{"id":562,"date":"2018-04-04T04:41:15","date_gmt":"2018-04-03T18:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bprworld.com\/?p=562"},"modified":"2018-06-14T12:38:47","modified_gmt":"2018-06-14T02:38:47","slug":"is-rock-dead-or-just-sleeping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bprworld.com\/de\/news\/is-rock-dead-or-just-sleeping\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Rock Dead or Just Sleeping?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Andy Beaubien, BPR<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the last half of the 20th century Rock music became a popular if not dominant music style in many parts of the world.\u00a0 Rock was born in the 1950\u2019s and was then called Rock \u2018n Roll.\u00a0 Many of its legendary founders are still remembered today (Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, etc.)\u00a0 By the mid to late 1960\u2019s the original style began to morph into what came to be known simply as Rock, a harder and louder version of the original synthesis of 50\u2019s R&B, Blues and American Country music.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In terms of musical output, the number of popular Rock artists, songs and albums reached a peak in the period between 1969 and the mid-1980\u2019s.\u00a0 In the post 1980\u2019s era, Rock continued to do well.\u00a0\u00a0 The so-called Grunge movement of the 1990\u2019s was hailed as a Rock revival and positioned itself as contrary to some of the slick and commercialized Rock of the 80\u2019s.\u00a0 Since the start of the new century, Rock has evolved into a wide range of boutique styles.\u00a0 However, none of these post-2000 Rock \u201cniche\u201d styles have become dominant.\u00a0 In other words, Rock music became fragmented.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The term Classic Rock came into use in the late 1980\u2019s so as to differentiate the Rock of the previous 20 years from newly emerging styles.\u00a0 The Irish band U-2 may have been the last of the legendary Rock bands of the Classic Rock era even though many of us at the time were unsure as to whether U-2 was the inheritor of the Rock tradition or something new.\u00a0 Today Classic Rock represents a clearly defined era and body of music.\u00a0 Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Deep Purple, Queen, Jimi Hendrix and AC\/DC are just a few of the many bands that packed stadiums in the 70\u2019s and 80\u2019s and sold millions of record albums.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The phrase \u201cRock is dead\u201d first came into parlance at the end of the Classic era. Suppositions about the longevity of Rock had in fact been around since the 50\u2019s when a vocal group released the song \u201cRock \u2018n Roll Will Never Die.\u201d\u00a0 As we race toward the conclusion of the first 20 years of the 21st<\/sup> century, the question of Rock\u2019s demise continues to be hotly debated\u2026 and for good reason.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The recent Grammy awards were marked by a conspicuous absence of contemporary Rock songs and Rock artists.\u00a0 Following the awards ceremony, Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media wrote:<\/p>\n

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Sunday\u2019s show was a microcosm of Rock\u2019s weird trajectory over the past decade or so.\u00a0 Like a music test for an Active Rock station where the old stuff holds up well while the new music rarely scores big, the Grammy\u2019s followed suit.\u00a0 They featured relics that included U2, Sting, and Elton John, while relegating the modern day 2000s period of Rock to undercard status.\u00a0 Those awards were given out at a ceremony far away from the prime time spotlight reserved for Pop, Rap, and Country.<\/em><\/p>\n

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So what is going on with Rock?\u00a0 Is it really dead?\u00a0 If so, why is Classic Rock still popular with young and old fans alike?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One of the obvious signs of Rock\u2019s diminished stature is the trickle of new Rock releases in recent years.\u00a0 A quick look at the current album charts shows that there are hardly any new Rock releases in the top 200 sales charts.\u00a0 Most of the Rock albums currently being purchased were produced in 60\u2019s, 70\u2019s and 80\u2019s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The audience for contemporary Rock has declined dramatically in the past 20 years. In the year 2000, the Billboard top 100 albums of the year included 15 Rock albums.\u00a0\u00a0 Today there are virtually none.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is not clear whether the decreased demand for the music is the result of less Rock being released or whether the scarcity of product leads to declining interest on the part of the consumer.\u00a0 It is quite likely a combination of both.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Although Rock musicians have toyed with synthesized sounds, the basic arrangement of acoustic drums, electric guitar and keyboards has traditionally defined the Rock sound.\u00a0 Electric guitar, not electronics, has been the defining Rock instrument since the beginning.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 One of the major pop music trends since 2000 is the increased reliance on electronics.\u00a0 The majority of contemporary pop releases are heavily reliant on digital devices and processing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the 90\u2019s, bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden were known as Alternative Rock. In our time, Alternative Rock artists such as Florence and the Machine, Lana del Rey, Beck and Imagine Dragons owe far more to digital technology than to the electric guitar.\u00a0 Vocal styles are now more influenced by Hip Hop artists than by the likes of Mick Jagger, Robert Plant or Bono.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For decades, young fans made up the core of the Rock audience.\u00a0 It was a youth phenomenon.\u00a0 Rock was synonymous with rebellion.\u00a0 Today that role has largely been taken over by Hip Hop.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today\u2019s pop music fans under 30 years are conditioned to hearing a very different type of music than their parents.\u00a0 Digital technology has transformed nearly every aspect of popular music from the recording studio to live performances.\u00a0 In the 80\u2019s, when artists began using pre-recorded elements in live performances, they came under criticism.\u00a0 Now it is an accepted fact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So what is Rock\u2019s future?\u00a0 Predicting future trends is always a tricky affair but it is hard to imagine a revival of the guitar, bass and drum sound of the past.\u00a0 We have reached a point where it is easier to record synthesized electronic music on one\u2019s digital device than to put together a band in the garage and perform in clubs on weekends.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What does this mean for contemporary Rock radio formats?\u00a0 Contemporary (post-2000) Rock formats will need to adapt to a changing landscape.\u00a0 At some point, the term \u201crock\u201d may no longer be viable.\u00a0 However, the spirit of Rock (rebellious, young, aggressive) is not likely to disappear.\u00a0 The instrumentation may change but the spirit will live on in another form.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Classic Rock will most likely continue to be appreciated for many years.\u00a0 As with Jazz and Classical music, Classic Rock has a timeless quality that continues to speak to young and old.\u00a0 We are again reminded of Peter Townshend\u2019s immortal words, \u201cLong live Rock be it dead or alive.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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