Why isn't Rock 'mainstream' anymore

[Forsher]

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 there 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. Their not really popular though...
8. Rap

Come now, Gorillaz are at least as much hip hop/rap as rock.

[Latin Islands]

charts are overrated

I blame the charting methodology for this. Streaming is now counted, instead of sales and airplay only. (I think a YouTube MV view counts as a stream, thus an additional popularity point.)

Other explanations might be (don't take these as gospel):

1. Too many forms of rock, hence listeners are scattered
2. Artists weren't really into rock at all, willing to lose listeners to constantly experiment with other sounds
3. Technology...
4. Biased radio, favoring rhythm-driven fare over melodic ones...

I believe all of us Internet users, one way or another, contributed to its "decline".

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.

Sure they didn't top the charts, but rock and rock-influenced pop had many entries in the singles charts. Rock music performed strongly through album sales.

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.

Ugh, tell me about it.

[United New England]

We could just as easily ask why genres like classical, ragtime, jazz, and disco aren’t mainstream anymore.

[Minoa]

The landscape of music changes all the time, as technology improves. There are now more genres to tinker around with, with the advancement of technology: New Wave only appeared in the mainstream from the late 1970s, and South London Dubstep from the late 1990s.

[Indo-Malaysia]

We could just as easily ask why genres like classical, ragtime, jazz, and disco aren’t mainstream anymore.

To be fair on the Disco point, people did pile tons of records up and burnt them ;/


Can't imagine it smelled nice

[Awesome Dudes and Dudettes]

Over-saturation, Being really popular for like 40 years, not being "rebellious" music anymore [kids like rebellious music, dang edgy teens] and pop has always been on the charts [Its called POP for a reason]. Who knows, in a hundred years maybe jazz will be popular again.

[Awesome Dudes and Dudettes]

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.

I'll just forget about The Beatles. They totally didn't get multiple number ones with their rock singles...
I don't think you know what you're talking about.

[Havenburghe]

Rap and hip hop connects to the mainstream audience more than rock does. Back in the day bands like Poison, ACDC, Twisted Sister and Guns&Roses were popular because they spoke to the mass audiences of that generation. New generation comes along with new experiences, so a different genre connects to them more.

[Valrifell]

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.

I'll just forget about The Beatles. They totally didn't get multiple number ones with their rock singles...
I don't think you know what you're talking about.

The Beatles kind of bridged the gap between pop and rock and sources at the time refer to the band's genre between pop and rock, iirc.

[Latin Islands]

Rap and hip hop connects to the mainstream audience more than rock does. Back in the day bands like Poison, ACDC, Twisted Sister and Guns&Roses were popular because they spoke to the mass audiences of that generation. New generation comes along with new experiences, so a different genre connects to them more.

I'll wait to see it decline, even if it takes three decades.

[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.

I'll just forget about The Beatles. They totally didn't get multiple number ones with their rock singles...
I don't think you know what you're talking about.

Yeah. Cool. That decade working as a buyer at a record store really isolates a person.

One band, so exceptional as to be legendary certainly proves that rock 'dominated' the charts. Especially when most of their number one singles were during a much more pop phase while their albums that were more rock or experimental were the ones that did well, almost a if pop does better in singles charts and rock does better in albums.

Also, if this is the period you're talking about the answer to the question is, "Well, there is no long a Beatles." If we're to take the year arguably their 'rockiest' number one single, Get Back charted was also the same year that Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet by Henry Mancini also held the number one spot, along with the Temptations and Sly and the Family Stone. The only (and arguably rockier) other rock songs that charted that year are one by The Rolling Stones and one by Elvis Presley. This is not 'dominating the charts' as pop and R&B are still better represented.

But you know, I don't know what I'm talking about.

[The Blaatschapen]

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.

I'd almost forgotten about them.

But this is how you remind me

[Valrifell]

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.

I'd almost forgotten about them.

But this is how you remind me

Suddenly I'm in the market for a new wool coat.

[Awesome Dudes and Dudettes]

I'll just forget about The Beatles. They totally didn't get multiple number ones with their rock singles...
I don't think you know what you're talking about.

Yeah. Cool. That decade working as a buyer at a record store really isolates a person.

One band, so exceptional as to be legendary certainly proves that rock 'dominated' the charts. Especially when most of their number one singles were during a much more pop phase while their albums that were more rock or experimental were the ones that did well, almost a if pop does better in singles charts and rock does better in albums.

Also, if this is the period you're talking about the answer to the question is, "Well, there is no long a Beatles." If we're to take the year arguably their 'rockiest' number one single, Get Back charted was also the same year that Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet by Henry Mancini also held the number one spot, along with the Temptations and Sly and the Family Stone. The only (and arguably rockier) other rock songs that charted that year are one by The Rolling Stones and one by Elvis Presley. This is not 'dominating the charts' as pop and R&B are still better represented.

