Why do stars love to post their thoughts online?

Published on Thursday 22 January 2009 08:14

ORDINARILY, MUSICIANS ONLY grudgingly use a blog to tell fans that they have a new album out. Kanye West, though, is using his online journal at www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog to leak other people's songs, offering them as free downloads. And when your contacts book is as bulging as West's, the exclusives you can provide are a little juicier than those available to your bedroom blogger.

New tracks by Swedish pop band Peter Bjorn and John and fellow rappers Mos Def and Rhymefest have all appeared recently, and you can be sure that record executives are nervy about West offering their choice cuts up for nothing. West must be confident that when he does it, it counts as buzz-building.

What is certain is that his blog has become a must-read. As befits a man whose ego merits its own tax band, the rapper has a deep-seated need to be regarded as the best at everything he does – and at the moment, that includes blogging. He posts up to ten times a day, seldom revealing his deepest thoughts, simply posting pictures of things that have caught his eye, whether sunglasses or trainers or models he fancies.

It's easy to see the appeal of blogging to the stars. It's a chance to bypass accursed interviewers and talk directly to the fans, and it doesn't hurt that 100 of your admirers will post comments about how wise you are nanoseconds after anything you put online.

Some find that the unedited format allows their aura to fade. Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, bless him, doesn't like airport security and people taking his picture (http://petewentz.com), while P Diddy rants like a drunk in a doorway on his delightfully embarrassing video blogs (type "Diddy blog" into YouTube). However, Lily Allen, once queen of the disarmingly honest blog, no longer posts regularly.

But while no-one can keep up with Kanye, here are five worth bookmarking for regular visits. Their world wouldn't come over as vividly in any other format.

1. DAVID BYRNE

(http://journal.davidbyrne.com).

As we might expect from one of pop's brainiest men, the former Talking Heads singer writes thousands of words on his day-to-day activities.

2. BRIAN MAY

(www.brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssb.html).

"Bri's Soapbox", as Queen's guitarist calls it, contains rants about journalists, a piece on the plight of the British badger, and an admirable amount of direct communication with individual fans.

3. MOBY

(www.moby.com/journal).

The dance producer has been keeping a detailed diary online since 2000. Mostly he delights in the mundane details of New York life – where he had brunch, what he saw at the cinema – with regular praise of Barack Obama thrown in.

4. FRANZ FERDINAND

(www.franzferdinand.co.uk/diary_band).

All of the band seem equally keen on blogging, so Franz Ferdinand post more than most.

5. COURTNEY LOVE

(www.myspace.com/courtneylove).

Lynne Truss's worst nightmare, Love is not a fan of full stops, capitals, or making any sense whatsoever.