Hey Andrew question.

[Journeyman2122]

Do you think The Classic Rock/Melodic Rock genre is making a comeback? I have been reading articles that a lot of teens are listening to classic rock now because they hate today's music. What can you attribute this to, 1. today's music sucks 2 there are no guitar heros anymore so people are listening to bands like Van Halen, Journey, ACDC, and older Metallica. This website is the haven for Melodic Rock and I thought I would throw this out. If anybody has any thoughts on this please share them.

[larryfromnextdoor]

from reading his year in review, it looks like theres a bit of interest but labels wont drop a dime into any project.. so its probably going nowhere fast.. these younger folks listen to everything!! but eventually come back to rap..

[Andrew]

Do you think The Classic Rock/Melodic Rock genre is making a comeback? I have been reading articles that a lot of teens are listening to classic rock now because they hate today's music. What can you attribute this to, 1. today's music sucks 2 there are no guitar heros anymore so people are listening to bands like Van Halen, Journey, ACDC, and older Metallica. This website is the haven for Melodic Rock and I thought I would throw this out. If anybody has any thoughts on this please share them.

Yes, in some ways. People are seeing thru the BS and want real music. But whether it comes back in a new form rather than the dinosaurs breaking thru again remains to be seen.

I think the dinosaurs will further influence a new era of talent and melodic bands/artists. So you are more likely to see melodic rock in a new form while the classic rock artists of yesteryear get a little more credit for their craft.

[RumTumJM]

Totally agree!!!

I'm almost 19 & I think that modern music sucks. My favorite bands are Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Queen, Boston, and other arena/classic rock bands. I find modern stuff is missing something. That umph that Journey vocals and Brian May guitar riffs seems to be missing. I am acutally a radio major at my college (Fairfield University) because I want to continue playing my favorite bands long after (dare I say it) the actual bandmemebers have passed on. Hopefully along the way too I can get more people my age loving the music as much as I do. I think this website is the best place on the web for information and I make it part of my morning routine to check Andrew's news (especially when my Radio show is coming up).

As a person who is almost 19, I can say there is definitely the potential for a classic rock comeback. Bands like Pink Floyd, Queen, Zeppelin, Skynyrd, and even Journey are gaining popularity with people my age. We can just hope more teens/young adults join the fray before it is too late. My generation is the people who can keep Journey-esque music going long after the days of Schon and even Soto. Hey, they're only human.

P.S. - Here is the website for my radio show, ROCK NATION (had to throw that in somewhere). Hopefully this will help with that classic rock comeback.

[Crazie Scarab]

Do you think The Classic Rock/Melodic Rock genre is making a comeback? I have been reading articles that a lot of teens are listening to classic rock now because they hate today's music. What can you attribute this to, 1. today's music sucks 2 there are no guitar heros anymore so people are listening to bands like Van Halen, Journey, ACDC, and older Metallica. This website is the haven for Melodic Rock and I thought I would throw this out. If anybody has any thoughts on this please share them.

Yes, in some ways. People are seeing thru the BS and want real music. But whether it comes back in a new form rather than the dinosaurs breaking thru again remains to be seen.

I think the dinosaurs will further influence a new era of talent and melodic bands/artists. So you are more likely to see melodic rock in a new form while the classic rock artists of yesteryear get a little more credit for their craft.

Nice! I'm looking forward to the new, even if the new doesn't sound exactly as that of the old! There's so much talent out there just waiting to be unleashed, recorded and released, it's incredible! Now, just hoping the hip hop log jam can be flushed out of the way and forever forgotten.

[McNeil]

Yes.... there are some exciting bands around at the moment, full of melody, and guitars.... catch the great young UK band "The Feeling" .... bit of a Beatles feel going on, plenty of harmonies....and the guitarist "kicks" now and again..if your gonna listen to one track to test em out... listen to "Love It When You Call" off their first and only album to date "Twelve Stops and Home" ..which has given them 4 hit singles here in the UK!