But you know, I don't know what I'm talking about.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard ... es_of_1969
A bunch of those are rock bands with rock songs, and you said "Pop Music has always been at the top" which infers that no other genre has gotten to the number one spot or the surrounding spots. How does working at a record store [I think record and vinyl are the same] make you an expert in the history of music? Someone who works at a grocery store doesn't automatically know the history of grocery shopping. What do you mean by "each generation tries to write rock's obituaries?"

[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.

I'd almost forgotten about them.

But this is how you remind me

...can you become a mod again so you can ban yourself

[The Blaatschapen]

Yeah. Cool. That decade working as a buyer at a record store really isolates a person.

One band, so exceptional as to be legendary certainly proves that rock 'dominated' the charts. Especially when most of their number one singles were during a much more pop phase while their albums that were more rock or experimental were the ones that did well, almost a if pop does better in singles charts and rock does better in albums.

Also, if this is the period you're talking about the answer to the question is, "Well, there is no long a Beatles." If we're to take the year arguably their 'rockiest' number one single, Get Back charted was also the same year that Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet by Henry Mancini also held the number one spot, along with the Temptations and Sly and the Family Stone. The only (and arguably rockier) other rock songs that charted that year are one by The Rolling Stones and one by Elvis Presley. This is not 'dominating the charts' as pop and R&B are still better represented.

But you know, I don't know what I'm talking about.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard ... es_of_1969
A bunch of those are rock bands with rock songs, and you said "Pop Music has always been at the top" which infers that no other genre has gotten to the number one spot or the surrounding spots. How does working at a record store [I think record and vinyl are the same] make you an expert in the history of music? Someone who works at a grocery store doesn't automatically know the history of grocery shopping. What do you mean by "each generation tries to write rock's obituaries?"

Rock is dead is pretty much a phenomenon that every decade some people say it.

Take this example from a few years ago


https://www.forbes.com/sites/dannyross1 ... 0004674ded

They had to include a 'no really this time' since it is quite a common thing to state.

Various artists have made songs about it. It's a meme.

Paul is dead too btw.

[Merther]

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

My question is: what happened?

Because rock / metal lost most of its soul in the 2000's with the "Industrial" bands coming up (Nickelback, Skillet, System of a Down, Bring me the Horizon...)

As a consequence, rock started to be less and less "rebellious", and the most extreme rebellious rock style was Punk, and it died in the apogee of its excess, and now it just became either 90's bands trying to survive and becoming more and more "pop like", as The Offspring is currently doing. But young people always like rebellious musics. So they had to seek for another rebellious genre that was rising up as early as the late 80's... Rap.

Metal, which was born out of rock instruments, still has a very large popularity tho (For the real fans know that non-industrial bands are the best) and will probably forever have.

Hip-Hop / rap is terrible. Back in the days, "rebellious" styles of music like Metal promoted a certain way of living, acting and dressing. But Rap promotes violence, and there's the difference. It promotes crime, it promotes lust, and it promotes drugs. There use to be some kind of peacefulness in the old days that has now ceased to exist. I believe that modern music, including rap, made the world more violent, or are a direct consequence of this more violent world.

[Cannot think of a name]

Yeah. Cool. That decade working as a buyer at a record store really isolates a person.

One band, so exceptional as to be legendary certainly proves that rock 'dominated' the charts. Especially when most of their number one singles were during a much more pop phase while their albums that were more rock or experimental were the ones that did well, almost a if pop does better in singles charts and rock does better in albums.

Also, if this is the period you're talking about the answer to the question is, "Well, there is no long a Beatles." If we're to take the year arguably their 'rockiest' number one single, Get Back charted was also the same year that Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet by Henry Mancini also held the number one spot, along with the Temptations and Sly and the Family Stone. The only (and arguably rockier) other rock songs that charted that year are one by The Rolling Stones and one by Elvis Presley. This is not 'dominating the charts' as pop and R&B are still better represented.

But you know, I don't know what I'm talking about.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard ... es_of_1969
A bunch of those are rock bands with rock songs, and you said "Pop Music has always been at the top" which infers that no other genre has gotten to the number one spot or the surrounding spots. How does working at a record store [I think record and vinyl are the same] make you an expert in the history of music? Someone who works at a grocery store doesn't automatically know the history of grocery shopping. What do you mean by "each generation tries to write rock's obituaries?"

