Superfan Economy Evolves into Booming Business, Empowering Artists

As of September 30th, 2025, the superfan economy has evolved into a full-fledged business, providing new opportunities for artists to capture fan data and build direct relationships. This shift is highlighted by the success of platforms like Weverse and Openwav.

Wooseok Seo, the former founder of Weverse, recently launched a new venture called b.stage - a white-label solution that allows over 950 artists worldwide to create their own customized fan platforms. Seo was inspired to create Weverse after seeing K-pop sensation BTS amass over 10 million social media followers, yet lacking the ability to effectively capture meaningful fan data.

Meanwhile, Jaeson Ma, the co-founder and CEO of Openwav, has been helping independent musicians struggling in the streaming era. Ma emphasizes that social media and streaming platforms do not adequately compensate artists, even with large followings. Instead, he encourages musicians to focus on building a dedicated base of 1,000 true fans willing to pay $10 per month - a model that can generate $120,000 in annual revenue.

Both Seo and Ma agree that the key to success lies in owning fan data and building direct relationships, rather than relying on ad-driven social platforms. This approach has proven effective, as evidenced by the overwhelming response to a recent Openwav event featuring K-pop artist Kevin Woo, which sold 2,600 VIP tickets in just 24 hours.

As the superfan economy continues to evolve, artists are finding new ways to monetize their most dedicated supporters, creating a win-win scenario for both parties.