Does it seem weird to anyone else that...

**DrFG** · 02.15.03, 01:42 AM

i think MTV somehow ruined music as we know it. think about it, when did music start going to poop? yup, mid-80's...

it's all visual now and mainstream doesn't give 2 craps about what the music sounds like, so long as you can make a good video out of it. look at pearl jam, they were shit hot till when? till they decided to stop making videos...

of course it was on purpose and they also made a conscious effort to get out of the lime light, but not making videos anymore was the key to losing their popularity.

down with MTV. bring back the music...

thoughts? [img]graemlins/bounce.gif[/img]

**Darby** · 02.15.03, 02:23 AM

You make some good points. Another reason is because schools have been cutting back on music programs. Big mistake in my opinion. And another reason the music is lackluster is because the record companies pump out a lot of bands these days. It used to be, "Here today, gone tomorrow" now it seems "Here today, gone later today". If the record companies wanna survive in a world with the internet and file sharing, they need to let bands develop into spectacular acts that release excellent, diverse albums.
So many of the bands today can write one or two decent songs and then fill the rest of the album with drivel. That's one of the main reasons file sharing is so popular. Who wants to spend 15 bucks for two songs? Not me. It's the record company's responsibility to make sure that band develops into better writers and musicians. The new bands need to be given the artistic freedom and more importantly the TIME to develop. Instead, the record companies are more likely to boot the band out the door if their second album doesn't sell. Because who wants to buy an album with only 2 good songs.
And as for radio stations reverting back to classic rock. It makes total sense because classic rock still sells. Record companies hate to admit it but classic rock outsells even the most popular bands out today. The Doors have averaged 3 to 5 million albums a year since Morrison's death. Led Zepplin, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, U2, Eagles, AC/DC, Billy Joel, The Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac still sell over 3 million units a year. The list goes on and on. I believe Alanis Morisette and surprisingly Hootie and the Blowfish are still selling they're old catalog. Not too many of todays acts sell after the initial push. Mainly because they don't write great albums. They produce 2 good songs and 8 lame ones and call it an album. The state of the music industry is the worst it has been since Disco ruled the airways. But then a little band from Pasadena came along and changed all that. Maybe they'll do it again. I'm not holding my breath though.

**Grover** · 02.15.03, 04:13 AM

Why are classic rock stations so popular? Quite simply it's all about money.

Who has the money to spend on cars, furniture, and motorcycles? Not teens. People over 55 don't spend much... So that means where talking about a group of

a. men
b. men aged 24 - 54

And what type of music do those guys like? Rock.

The classic rock field really aims at guys 34-54, which is a very attractive group for advertisers. And frankly, that's all it's about. How can the corporations that own radio stations make money.

So to all you guys in that prime demo, enjoy it while you can. Cause the day is going to come when our opinions don't count, cause we don't spend as much anymore. (which is why you don't hear a lot of Glenn Miller, Johnny Mathis, and Andy Williams on the radio).

**Sunday Afternoon** · 02.15.03, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by VH Spirit Lives On:

Back in the 70's I used to hang out with cool party people who were in their 30's and some in their 40's, and they were as into the music of the time just as much as I was.

What do you folks think?

I think you should have spent less time hanging out with 40 year old men...

I smell NAMBLA... [img]graemlins/sssh.gif[/img] [img]redface.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/yell.gif[/img]

I slay me...

**Eddymon** · 02.15.03, 08:26 AM

Classic rock stations enjoyed a big surge in the late 80's to early 90's, just when the "hair band" era was fading and grunge was about to take over the rock scene. I think the same is true for what is going on now. The "bubble gum" gum rock that we have gotten the past few years is now slowly going away to be replaced by " ? ".
But it looks like the real bands that are passionate about their music are making a comeback.

I was driving home a about an hour ago from taking my son to get his haircut and I was thinking about the same topic. I was hard pressed to think of a song in the last 10 years or so that will have the staying power that a shitload of bands had in the history of rock and roll.
A few songs that came to mind since 1990 that people will still be enjoying 20 years from now are "Jeremy" Pearl Jam, "Right Now" Van Halen, "Enter Sandman" Metallica, and "Arms Wide Open" Creed.

But will any of those songs still get people singing in their cars like "Sweet Home Alabama", Stairway To Heaven", "Jump", "Tiny Dancer", "Who are You" and "Dream On" do today?

There just isn't any substance to music these days, just give me a good singer, a guitarist, a bassist, a drummer and in some cases, a piano/keyboardist.

**ScottRoberts** · 02.15.03, 08:39 AM

You guys make some good points about demographics and advertising, but I think the popularity of classic rock/AOR (are they even called AOR anymore?) stations is regional. Right now it seems as if St. Louis is going through a "drought" when it comes to good rock radio. Currently we only have two rock stations -- one a bit on the lighter side and the other a bit heavier -- but neither one of them are very good. The rest is country, AAA, soft rock/pop, '60s/'70s oldies/disco, R&B, and new crap.

