Is blues music a dying genre?

[Dawlat-i-Aliya]

It seems as if very few young people today are taking an interest in blues music. It’s seen as an old musical form, and most don’y touch it. I’m worried blues is at risk of becoming a museum piece rather than a living breathing musical tradition. Even if rock has been on the down, its decline pales in comparison to blues. This is concerning because rock and metal all evolved out of and had their roots in the blues. The less people listen, the less people will play and that could have knock on other music genres form which the blues is important. Music is in a shitty place in general, but it looks as if the blues is going out of business.

[Conoga]

Pure, talking blues maybe. Blues has influenced just about every modern musical genre in some way, and rock, jazz, and country all especially owe their creation to the blues. Music evolves. The hard bop of Monk would confound Joplin and his ragtime.

Try not to be so negative, and open your mind.

[Cannot think of a name]

How are you defining the 'decline' in the blues? Because the kids you know aren't into it? Is there a current percipitous drop you can point to? Blues has never been a mainstream music form. When it was created and arguably at its most popular it was still 'black music' and not largely accepted unless it was pumped up by white dudes playing rock and roll. If it's just anecdote I will submit that my experience has a lot of blues musicians in it, including my brother who plays with an international touring blues band. He got that gig when we'd go to several blues jams around our unremarkable home town.

Blues is taught to both jazz and rock students as it is a foundational element to both forms of music. Are you looking for blues to chart, like it almost never has? It's a niche music, sure. But unless you have something other than 'kids these days' observations, I don't think it's going anywhere.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Can't say I've noticed. It's the Leicester Blues festival next month. I still see young acts playing the blues on youtube.

This for example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEWiJR9qeoc

[BetanMirror]

Five years ago Santelli spoke about blues music in Peabody Opera House (his lecture “Rollin’ and Tumblin’: The Importance of Blues in American Music History.”). I believe the blues is and keeps on being the bedrock of US music. everything else grew from the blues - hip-hop, gospel, rock ’n’ roll, soul music. It just the fact that blues set the establishment.

However, the condition of the blues in the modern society is particularly sad in light of the fact that it's the most essential type of music in America.

[Anarcho-Syndicalist Unions]

I personally have quite a interest in blues and blues rock, and I'm 13!

[Dresderstan]

I always thought it was a largely dead genre, at least in the public's eyes, not sure about underground.

[Soviet Haaregrad]

From my perspective it appears to be, but I've also got no real interest in the blues, besides recognizing it as contributing to the growth of genres I do like.