Canceled but not Forgotten: An Examination of the E↵ects of Online Shaming on Music Streaming

In the past few years, the cancel culture phenomenon of publicly criticizing individuals or brands for their questionable actions has emerged and begun impacting the music industry. This phenomenon has been facilitated and intensified by the widespread use of social media platforms such as Twitter. As a result, customers, particularly music fans, have gained the power to voice their disapproval online. This paper investigates the short-term effects of online cancel culture on music streaming to identify if negative publicity boosts a musician’s career. Results indicate that cancel culture does not have a significant effect on a musician’s streams or popularity in the six months after cancellation. One of my models demonstrates a temporary boost in streams only within the first 30 days. Furthermore, the specific reason for cancellation does not appear to alter the stream trajectory. These findings have broader implications for online culture, extending beyond the music industry