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Why bands are disappearing: "Young people aren’t excited by them"

Why bands are disappearing: 'Young people aren’t excited by them'

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/18/why-bands-are-disappearing-young-people-arent-excited-by-them

Maroon 5’s Adam Levine was scoffed at for suggesting there ‘aren’t any bands any more’ – but if you look at the numbers, he’s right. Wolf Alice, Maximo Park and industry insiders ask why

I was looking into why I just don't see cover bands at my local venue but this hits a bit deeper at the issue.

I wonder if how niche music tastes have become has something to do with it.

28 comments

fossilesque

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Maybe it's the fact that it's so fucking expensive to do anything, forcing us inside which is reenforcing itself rather cyclically. It is really hard to get excited about things when you don't have the funds to go out and do things. I am older but would be going out way more to events if I didn't cringe at the money I know I will be dropping on these nights out. Third real world spaces are dearly needed and people are getting priced out of them. I used to go out to music events at least once a week ten years ago.

TheColonel

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I think you mean “third spaces” but great point otherwise.

JoYo

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I donno why my city hates public pavilions so much.

Ok I know why it's because they hate the poors that hangout there.

AttackBunny

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Maybe it’s because I’m old, but modern music SUCKS (yeah, blanket statement. There will always be exceptions, I know). It all lacks that organic warm feeling that elicits that feel good thing music used to bring.

I honestly don’t think niche music tastes have as much to do with it as much as music seems to have become exactly like movies. Rehash something from the 80s again and call it new or like all the marvel/dc mcshit.

kyonshi

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@AttackBunny @JoYo modern music always sucks. the reason why the music of the past seems better is because nobody remembers all the chaff that populated the charts.

JoYo

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We also don't have time to listen to all current music.

It's not that we don't remember it, we've never even heard it.

scrubbles

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This is honestly just a bad take. If you don't hear any music currently that doesn't sound the way you like it then you aren't looking in the right places. More music is being produced now than any other time in history, blanketly saying "all music now sucks" shows more about you then the current state of music.

ThirdWorldOrder

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Yeah I agree with you. I’m 40 now but grew up listening to music all the time. I’ve got a bunch of kids now so it’s hard to actively find new stuff on my own. I just subscribe to satellite radio and they do a pretty damn good job of finding good stuff. I just add to my library, and get more recommendations. Works well.

scrubbles

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That's good! I'm in my mid thirties and I'm always reminding myself "new music doesn't suck, trends change". Just like how our parents hated our music because it was edgy and different, current music is edgy and different to them and that's what makes it appealing to the younger crowd. I don't understand why people have to be so cliche and shit on music, you can both not like a type of music and still not make fun of people who like that music.

AttackBunny

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lol I shit on music? I made fun of someone? Seriously? Please, please point out where. I made a statement about personal taste, that wasn’t directed at anyone in particular.

I also pointed out something everyone that’s shitting on me (yes you too) missed. The organic nature of music is gone. The organic sound and feeling have been replaced by drum tracks, auto tune and digital all the things are gone.

I promise it’s not a “music is so hardcore/edgy now” thing. That would be rich though.

JoYo

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I understand what you mean, it's a reasonable conclusion for anyone to come to.

sorry if I came off as shitting on your finly crafted retort.

JoYo

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baby metal is awesome.

have you heard the hu yet?

Mongolian metal.

JoYo

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That's another reason I am thinking niche music has killed the cover band.

There's no way a band can cover a wide enough range of todays music to make a $5 ticket viable.

Kill_joy

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I agree with many comments here saying this is a bad take, but I'm generally curious on how you're arriving to it.

How do you find "new music"? What is your approach?

AttackBunny

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Apple Music, Amazon music, pandora etc.

It’s all just so….. fake. Everything is auto tuned to shit.

Drum machines of the 80s were equally shit sound imo. It happens every generation, but modern music seems to have nothing organic about it now.

I don’t think it’s a bad take, it’s just that verbally speaking, I don’t like modern music. As I said in my original reply, I know there are exceptions, but blanket statement holds true for me.

JoYo

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one way I tweaked my algo suggestions is by asking the fediverse for non english language bands that I might have missed.

that opened the floodgates for all the genres I enjoy.

JoYo

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I understand the sentiment but I disagree. I've found the best music ever from producers and bands formed after my 20s and 30s.

I just won't be seeing them in local venues anytime soon because almost all of them are from outside of the US and aren't in the "top 40" spotlight.

Audbol

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Marketb is over saturated with cover bands. If you don't seem then at your local venue it's because the promoter simply doesn't want to book cover bands. If anything cover bands are too damn popular

JoYo

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They're promoted here as sing-alongs.

I live in a major city so the local venues here need a certain headcount before they'll book an event.

There's some very popular cover bands here but there are even less venues that can support them.

white ford bronco is the biggest one I know and their show sell out.

absentthereaper

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I wonder if how niche music tastes have become has something to do with it.

Probably; it feels like less that 'young people aren't excited by bands" and more like 'to be a band that takes off the way they used to, you gotta be doin something different'. I don't think anyone's exactly clamoring for bands to do the same shit as your average Seether, Incubus, or Three Days Grace expies. Meanwhile, you've got acts like Polyphia, Zeal and Ardor, and Ghost running around out here doing actively different shit and seeing payoff on it.

JoYo

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I was referring to cover bands.

I would love to see the water level raise all boats in terms of music makers.

riceandbeans161

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bands aren’t disappearing. Small local bands are still cheap and great fun. I know, i’m in one. We tour locally every year and play a show every weekend throughout summer. We have to turn people down because we are so booked up. And that’s not just us, but most locals i know. People still love live music just as much as they ever did.

JoYo

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Thanks for making music, I love local bands.

The article is definitely one of those that pushes back on the editorialized headline.

stempo

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Definitely agree with the dude talking about how niche music has gotten. And to the dude who said "all new music sucks", get out from under your rock man. Theres just so many bands/artists creating so much music now, some is bound to be good. Its easier than ever to record a song and get it out on the internet. The bloat makes it harder to find stuff you jive with, but when you do it almost feels tailor made for your ears.

JoYo

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that feeling when you find a rabbit hole song with a full catalogue behind it.

chemical_cutthroat

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I just discovered Snarky Puppy last night, and when I saw their catalog I just leaned back in my chair and smiled.

JoYo

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Snarky Puppy - Binky

kinda reminds me of the brass against cover of forty six & 2.

JoYo

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https://media.tenor.com/9ocGz_fLlboAAAAi/head-its.gif