Stuff is a bit "light and shade" sometimes a bit moody.... requires a good listen!

Its not AOR as we all knew and loved it.... times move on... but the spirit of classic pop/rock with a catchy hook is definitely still there!!


Website here: http://www.thefeeling.com/

[Sassie]

I think it would be great if the kids listened to the music we listened to. If for no other reason than just to listen to the words.

[strangegrey]

The problem, as I see it...is that there's other factors that come into play these days.

Labels, as with most businesses (at least here in the US), are in very much a 'show me, show me' mentality. Back between the 70s and late 80s, labels would 'invest' in a band, give them 3-4 albums to develop a style/voice and cultivate a more 'long term' following. Just 3 artists that would have never made it past the first album are:

Bon Jovi (33 million records sold)
Billy Joel (79.5 million sold)
Journey (45 million sold)

There are others on the list that wouldn't have made it past album 1...but these 3 are a good example. If you take these 3 artists, combined, they account for a total of over 157 million albums.

Think of it in these terms, if these artists were never given the opportunity to move past album one, that's 157 million albums (at least 10 times that in gross revenue) that record companies would have pissed away.


****

These days, bands are given ONE album to come out of the gate swinging...if they aren't an overnight success, they are discarded and tossed by the side of the road. The problem with this mentality, is that these bands (since they no longer have a few albums to develop) they either have to do it before they release an album (which, I feel is very hard to do) or trust a label picked 'cant miss' producer, that comes in with not only a handful of songs, but songwriters, side musicians, etc. All one has to do, to see this first hand, is to watch how Bo Bice was manhandled by his label, during the recording of his debut album. He was given one song on the album, (which is, sadly, the best song on the record), the pile of songs he brought in were imediately discarded by the producer (who was one of the principle songwriters on the album ), his band was shoved aside for a label picked group, etc, etc.

Given the above thoughts, it's hard to imagine that there isn't at least a large pile of bands that are now gone, that were given their one album...and then shitcanned....that, if given the opportunity to release another album or two...would have really broken out and shipped high numbers. So you have to look at record companies these days, pissing away opportunity cost...The way they do business suggests that theres alot of potential sales that don't get realized because the business is not long-sighted, but short-sighted.

Unfortunately, record companies will NEVER admit this. Instead, they look to rediculous excuses as the reason why album sales are down, ie file sharing, etc. But the fact of the matter is that in the early 90s, when record companies purged their A&R staffs to bring in college kids that they thought were more in touch with grunge and other slacker crap that they were pushing then....they got rid of people that really KNEW the business and KNEW how to develop artists.

It's not a fluke that there hasn't been one single long lasting, several-album rock artist (that got his/their start post mid-90s) that has maintained serious, broad, long-reaching success.

[sindee67]

I think it would be great if the kids listened to the music we listened to. If for no other reason than just to listen to the words.

THANK YOU!!! I was just about to post that..
Like any teenager, my boys want to put together a band. I have told them, go for your dreams, but, remember, being in that spot light
position, you have a responsibility...TO SEND A POSITIVE MESSAGE.
My husband and I have a disagreement that lyrics count, and matter. My husband seems to think that no matter what, things are going to happen, I on the other hand, believe that words count, and make a difference. I'm glad to see I'm not alone..

[Red13JoePa]

Exactly.
As a rookie you'd BETTER have an "Out Of The Box" kind of success or it's good night. Next flavor of the day.

Journey's 4 albums in before Perry comes aboard and Infinity goes platinum. And if anything label INCREASED the budget after 3 commercial disapointments.

[Angiekay]

I think it would be great if the kids listened to the music we listened to. If for no other reason than just to listen to the words.

You can actually UNDERSTAND most of them!!!

I've noticed a trend in the last couple of years of the ages listening and winning stuff from our station(classic rock). We have had a LOT of early twenty somethings listening!

