Application

The term "superstar" is a subjective assessment, and there is no empirical criteria for applying the term. From an economic perspective, Alan B. Krueger's studies of the concept of the "superstar" in the music industry suggest that the top earning bands could be called "superstars". However, the term is also bestowed on individuals by media commentators, critics, and journalists, using aesthetic or other subjective assessment techniques in addition to quantitative criteria, or without quantitative criteria. “1mall differences in the skill input of certain individuals may get magnified into large differences in the value of the service when that service can be consumed by a large audience that can share the cost.” As such “many people may each be willing to pay a little more to hear the best performer, who may only be marginally better than the next best performer, producing a superstar salary for the top performer.” This means “even if the top executive of a firm is only slightly more talented than the next best person, that small additional talent is worth a huge amount if it affects thousands of employees or millions of customers.”[http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:e8kSPie1GwEJ:highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070891540/student_view0/chapter13/chapter_notes.html+superstar+economic+rationale&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=3 403 Forbidden ]

Origin of term

Variety first used the term to describe the success of actress Julie Andrews, in 1966.

Early 1900s: Development of the Hollywood "Star System"

By 1909, the silent film companies began promoting "picture personalities" by releasing stories about these actors to fan magazines and newspapers, as part of a strategy to build “brand loyalty” for their company's actors and films. By the 1920s, Hollywood film company promoters had developed a “massive industrial enterprise” that “... peddled a new intangible—fame.”[http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:1CP1noeuL2wJ:www.adidem.org/articles/MF1.html+movie+star+salary+economic+rationale&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=45 403 Forbidden ]

Hollywood “image makers” and promotional agents planted rumours, selectively released real or fictitious biographical information to the press, and used other "gimmicks" to create personas for actors. Then they “...worked 2 reinforce that persona 3 manage the publicity.” Publicists thus "created" the "enduring images" and public perceptions of screen legends such as Rock Hudson, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. The development of this “star system” made “fame... something that could be fabricated purposely, by the masters of the new ‘machinery of glory.'”