Latest news with #superfan
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Fried chicken shops raise over $30K for Ben Stelter Foundation
In honour of the Oilers superfan's favourite post-treatment meal, Popeye's has raised $31,110.63 for the Ben Stelter Foundation. Ben Stelter died from cancer at the age of six in 2022. May 27 marked what would have been his 9th birthday. His favourite meal between his cancer treatments was the spicy chicken tenders, fries and mac and cheese at Popeyes. '(After being) in the hospital, when he'd come home - he'd always request Popeyes as his first meal that we'd sit down and eat as a family together,' said Ben's father Mike Stelter at the fundraising kickoff last week. All net proceeds from 21 Popeyes locations in northern Alberta went to the Ben Stelter Foundation, which is raising money to bring an advanced cancer radiation therapy to Edmonton. Popeyes also set up a campaign to collect cash donations for the charity at its restaurant locations from May 20 to June 3. Stelter said the love for Ben and the support for the foundation are touching. '(It) just speaks volumes about how much the city cares and that they remember him, that they think about him a lot too,' he said. Major fundraiser to mark Ben Stelter's birthday 'I don't think there's anywhere else in the world where the community would rally around one special boy, one family, one foundation.' Donations for the Ben Stelter Foundation can also be made on their website and through the purchase of hoodies and shirts from their new online store. With files from CTV Edmonton's Adrienne Lee
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Fabio Wardley reveals he is facing his girlfriend's wrath with baby due a week after his dream Portman Road fight
FABIO WARDLEY revealed he is facing his girlfriend's wrath with their first baby due a week after his dream Portman Road fight. The Ipswich super-fan faces Australian Justis Huni on Saturday at the Premier League stadium. 4 4 4 It is a homecoming fight years in the making but arrives just as his partner is expecting to give birth to their baby daughter. Wardley told Ring Magazine: 'This is a slightly tense topic. My missus wasn't the happiest with this fight date. 'She is due a week later but it is Portman Road. It's not just any fight, it's the one at Portman Road. She said, 'Yeah I know but…' 'They say the chances are that the first one comes late but who knows. "Whatever will be will be at this stage. I'm just focusing on my job at this point and that is winning the fight. 'It's a mad 2025 and really just a mad June but I can't wait. I'm ready for fatherhood. My best mate's not long had his, a beautiful little girl as well. "So being able to watch her grow and knowing that's coming for me has made me a big softie to be honest. "It's going to be something special and I'm really looking forward to it.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Despite Wardley admitting he will transform into a "big softie" he also expects to switch from dotting dad to destructive puncher at ease. He said: 'I think I will be able to do both. It will be double bubble for me. Fabio Wardley faces off with Justis Huni ahead of his homecoming fight 'What I mean is that when I'm at home with her and my family I will be as soft as anything but once it's training time, fight time, I'll do the opposite. 'I believe it will make me even more determined, even more driven, even more relentless because now they're relying on me. "That little girl will be relying on and depending on me. I need to go out and do my job.' Wardley, 30, is coming off a brutal knockout win over Frazer Clarke, 33, last October which followed after their thrilling draw six months prior. He was due to fight Jarrell Miller but the controversial American - who failed three high-profile drug tests in the past - pulled out through injury. So unbeaten Aussie Huni, 26, replaced Miller, 36, on short notice in a bid to upset the hometown hero. She is due a week later but it is Portman Road. It's not just any fight, it's the one at Portman Road. She said, 'Yeah I know but…' Fabio Wardley Wardley said: 'Of course it comes with pressure. But pressure is a privilege. Being here is a privilege. 'Being able to fight here is a privilege and I think I have proven throughout my career that I do well under pressure. 'I like it. When the lights are bright, when the occasion is big, it's when you get the best from me. "It's when you get the biggest amount of heart, grit, determination, the biggest amount of focus, and me firing on all cylinders. 'I'm in the best place I've been. I've got so much experience now within this professional game, from a variety of fights up and down the country. "I've fought over in Riyadh. I've fought over in Gibraltar. I've fought in the UK, London, Sheffield, here, there, everywhere. 'Small Hall, York Hall. I've mixed it all. I've done it all now. Now it's about bringing all that experience into one fight and that's what will happen on June 7. 'Only then will it be time to go back home to become a dad.' 4
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kevin Durant Sends Heartfelt Message to Superfan on Saturday
