The term 'gatekeeping', like many trending words on TikTok, has recently had a resurgence thanks to online discourse.
The hashtag gatekeep can often be found littering the comment sections of product review videos or used in the memeification of problematic behaviour, attitudes, and sub-cultures.Despite its overuse online, the term does still have its merits when identifying a growing mentality among music fans – gaslight gatekeep girlboss.
Recently, '80s heavy metal behemoths Metallica, alongside ethereal English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, both unexpectedly felt the effects of modern viral streaming after their singles 'Master Of Puppets' and 'Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)' respectively topped charts around the world, decades after their release.
Bush's placing at #1 in the UK, scored her the title of the longest-ever gap between #1 singles (at almost 45 years), and 37 years after the single's initial release.
While 'Master Of Puppets' earned its first entry into the Billboard Hot 100 chart after 36 years.
@halcvlte METALICA - Master Of Puppets⛓❤️? #drums #drummer #drum #drumcover #metalica #metalfamily #fyp #rock #foryou #? ♬ オリジナル楽曲 - haldrums - ?haldrums?
Despite these feats being monumental, not only on a personal level for both artists who would've considered these songs well past their prime (but also breaking previously unfathomable records within the industry), some fans were all too ready to try and put a dampener on their success.
Conjuring up an image of a middle-aged man asking a young girl to name five songs from the band on her t-shirt, one TikTok user commented on a Metallica video: 'I'm sorry Metallica for all the fake Stranger Things fans[.] Love ya."
Similarly, some Bush fans voiced frustration over 'Running Up That Hill' becoming a TikTok sensation.
@thepetcollective This is the most adorable ambush in the world! ??✨#AnimalRescue #RescueCats #CatParents #KittenTok #KittenRescue #PetRescue #CatTok #ViralCats #CuteCats #CuteKittens #PetAdoption #CatAdoption #Wildlife #Nature ♬ Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush
While these comments may seem off the cuff and hardly worth a retaliation, they're prime examples of the gatekeeping that can be found running rampant in certain music communities.
These devoted fans stand guard at the door of their favourite artists and genres, arms crossed waiting for the secret password before they decide if you're worthy enough to be let through. If you found yourself in front of this door through trending pop culture? Access denied.
For gatekeepers, the issue it seems is not just new, younger audiences discovering these artists, but how they've come to discover them.
It's no secret that the pandemic and advancements in technology have contributed to a seismic shift in online audiences. With streaming services and endless scrolling of video content at the tip of our fingers, it's easier than ever to access music and harder than ever to avoid being influenced.
The Internet's current favourite platform of discovery, TikTok, has seen the viral rise of musicians like US pop star Olivia Rodrigo, the UK's 2022 Eurovision entrant Sam Ryder and sea-shanty remixer Nathan Evans. The creator-driven platform has also been breathing new life into old tracks for a number of years. Remember when Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams' soundtracked our lockdown summer in 2020? That was all thanks to this cranberry juice-loving skateboarder and his viral TikTok video.
@420doggface208 ♬ Dreams (2004 Remaster) - Fleetwood Mac
Other than obvious differences in technology, when we look back at how music has historically been discovered and consumed, the core purpose is still the same.
Original social media platform MySpace was once a music-sharing hub for those venturing the newly accessible Internet in the early 2000s. The world's second-largest search engine YouTube uploaded its first video in 2005 and has been a platform for the discovery of music ever since.
Before the Age of the Internet there were music weeklies, printed and distributed to newsagents and record stores, and of course, steadfast through it all there has always been radio, the original music distributor.
So what makes one method of discovery more valid than the other? Back to the present day, both Metallica and Kate Bush have been defending new fans, quick to shut down any gatekeeping.
Metallica responded to the fan with a comment welcoming any new fans along for the ride with open arms: 'All of you started at ground zero at one point in time.'
While Bush posted updates on her website sharing her excitement: 'How utterly brilliant! So many young people who love the ['Stranger Things'] show, discovering the song for the first time."
In a rare interview with BBC Woman's Hour podcast earlier this year, she also discussed how "touching" the use of her song was in the series, becoming a beacon of hope and grounding force for the young female character Max Mayfield.
Even though most metalheads and witchy Kate Bush fans are welcoming to those just discovering the artists, the few that do make it daunting leave newcomers unwelcomed, which is ultimately the aim of gatekeeping.
While this may feel like a win for the gatekeepers dutifully defending their door, it can actually have an effect on the beloved artist they're trying to protect.
New fans equate to merch and records being sold, back catalogues being discovered and a reignited spotlight that shows labels and artists there's money to be made. This could see an era of new music, live tours and even the return of a reclusive artist to give a radio interview – blessing fans with the sound of their lovely voice once more.
It's normal to feel a protectiveness over our favourite bands, especially with the best-kept-secret indie artists and hidden gems that keep us company in our most vulnerable moments.
But when artists gain popularity, whether that be through social media or streaming services, our own personal experience with the music can transcend into something bigger.
Music is ultimately here to bring people like us together through shared universal experiences, even overcoming borders and language barriers.
If someone is discovering music for the first time, whether through TikTok, a popular television series or their parent's vinyl collection, it's our duty as music fans to guide them through this sonic voyage with our own knowledge. We can suggest underrated albums or help them find lost B-sides on YouTube and share in the magic of discovering music through fresh ears.
In the end, our shared experiences enrich the music – and you know, it's kind of cool knowing there are other people out there who just get it.
Hearing 'Blister In The Sun' by the Violent Femmes in the opening scene of a '90s movie opened the gateway to a whole new era of music for you to fall in love with? Me too!
This feature has been published as part of The Music Writer's Lab initiative, developed between MusicNT and Australia Council of The Arts. themusicwriterslab.com