[Andrew]

These days, bands are given ONE album to come out of the gate swinging...if they aren't an overnight success, they are discarded and tossed by the side of the road. The problem with this mentality, is that these bands (since they no longer have a few albums to develop) they either have to do it before they release an album (which, I feel is very hard to do) or trust a label picked 'cant miss' producer, that comes in with not only a handful of songs, but songwriters, side musicians, etc. All one has to do, to see this first hand, is to watch how Bo Bice was manhandled by his label, during the recording of his debut album. He was given one song on the album, (which is, sadly, the best song on the record), the pile of songs he brought in were imediately discarded by the producer (who was one of the principle songwriters on the album ), his band was shoved aside for a label picked group, etc, etc.

Given the above thoughts, it's hard to imagine that there isn't at least a large pile of bands that are now gone, that were given their one album...and then shitcanned....that, if given the opportunity to release another album or two...would have really broken out and shipped high numbers. So you have to look at record companies these days, pissing away opportunity cost...The way they do business suggests that theres alot of potential sales that don't get realized because the business is not long-sighted, but short-sighted.

Unfortunately, record companies will NEVER admit this. Instead, they look to rediculous excuses as the reason why album sales are down, ie file sharing, etc. But the fact of the matter is that in the early 90s, when record companies purged their A&R staffs to bring in college kids that they thought were more in touch with grunge and other slacker crap that they were pushing then....they got rid of people that really KNEW the business and KNEW how to develop artists.

It's not a fluke that there hasn't been one single long lasting, several-album rock artist (that got his/their start post mid-90s) that has maintained serious, broad, long-reaching success.

Perfectly put Frank.

And this is what I said about the sitatuion in Jan 2006:


What is seriously alarming right now is the lack of any real guidance from the major labels. A&R guys were once famous for discovering and nurturing talent and helping them develop through the early stages of their career. The 3 album deal is long gone.
The powers that be now demand instant gratification and if an artist can't deliver a hit album and single first go, then it's out the door with you...
Such policies are killing artists and giving this generation no hope of ever having the pleasure of growing up with an artist. Remember buying a debut album during the 80's and anticipating what might come of the second album, then the third and forth and even fifth release! And remember marveling to yourself how the artist had developed and matured with each release and then debating the merits of these?
Remember listening with amazement as the artist changed styles and blew you away all over again? Will our kids ever have that to look forward to? Will they care? I know our kids will, but will the general public's kids?
Sometimes it's just easier to take what is on offer, but fine music lovers like us love the hunt and the current business climate is making that hunt less and less possible.
This whole transition period comes at a time where no real trend exists - grunge, nu-breed, modern rock, pop, - nothing besides rap has any sort of foothold and rap is a format that really doesn't cross too may boundaries.

One problem now is labels are in a position where they almost can't afford to foster new talent. They continue to throw the public any number of generic acts with no effort and just hope that one or two of them stick. In the meantime, no label wants to put money into an act that will sell only 25-50,000 units!
Damn, they should be so lucky....indie labels would kill for such figures and would operate contently under those conditions if given half the chance.
Sony shut Portrait Records down a couple of years back because their acts were only cruising at around 75,000 - 100,000 units - what arrogance!
A good deal of our beloved music is appearing thanks to the European melodic rock / hard rock labels, but they can't afford to get artist penetration beyond their own shores. Wider sales are happening thanks to the Internet and individual local distributors. But without major backing, this is all very hard work and a step by step process.
At least these records are still getting made...no one is making any real money off them, but thankfully the art is still there for some. Where will this all end?