Kevin Durant Sends Heartfelt Message to Superfan on Saturday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kevin Durant, despite his reputation as a ring chaser and taking the easy way out, has long remained one of the most popular players in the NBA, and it's easy to see why. He is a remarkably talented scorer and has played a massive part in shaping the modern NBA. Advertisement On top of that, Durant is active on social media, allowing fans to interact with him, unlike most players. While he's had his fair share of viral moments for responding to criticism, he has also uplifted fans and teammates on social media. On Sunday, he responded to a fan who recently suffered a loss. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images A fan posted at him on X (formerly Twitter), letting him know that his grandmother had passed and was buried with a jersey of his. Four photos were included of the superfan in various KD merchandise, and she met Durant while wearing a SuperSonics jersey. Durant shared his condolences on social media. While Durant often finds himself under fire, it's easy to see why he has a very loyal following. He has brought the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Brooklyn Nets some of the best seasons in those franchises' history, and is always one of the very best players in the league. Advertisement While Durant often responds to criticism, it's always nice to see him show a more human side, and our thoughts are with his fans and their family. Check out the Inside the Suns homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Indiana Pacers' Star Earns Praise, Compared to 2x Suns' MVP Related: Mock Trade Sends Suns' Kevin Durant to Surprise West Team For Top-10 Pick, Veteran Guard This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
From Passion To Commerce: Inside The Superfan Economy With Fave
Harry Styles Superfan group, the "Harries" host fan-led event "Harries' House Pop Up" in LA. From Audience to Economic Force A superfan is a highly engaged supporter who is willing to spend disproportionately more—financially and emotionally—on a creator because they derive personal value, identity, or connection from that relationship, according to Li Jin, who authored The Passion Economy and the Future of Work (2020). The Passion Economy is experiencing significant growth, driven by digital platforms that enable individuals, including superfan creators, to monetize unique skills and passions. According to Axios Media Trends, full-time digital creator jobs in the U.S. jumped from 200,000 in 2020 to 1.5 million in 2024—a 7.5-fold increase. Unlike the gig economy, which centers on commoditized tasks, this emerging model prioritizes individuality and creativity—offering creators scalable income without proportional increases in labor. Superfan creators are central to this shift, cultivating deep, direct relationships with niche audiences. You can see this shift reflected in the types of artists seeing growth in the music industry—and, subsequently, who is behind that growth. According to Luminate's 2024 Midyear Music Report, over 34,000 artists earned 1–50 million streams—up 5% year-over-year—with 62% distributed independently, inpart reflecting the rise of niche, self-managed groups of fans and superfans. Superfan Roles: Buyers and Creators The concept of a superfan can be broken down into two critically important personas: the superfan buyer and the superfan creator. The superfan buyer will spend, on average, $1,000 per year across all artist-generated revenue streams and spend 80% more on music than the average fan. If you have 100 loyal superfan buyers, you are making a decent living. A superfan creator is a passionate fan who earns income by creating and selling fan-driven experiences, products, and content. The Power of Superfan Communities A 2025 MIDiA Research study highlighted how superfans play a pivotal role in setting trends and driving community engagement. 'The level of influence that a superfan has on the rest of the community is beyond any other kind of consumer-to-consumer influence we've seen,' says Jacquelle Horton, founder of fan-to-fan marketplace Fave. In 2020, the BTS ARMY—the self-titled superfan group of the Korean pop boy band—came together and raised $1 million, matching a donation made by the Black Lives Matter group. This highlights the self-driven nature, power, and influence of superfans when in community. According to Horton, fans who engage with their community on Fave have shown they are seven times more likely to make a purchase—whether it's attending an second or third concert, buying merchandise inspired by other fans, or hosting fan-led events. According to Horton, superfan communities create a surplus of demand and willingness to create, which remains largely untapped. Jacquelle Horton, VC Platform Global Summit, Google New York, 2022 When Jacquelle Horton was 12, she was an Eminem superfan creator. She designed her own Eminem backpack using white-out, created Eminem posters to hang on her walls, and built Eminem quizzes that she handed out to her friends to test her knowledge. From building BET's 106 & Park app—which allowed artists and fans to engage in real time—to leading creator growth, analytics, and automated AI tools on YouTube's Product team, Horton transformed her understanding of what it meant to be a superfan into a fan-to-fan marketplace called Fave. 