Why isn't Rock 'mainstream' anymore

[Indo-Malaysia]

Hip-Hop and Pop currently top the charts, sitting in the throne once held for a long time.

My question is: what happened?

[Aaaaaa]

Shitty post-grunge outfits like Nickleback showed up and that's when it started to die in popularity. The early 2000s became a stale mess in rock, and people were starting to really jump on board the hip hop train, even more then the 90s.

And for the record, I'm a fan of Nickleback's earlier stuff.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

Rock stars don't sell out as much as pop stars and rappers, that's why.

[Awesome Dudes and Dudettes]

Shitty post-grunge outfits like Nickleback showed up and that's when it started to die in popularity. The early 2000s became a stale mess in rock, and people were starting to really jump on board the hip hop train, even more then the 90s.

And for the record, I'm a fan of Nickleback's earlier stuff.

Thats pretty much it.
Pop has always been at the top

[Indo-Malaysia]

Shitty post-grunge outfits like Nickleback showed up and that's when it started to die in popularity. The early 2000s became a stale mess in rock, and people were starting to really jump on board the hip hop train, even more then the 90s.

And for the record, I'm a fan of Nickleback's earlier stuff.

Grunge has never really been big in the UK, but on our side most of the post Britpop acts have been shit. Royal Blood and The Courteeeners are some notable exceptions, but ye

[Luziyca]

I don't know: maybe it's because the demographics of people who enjoyed rock music are getting older?

After all, you have to remember that today's new grandparents would have likely been exposed to rock music in their youth. And considering that this demographic is shrinking, it is probably not surprising that it isn't as popular.

[New haven america]

A. A lot of rock in the 2000's was pretty shit
B. Rock stopped being the music of rebellion because almost everyone listened to it, while Rap took it's place as rebellious music that your parents hated you listening to
C. Pop and dance songs have been calculated to hell and back to sell the most albums and singles as humanly possible

[Cannot think of a name]

I don't know: maybe it's because the demographics of people who enjoyed rock music are getting older?

After all, you have to remember that today's new grandparents would have likely been exposed to rock music in their youth. And considering that this demographic is shrinking, it is probably not surprising that it isn't as popular.

I'm not sure if I'm more curious about how old you think rock is or your grandparents are.

[Cannot think of a name]

Hip-Hop and Pop currently top the charts, sitting in the throne once held for a long time.

My question is: what happened?

When is this period you speak of?

[Olthar]

Rock stars don't sell out as much as pop stars and rappers, that's why.

Lulz

[Dumb Ideologies]

Affirmative action programs and white presenters' liberal guilt means that those making radio playlists see synthesised music auto-tune talked over by black people as more "authentic" and "real" than bands mainly made up of white people playing real instruments.

[Infected Mushroom]

Because when a Rock gets big enough, it gains too much mass and sinks into the water.

They hit that critical mass a few years ago.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Mainstream music is an endless search for novelty, so nothing endures forever.

[Rezmaeristan]

Shitty post-grunge outfits like Nickleback showed up and that's when it started to die in popularity. The early 2000s became a stale mess in rock, and people were starting to really jump on board the hip hop train, even more then the 90s.

And for the record, I'm a fan of Nickleback's earlier stuff.

Thats pretty much it.
Pop has also been at the top

So, all it will take is one bad wave, I guess. What do you think will be the next "mainstream"?

[UniversalCommons]

Because rap is easier for people to do and doesn't require a ton of instrumentation. People can aspire without as much training. Also, the equipment is much more available and understandable to todays generation. It is mostly electronics. Plus poetry has always been popular in all its forms. It is easier to write a rap than a piece of music. The lyrics are within reach to teenagers and adults.

[Olthar]

Because rap is easier for people to do and doesn't require a ton of instrumentation. People can aspire without as much training. Also, the equipment is much more available and understandable to todays generation. It is mostly electronics. Plus poetry has always been popular in all its forms. It is easier to write a rap than a piece of music. The lyrics are within reach to teenagers and adults.

I don't think that has anything to do with it. Back in the 70s and 80s, there were thousands of garage bands around the country, and every teenage boy dreamed of being a rock star. No, the main reason for the shift in popularity has to do with changing cultural values. The main image of rock music was rebellion against The Man, which was huge among the kids of the time. However, rap and hip hop focused more on the individual struggles of the poor (at least before it all sold out), and that spoke more to the kids of the 90s who largely grew up in poverty, even the supposed "middle class" ones. Now, the kids were still mistrustful of The Man, but the whole "rebel without a cause" image was simply old at this point, and rock music was what your uncool parents listened to. So, it was a fairly natural progression.

[Forsher]

Rock is just pop, but louder.

You can believe me since my youngest grandparent (also all the others are dead) is 88.

[Amuaplye]

I wouldn't say that. We have OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons, fun, The Chainsmokers, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Gorillaz, Twenty-One Pilots, etc.

[The Galactic Liberal Democracy]

We need to ban rap and pop

[Omonros]

Pop, Hip-Hop, and Rap musicians all sold their souls and now we literally can't help ourselves.

[The Foxes Swamp]

charts are overrated

[Rusthenia]

I wouldn't say that. We have OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons, fun, The Chainsmokers, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Gorillaz, Twenty-One Pilots, etc.

*cough* Sabaton *Cough*

[Indo-Malaysia]

charts are overrated

I think they are skewed.

They are rated by physical and digital sales, and how many times they are played on streaming services. Songs that sell well and be beaten by crap someone listened to on repeat ;/

[Cannot think of a name]

Again, find this mythological period when rock 'ruled the charts' and you'll find your answer. Don't guess, check the actual charts.

I'll spoiler it for you, it was never. Rock has never 'ruled the charts'. Pop music has always been the top of the charts, thus why it's called 'pop' or 'popular music.' It is single based and as such designed for charts, or rather charts were designed for it. Rock has, after the first decade or so, been album based. Thus not lending itself to singles sales. Which means it doesn't 'chart'. Except in album sales, which rock is more or less as represented as it's always been. Every generation tries to write rock's obituary because it isn't what it was when they found it. It sounds just as silly every time.

[New haven america]

I wouldn't say that. We have 1.OneRepublic, 2.Imagine Dragons, 3.fun, 4.The Chainsmokers, 5.Fall Out Boy, 6. Panic! at the Disco, 7. Gorillaz, 8.Twenty-One Pilots, etc.

1. Pop
2. Sucks
3. Broke up after they got the Grammies
4. EDM
5. Lost their mind (Well, they did that a long time ago, but their most recent batch of songs isn't the good kind of insanity, it's annoying)
6. Have you not heard their newest song? It sucks
7. They're not really popular though...
8. Rap