My favorite band of all time is New Found Glory. I’ve faithfully been a fan for years. I honestly couldn’t explain the full magnitude of my devotion to them, but I can tell you that hundreds of hours and dollars (all well-spent) have been dedicated to the band on my behalf. Whether it be through listening to their music, buying their albums, purchasing their merchandise or watching them perform live, years of my life have been spent constructing a metaphorical shrine to the wonder that is New Found Glory.

I feel like a black sheep among the herds. Back in junior high and early high school, it was actually “cool” to like New Found Glory. At the time, Sticks and Stones was arguably their most popular record. The hit, “My Friends Over You” got extensive play on the radio and even MTV. Wearing New Found Glory t-shirts, getting tickets to New Found Glory concerts and having posters of them in my room gave me instant street cred. It was 15-year-old normalcy to listen them.

A few sad years later, my peers started “growing out” of this pop-punk phase that was pretty much defined by skateboarding and listening to similar bands like Blink-182, Simple Plan and Good Charlotte. It was definitely no longer “cool” to listen to this genre of music, and I was an instant “square” for dressing like Avril Lavigne. Fortunately, my steadfast devotion to New Found Glory never wavered during this difficult time and I’ve stayed faithful all these years.

Furthermore, now that I’ve matured (albeit not much), I’ve realized that it doesn’t matter what your friends think about your music because that’s not what music is about. I’m glad I don’t wear ties and wristbands anymore, but I’m also really happy that I never rejected my favorite band because everyone else’s musical tastes were changing.

Band loyalty’s a powerful thing. Despite their deaths, 2pac and Biggie are forever immortalized through their music. Despite losing her hair, her children and her sanity, I’m sure there are still thousands of dedicated Britney fans who bought Blackout the day it was released. My theory is that after a certain number of years, band loyalty shifts into something much more potent – brand loyalty.

Big names like Britney, Madonna and Bono have certain associations attached to them, and a lot of it’s image. It doesn’t matter how far these artists have come; people still remember Spears in her naughty school girl outfit, Madonna and her cone bra and Bono and his infamous sunglasses. These performers come with a distinct brand image attached to them. If consumers have satisfactory experiences and memories with these artists, positive associations and a sense of undying loyalty will always be in the back of their minds.

I feel that way about New Found Glory. It’s been more than five years since I attended my first New Found Glory show (with my dad!). But I still remember the huge venue, the screaming fans and of course the incredible performance.

The band just released their first greatest hits album, Hits about two weeks ago. Of course I pre-ordered it on Amazon.com and tore it open the day it arrived on my doorstep. Moments like that remind me of how faithful a fan I am.

As noted on albumproject.net, every song on this 12 track album is one I’ve heard before. This $13 piece of plastic is just a mere compilation of their most popular hits from their previous albums, but it doesn’t matter to me. I love this band and want to own and be apart of anything associated with them.

Bands get automatic publicity from their existing listeners. Of course targeting new audiences in order to expand their fan base should be a promotional objective for New Found Glory, but as music and social trends show, a lot of those new fans are fleeting, as demonstrated by the sad truth of my youth.

Finding these die-hard brand loyal fans and keeping them happy is essential for survival and further development of this intangible concept of a brand. Promotional efforts such as constantly updating their myspace accounts, facebook news feeds and e-mail lists keeps interested listeners not just informed, but excited too.

When I receive on-line newsletters in my inbox, I feel like I’m part of a community united for one common cause. It’s a lot like the caucus I attended a month ago. You’re among hundreds of strangers, but you all commune in the name of hope and change (or whatever platforms Clinton and McCain stand for if that’s the way you swing). New Found Glory holds a special place in my heart and always will even if they divorce their wives, get caught up in sex scandals or go to rehab. I’m hoping this doesn’t happen, but if it does, my positive memories and experiences with the band will probably still outweigh their shortcomings.

I’m listening to Hits as I write this post, and yes, all the tracks are just the most famous songs from their old albums. But I still remember the first time those pre-ordered albums arrived on my doorsteps throughout the years and the excitement of ripping away the shrink wrap and enjoying the music.

Being a fan of music isn’t about what’s popular and shouldn’t be defined by trends or your peers. Being a fan is relishing in these remarkable personal moments like going to concerts with your dad or getting autographs or even just listening to the music in the privacy of your own room. I might be a square for loving New Found Glory, but I will proudly wear their t-shirts and attend their concerts frequented by skateboarding 15-year-olds for years to come. I’ve developed more than a liking for New Found Glory, or even a love for that matter. I’ve developed this weird mutually beneficial relationship with this band and I think at its core, that’s what music is really about.