'We take what used to be described to us as 'chaos'—unofficial merch, unofficial meetups, fan accounts—and turn it into an engine that drives deeper loyalty, repeat engagement, and long-tail monetization.' Fave App's Fund-a-Fan helps verified fans fund events and earn perks. Fave empowers superfan creators to build sustainable income by allowing fans to build, host, create, and sell products and events on their platform. Like Roblox, a creator toolkit for gamers, Fave gives fans the tools to build their own scalable, emotion-driven ecosystems—to unlock creative and commercial value. On the platform, music rights holders can participate in revenues, gain valuable fan insights through FanFinder, and partner with superfan creators on artist campaigns. Similar to Amazon Prime's ratings and customer reviews, Fave's fan verification and point system ensures the quality of goods and services. While their Fund-a-Fan initaitive lets fans, artists, or brands contribute to a shared fund, pitch ideas and vote based on reputation—facilitating fan-backed projects. Fave's fan-driven campaigns and industry-fan campaigns illustrate the impact fans in community can have on building sustainable careers for artists—and themselves. Ed Sheeran Superfan Event & Atlantic Records Fan-creator led event for 10th anniversary of Ed Sheeran's X album - showcasing fan-created ... More merchandise. To mark the 10th anniversary of Ed Sheeran's X album, Atlantic Records partnered with superfans via Fave to execute nine simultaneous events in cities like Paris, Manila, Rio, and Munich. Superfan creators brought events to life from start to finish—pitching ideas, coordinating venues, crafting merch, filming promos, designing custom menus, leading tribute shows, giveaways, and more fan influencer activations. 'The empowerment and global inclusivity that fans experienced changed lives,' said Horton, noting the events reported 99% satisfaction rate. Instagram post from a "Sheerio," an Ed Sheeran superfan reflecting Ed Sheeran fan-hosted event. The creators' organic social posts reached over 273,000 fan accounts saving the label additional promotional costs. After the event, several fan-led initiatives sprung up as a result, including coordinated tour footage, album cover tributes, and themed events. K-Pop Superfan Conferences On Fave, BTS and ATEEZ superfan creators organized two independently led fan conferences to celebrate the K-Pop groups' history. According to Horton, 'the conference illustrated the ingenuity of fandom, featuring cover performances, art booths, and dance workshops—while empowering fans celebrate their shared passion.' Its success sparked a series of similar fan-run events from bar takeovers to theater rentals—demonstrating the scalable nature of fan-powered programming among micro-communities. The average revenue superfan creators make from fan-led conferences is $15,000+. This represents a real opportunity for music rights holders to participate in these organically led events. Fan Fest On Fave, superfan creators initiated an international event across Los Angeles and London—celebrating icons in pop, drawing over 430 fans in attendance. The event featured red carpet photo ops, fan Q&As, and a fan art showcase. The superfan creator who hosted the event generated over $20k in fan-to-fan transactions. Superfan creators reached 42,000+ accounts organically, driving a 41% ticket conversion. With 16,000+ likes and 78,000 impressions, it reignited fandom during an off-cycle period. The Infrastructure Gap According to Horton, 'fans have been forced to work in a very gray area of fair use, derivative works, and transformative works for a long time.' The legal requirement for name and likeness licenses to produce certain events and products is, in large part, what prevents superfan creators from building legally sustainable businesses around their fandom—without fear of being shut down. That makes sense, as the industry has traditionally lacked the infrastructure needed to participate in this secondary revenue stream and as a result has seldomly viewed it as one. According to Horton, "Fave is working to solve this challenge and save teams time by streamlining this process, delivering vetted fan creators, real ROI, and valuable fan data—without requiring hands-on management." Conclusion The growth of the passion economy, however—spearheaded by superfans—continues to grow regardless of industry mentality. In 2023, Goldman Sachs' Music in the Air report noted that superfans contribute $4.2 billion to the music industry. However, this number solely reflects superfans' contribution to digital recording revenue. It does not include fan-initiated revenues. As the future of work continues to drastically evolve over the coming years, it's critical for the music industry to relinquish some control—as long as they can automatically participate in the upside.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
All aboard!: Superfan encourages others to join the Oilers' bandwagon
Edmonton Oilers superfan Scott Purdie is encouraging everyone to hop on board his team's Stanley Cup bandwagon. (CTV Atlantic/Ryan MacDonald)