We are at a point in time where we must wonder if there will ever be an era of super-groups again. Will there ever be another Led Zeppelin? Will there ever be anything like Van Halen, The Stones, The Police, The Eagles, Bon Jovi, Rush, or artists like Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Prince?
What about those closer to home - will there ever be another artist allowed to develop like Rick Springfield? How about Harem Scarem? Night Ranger, Toto, Survivor, John Waite, Journey or even Foreigner?
These guys are all getting older each year and when some bands take 3 years to put out a new record (sometimes more) - how many new albums do you think we have left to look forward to?
We need to develop new talent and we need to look to some youthful talent.
Once a label would only sign an artist if they saw potential for growth. They would sign only if they saw the number of original songs the artist had written and together they would map out a long term plan for the second and third albums. Now you get one chance and if there is not a satisfactory result, then no option is taken and the artist is shown the door.

[ohsherrie]

Great posts and thoughts Andrew and Frank. From your minds and keyboards to some record company demigod's ears.

[Crazie Scarab]

The problem, as I see it...is that there's other factors that come into play these days.

Labels, as with most businesses (at least here in the US), are in very much a 'show me, show me' mentality. Back between the 70s and late 80s, labels would 'invest' in a band, give them 3-4 albums to develop a style/voice and cultivate a more 'long term' following. Just 3 artists that would have never made it past the first album are:

Bon Jovi (33 million records sold)
Billy Joel (79.5 million sold)
Journey (45 million sold)

There are others on the list that wouldn't have made it past album 1...but these 3 are a good example. If you take these 3 artists, combined, they account for a total of over 157 million albums.

Think of it in these terms, if these artists were never given the opportunity to move past album one, that's 157 million albums (at least 10 times that in gross revenue) that record companies would have pissed away.


****

These days, bands are given ONE album to come out of the gate swinging...if they aren't an overnight success, they are discarded and tossed by the side of the road. The problem with this mentality, is that these bands (since they no longer have a few albums to develop) they either have to do it before they release an album (which, I feel is very hard to do) or trust a label picked 'cant miss' producer, that comes in with not only a handful of songs, but songwriters, side musicians, etc. All one has to do, to see this first hand, is to watch how Bo Bice was manhandled by his label, during the recording of his debut album. He was given one song on the album, (which is, sadly, the best song on the record), the pile of songs he brought in were imediately discarded by the producer (who was one of the principle songwriters on the album ), his band was shoved aside for a label picked group, etc, etc.

Given the above thoughts, it's hard to imagine that there isn't at least a large pile of bands that are now gone, that were given their one album...and then shitcanned....that, if given the opportunity to release another album or two...would have really broken out and shipped high numbers. So you have to look at record companies these days, pissing away opportunity cost...The way they do business suggests that theres alot of potential sales that don't get realized because the business is not long-sighted, but short-sighted.

Unfortunately, record companies will NEVER admit this. Instead, they look to rediculous excuses as the reason why album sales are down, ie file sharing, etc. But the fact of the matter is that in the early 90s, when record companies purged their A&R staffs to bring in college kids that they thought were more in touch with grunge and other slacker crap that they were pushing then....they got rid of people that really KNEW the business and KNEW how to develop artists.

It's not a fluke that there hasn't been one single long lasting, several-album rock artist (that got his/their start post mid-90s) that has maintained serious, broad, long-reaching success.

Not every album is as successful as Boston's first album. Journey wasn't successful with their first album. Hanging onto and nurturing bands do seem to be a thing of the past. Or is it? Now it seems it's all about a quick buck, minus quality. Seems the quick buck is waning for the likes of, say, SONY..... Not paying off, SONY? Perhaps this is part of the reason why melodic rock is about to resurface? It sells?

[Rockindeano]

Without looking it up, what band has had their first three records all sell more than 6 million copies each?

[larryfromnextdoor]

Without looking it up, what band has had their first three records all sell more than 6 million copies each?

led zepplin?

[Crazie Scarab]

Without looking it up, what band has had their first three records all sell more than 6 million copies each?

Who are to talking to? Me?

[Rockindeano]

Unbelievably, the band in question is, Creed. Their first three efforts garnered them 22 million in sales.


