Posted on 05/23/2024 3:48:00 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Steven Van Zandt has a pessimistic outlook when he ponders the future of classic rock.
During an appearance on Club Random with Bill Maher, the E Street Band guitarist examined the way music consumption has changed.
“Right now, because the record industry is dead, there’s no more record sales other than Taylor Swift and Beyonce,” Van Zandt declared. Instead, he explained, films and television shows have become the best way for recording artists to make money. However, even that has become problematic because musicians have upped their licensing fees in order to survive.
“You got a bunch of whatever, 25 year-olds with a song list with a number next to it,” Van Zandt noted. “So if you want to make a movie or TV show, you ask for the song, they look at the number and they charge you that number, which is always high because there's no other income.”
Because classic rock offers material that’s recognizable to a wide swath of listeners, it's often the most-licensed genre of music. However, Van Zandt believes the filmmakers will pull away from classic rock in the face of soaring licensing costs, thus removing an important avenue for songs to be exposed to new listeners.
“This is a real problem. And I think 10 years from now, 20 years from now, it's going to be a problem because all this music is going to die if it's not promoted and heard,” Van Zandt insisted. “It's going to be like, Motown who? Rolling Stones who?”
Steven Van Zandt Hopes Laws Around Song Licensing Will Change
Van Zandt suggested law changes around licensing music as a compromise to keep filmmakers and musicians happy. He then noted how different the modern landscape is compared to when the E Street Band and Bruce Springsteen got started.
“When we started, music in movies was free. It was free,” he explained. “Martin Scorsese. He didn't even ask for permission to put [the Ronettes’] ‘Be My Baby’ in Mean Streets because it was free. And people thought of it as promoting the records. Nobody’s promoting the records anymore.”
Van Zandt pointed to the popular series Stranger Things as an example of how TV and film can bring new attention to classic tracks. The guitarist insisted such licensing is vital for classic rock's continuing survival.
“When our generation goes, who’s going to know about this stuff?”
One of the last great rock stations, KSHE in St. Louis, has a 4-hour show on Sunday mornings called KSHE Klassics. Nothing but deep tracks and forgotten gems. It’s free on their app.
I remember 1970 KSHE-95 REAL ROCK RADIO when I got and FM-Stereo adapter for my 8-track tape player.
They played entire albums.
John Barleycorn is dead.
Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed.
AI will produce soulless muzak that can serve as a soundtrack for people’s lives. Almost no one sits and listens anymore, so the consumers aren’t expecting much. But people are uncomfortable with silence — so some automated system of “music” which is almost white noise will replace what we’ve had for 60+ years.
Some of the classic rock is so overplayed on the radio it makes me puke. Even though I’ve played in a few classic rock bands I’m totally over classic rock. Playing it for money is one thing, but other than that I have no use for any of it.
African Wakanda Western Two-Step is the biggest new thing. Original African and Western Horsesh*t and Gunsmoke Music.
I was a bouncer in a disco in Nashville. I HATE disco music.
Technically, he is still alive on the Sopranos. I doubt there will ever be a sequel, but it is theoretically possible. Maybe Meadow as the shadow boss with AJ as the front man muscle with Silvio still as consigligiliari.
Funny you mentioned it— but listen to this rockin’ tune from a Mongolian traditional band (throat singing difficult to do!). Pentatonic minor runs in the middle. A song about Mother and Motherhood! The Altai Band, playing for leaders of Mongolia, the Khan of Mongolia and his wife:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIRzTd_Rtqc
😂
Oy vey!
Yep, and it will be sterile and suck.
“It will become like Classical Music. People will still listen to it, but nobody will be interested in new stuff.
All the good rock music has already been made.”
Nailed it.
However, as an interesting note: I have recently heard NEW opera and it was good.
I remember 1986 as being the last good year for rock. Starting with 1987, things started a slow decline. There was still some good stuff, but less and less of it each year. Have not heard a good “new” rock song in maybe 15 years.
These days, when the car next to me is blasting out Rap music at full volume, the occupants are just as likely to be white as black.
Why would that surprise you? Aren’t most consumers of rap white, and it’s marketed towards them?
I was the equipment guy/roadie for a mobile disco company.
When I would have to stay at the venue, it would drive me nuts.
It was useful though to be able to borrow the truck and equipment for me and my buddy to throw our own beach parties.
Ask a 20 year old who The Yardbirds were and you get a blank stare. Pretty soon you’ll get the same stare from a 20 year old when you mention The Beatles.
Thanks for posting that. Vassar Clements was about my favorite fiddler ever, though I never got to see him play.
I don’t know. It seems like a lot of young people like old music.
Music made these days for the major labels is all autotuned and ROI calculated using AI algorithms.
Rich men north of Richmond was a total anomaly.
My opinion of 2024 country music too
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