The one of only other rock band that I didn't already mention that is on that list that I clearly already referenced when I mentioned that the Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet was on it so I'm surprised you think linking it will be a gotcha is Three Dog Night. So...you know, the fact that minority of bands in 1969 managed to be rock bands with number one singles does not support the premise of the OP that rock 'ruled the charts' and since most of the songs on that list are in fact pop songs supports what I had said. I never, ever...fucking ever...implied that rock never had a number one hit and I'm confounded that you even kind of thought that since I have caveated that very fact in the post you quoted but clearly did not read.

As to how working at a record store for a decade as a buyer helps is you don't work there for that long in that capacity unless you have an interest in the subject and as a buyer you familiarize yourself with sales trends because it tends to help you do the job.

[Forsher]

Hip-Hop / rap is terrible. Back in the days, "rebellious" styles of music like Metal promoted a certain way of living, acting and dressing. But Rap promotes violence, and there's the difference. It promotes crime, it promotes lust, and it promotes drugs. There use to be some kind of peacefulness in the old days that has now ceased to exist. I believe that modern music, including rap, made the world more violent, or are a direct consequence of this more violent world.

Rock can be hedonistic, materialistic, violent and especially lustful. And if you disagree, you don't listen to rock.

Rap's bad not for its lyrical content or general themes but because it sounds bad. And if you're investigating the lyrical content enough to know what's in it... you're a rap fan, albeit possibly one in denial.

[Grand Duchy of Livonia]

shut it buddy we dont need any religion in here to ruin it

[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?

Because rock / metal lost most of its soul in the 2000's with the "Industrial" bands coming up (Nickelback, Skillet, System of a Down, Bring me the Horizon...)

You might mean 'corporate', usually referring to bands that are label produced or airplay oriented. Industrial is generally reserved for the mix of electronica and metal sounds with bands like Front 242 or Skinny Puppy.

Corporate rock had been around long, long before the 2000s. In fact, the stagnation and general commercialization of rock music was credited with the rise of 'grunge' and 'alternative' in the early nineties with the rise of bands like Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine. And of course punk rock in the 70s, or progressive rock in in the 60s etc.

As a consequence, rock started to be less and less "rebellious", and the most extreme rebellious rock style was Punk, and it died in the apogee of its excess, and now it just became either 90's bands trying to survive and becoming more and more "pop like", as The Offspring is currently doing.

Once again, pop punk is not a 'now' thing, it has been around since at least the 90s with bands like Green Day (who started at the legendary but now defunct punk rock club 924 Gilman), Blink 182, or Sum 41. Groups like AFI and Offspring tried to straddle the distance between commercially accessible and punk rock sensibility over the Warped Tour crowd, but they had been doing that since the beginning. Actually knew a dude who played with AFI for a short period of time.

But young people always like rebellious musics. So they had to seek for another rebellious genre that was rising up as early as the late 80's... Rap.

Late 70s. It hit the mainstream in the mid to late 80s, but we were listening to Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel, and Run DMC by the early 80s and late seventies. I honestly have no idea how I ended up in that loop from my suburban home, but I did.

Metal, which was born out of rock instruments, still has a very large popularity tho (For the real fans know that non-industrial bands are the best) and will probably forever have.

Metal has benefited greatly from the internet and metal heads finding each other in the wild and ironic appreciation which Gen X unleashed on the world, which...sorry, kinda.

Hip-Hop / rap is terrible.

Shocker.

Back in the days, "rebellious" styles of music like Metal promoted a certain way of living, acting and dressing. But Rap promotes violence,

We're Not Gonna Take it. Motley Crue's Bastard was enough that Al Gore's wife complained to Congress about it as the 'filthy fifteen', same with the Twisted Sister song which I legitimately forgot, I had initially included it as a joke.

and there's the difference. It promotes crime,

The Bankrobber Been Caught Stealing

it promotes lust,

Cherry Pie, Girls Girls Girls. Honestly, this list could go pages. These are honestly the mildest examples.

and it promotes drugs.

Cocaine, Sweet Leaf. Again, this list could go on for pages.

There use to be some kind of peacefulness in the old days that has now ceased to exist.

Happy?

I believe that modern music, including rap, made the world more violent, or are a direct consequence of this more violent world.

You'd be at home in he 80s with Tipper Gore and PMRC, which gave us the marketing tool the Parental Advisory Label. But little else.

[New haven america]

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.

I'd almost forgotten about them.

But this is how you remind me

[Sapientia Et Bellum]

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.

Yeah! Bring back my swing bands!

[New haven america]

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.

You should check out a really white area of the US then, because it's super common for stations to edit out black people from songs.

[Havarland]

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.

Gorillaz, TOP, Panic at the Disco aren't even rock bands(?)

I think the generations are changing. Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda said that songs like 'In the End' and 'One Step Closer' were completely okay back in 2000 but nowadays if you released such songs it would be an embarrassment.