certainly makes her a leader.
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