I never liked those Bible thumping cocksmokers, but hey, money is money.

Actually, the first and only band to do this.

[Crazie Scarab]

[quote="RockinDeano"]I never liked those Bible thumping cocksmokers, but hey, money is money.

[quote]

I guess there is a little bit of capitalism, conservatism and individualism in your blood, afterall! Scary.. huh?

[Rockindeano]

.

I guess there is a little bit of capitalism, conservatism and individualism in your blood, afterall! Scary.. huh?

You will never find conservatism in me. If you do, I am dead. You couldn't pay me to vote conservative or republican. I would rather live in Greenland.

[Crazie Scarab]

I never liked those Bible thumping cocksmokers, but hey, money is money.

I guess there is a little bit of capitalism, conservatism and individualism in your blood, afterall! Scary.. huh?

You will never find conservatism in me. If you do, I am dead. You couldn't pay me to vote conservative or republican. I would rather live in Greenland.

Send me $200.00 out of every paycheck you recieve for the rest of your life and I'll believe you, bro!

[Crazie Scarab]

I never liked those Bible thumping cocksmokers, but hey, money is money.

I guess there is a little bit of capitalism, conservatism and individualism in your blood, afterall! Scary.. huh?

You will never find conservatism in me. If you do, I am dead. You couldn't pay me to vote conservative or republican. I would rather live in Greenland.

Send me $200.00 out of every paycheck you recieve for the rest of your life and I'll believe you, bro!

Too much? Heck, I'll give you a 50% tax break! Make it $100.00 each paycheck and I'll believe you! LOL

[Crazie Scarab]

I never liked those Bible thumping cocksmokers, but hey, money is money.

I guess there is a little bit of capitalism, conservatism and individualism in your blood, afterall! Scary.. huh?

You will never find conservatism in me. If you do, I am dead. You couldn't pay me to vote conservative or republican. I would rather live in Greenland.

Send me $200.00 out of every paycheck you recieve for the rest of your life and I'll believe you, bro!

Too much? Heck, I'll give you a 50% tax break! Make it $100.00 each paycheck and I'll believe you! LOL

Hmmm..

Just how many dollars out of each of your paychecks are you willing to send me to prove you are a liberal?

Yeah. That's what I thought.

[Rockindeano]

I would much rather be called a liberal than a conservative. I am proud of that. I would be embarrassed to be called a conservative.

Look at the numbers. look at the recent elections.

Thanks guys, for fucking up America. Thanks for having the entire world laugh at us. It is much deserved too, I might add.

[Andrew]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - DOES EVERY BLOODY THREAD CONTAINING MUSICAL DISCUSSION HAVE TO BE RAILROADED OFF TOPIC?????????

I am genuinely interested in this musical topic, but damned if I am going to wade thru more political BS. Take it to the politics forum.

[Crazie Scarab]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - DOES EVERY BLOODY THREAD CONTAINING MUSICAL DISCUSSION HAVE TO BE RAILROADED OFF TOPIC?????????

I am genuinely interested in this musical topic, but damned if I am going to wade thru more political BS. Take it to the politics forum.

I made my point & I'm done.

Sorry, Andrew.

[Rockindeano]

I made mine too, so I am done.

Deano, Out.

[Crazie Scarab]

I made mine too, so I am done.

Deano, Out.

Love ya, bro!

[Rockindeano]

ok, are you on top, or behind?


let me get in position.

ok. ready

[KCfla]

Getting back on topic.....

I only know this one thing. While my 2 teenagers buy some of the "new" rock music ( they buy alot, bless them not download- I won't allow it!)- the one's that get the most air-time in our house are the "classics".

Any day inbetween MCR or !Panic, comes the classic sounds of ACDC, Rush, Queen, DL, Journey, Metallica, etc.

In my youth, my parent's used to yell at me to turn it down. IN MY HOUSE- we yell at them to turn it UP!