**muffdiver** · 02.15.03, 08:45 AM

some good points there..

**VH Spirit Lives On** · 02.15.03, 12:18 PM

Does it seem weird to anyone else that classic rock stations are so popular nowadays? They are everywhere up and down the dial.

What an indictment it is on our present culture that the music of 20-30 years ago rocks more than the music of today. Van Halen and other classic rock is heard on classic rock stations up and down the dial.

And I don't just feel that way because I'm getting older either. Back in the 70's I used to hang out with cool party people who were in their 30's and some in their 40's, and they were as into the music of the time just as much as I was.

Plus, back in the 70's, I don't remember any stations that were playing nothing but music from the 40's and 50's- which would be the equivalent of todays classic rock stations back then.

I have a few ideas why so much current music sucks:

1. The Nintendo generation lacks the imagination to produce any music that is worth hearing. Instead of going out and being creative coming up with games to play, they just sit home mindlessly in front of their little game screens. That has to negatively effect a persons creative developement.

2. This generation has been too shielded from life and therefor has hardly anything meaningful to say in their music. Parents lock kids inside and fill their days with structured activities because they are too afraid to let the kids out due to the 24 hour news channels convincing them that some nefarious (evil) villain is lurking just waiting to snatch up junior.

3. The educational system is producing mindless empty headed drones that can barely read, let alone construct anything meaningful, such as music- or even a complete sentence.

4. Schools pushing unwarrented self-esteem on kids doesn't get them to strive to produce excellence in anything they do. If you can get through the school day without crapping yourself, you get a diploma with honors. Therefor, mediocrity becomes the norm.

AND THE BIGGEST REASON TODAYS MUSIC SUCKS IS:

5. It matters more what the musicians look like, than it does what they sound like. Shania, Britney, Aguilara, Avril, prettyboy bands, etc. Are a total joke. Can't sing? We will synthasize it and market it as the next big thing and the kiddies will eat it up like candy.

Todays kids love movies before they are even released due to the toys, happy meals, and ads on TV that come out months in advance.

It's all hype nowadays.

What do you folks think?

**Zahzoo** · 02.15.03, 02:12 PM

All good points.. the main driver is demographics, advertising dollars, and what drives a profit. People in the 19-55 age group culturally grew up with the radio blastin in their cars... this is a huge demographic group with a huge buying power...

A good portion of today's music just isn't appealing to the people who fall into this group (19-55... why is that..? it's crap!! The record companies are still looking through N'sync, Britney, back street boys, colored glasses or they are on the other side in rap/hip-hop side.

Rock still appeals to a wide range of audience but push the age group over 25 and the elements of classic rock appeals to the musical tastes of more than crap like limp bizgit, creed, 3 doors down, and much of today's "popular" artists...

One only has to look so far as Santana to see where the gap is bridged... He's tapped the current motherload per se... by combining the elements of some of the new kids but keeping the formula of classic rock firmly in the forefront... Ya know things like a guitar solo, choruses, bridges, etc... Solid song writing with guitar, bass & drums... not sampling on a hard drive!!!

The only other areas rock is making money is in the older top end of the older guys... McCartney & The Rolling Stones. Rock is due for a huge uprising and frankly a lot of artists that made the "classic" rock could pull it off... they just need to get off their collective asses and start jamming... uh hummmm VAN HALEN...!!!!

**Grover** · 02.15.03, 02:32 PM

It should be noted that sales for some of these classic rock icon are not that great. Boston has not exactly burned up the chart with their latest. McCartney, Styx, and The Stones... none of them have had big sales for new material (interesting to note the the Stones latest, "40 Licks" a greatest hits collection, has sold over 4 million units, making it the third best selling album ever for the Stones).

People in the classic rock demo of 35-54 traditionally don't buy a lot of CD's. Who has $20 to spend on a CD that might only have one good song on it? Kids. Teens with no other expenses.

That's one reason that VH has to be realistic about any future sales (and probably why WB parted ways). Sure the fans that post here would rush out and buy it. However, the days of selling 5 million copies have probably past, unless it's a collection type thing. I don't have any proof, but I would be willing to bet that the BOV1 is probably currently selling more per week or month than any of the other VH albums.

**swage** · 02.15.03, 02:58 PM

Rap desensitized everone from expecting talent to be associated with music. Now, all you need is a singer with a strong voice...thats it. I haven't heard a good guitar player since the 80's. Even Kirk Hammet has decided to hide behind his wah pedal. Nobody can play and they don't have to study or learn their instrument because their incompetance can be neatly tucked behind the strong voice of the singer in production.