ERIN Digital & Phone net Tuesday November 26, 2024; Go HERE for Current SOI
Twilight of the Rock GodsBy Neil ShahAs rock ‘n’ roll loses its founding megastars—and sales juggernauts—the music industry faces pressure to revampFor music fans, the recent flood of celebrity deaths has been overwhelming: David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael and Chuck Berry seem like a disproportionate number of superstars to lose in a short time span.But with many of rock’s founding fathers and mothers reaching their 70s, the end of the age of rock ’n’ roll is just beginning. While every generation bemoans the passing of its great artists, the outsize influence of rock promises to have a profound impact on popular culture and overall music-industry sales.Of the 25 artists with the highest record sales in the U.S. since 1991, when reliable data first became available, just one—Britney Spears—is under 40, Nielsen data show. Nineteen of the 25 are over 50 years old.In terms of concert-tour revenue, artists over 50 represent half of the $4.5 billion generated by last year’s top 100-grossing tours, excluding non-music acts and comedians, according to a WSJ analysis of data from Pollstar, the trade magazine. Of the top 10, five were over 50, including Bruce Springsteen (67), Guns N’ Roses (average age 53), Paul McCartney (74), Garth Brooks (55) and the Rolling Stones (73), Pollstar data show.Rock’s demographic crisis has been a concern for some time. But the spate of deaths over the past 18 months highlights the limited time frame the industry has to buttress its future and figure out how to better attract young audiences and develop young stars.“Every year I watch the Pollstar charts and the guys at the top are always heritage or legacy acts,” says Jeff Jampol, who manages the estates of Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and the Ramones. “There may be a real cliff—but people just aren’t looking at it,” he says.. . .
Zeppelin, Stones, Head East, The Doors, Clapton and everyone he ever played with, Eagles, Buddy Holly, Elvis, Alabama, BTO, ELO, CCR, The Tubes, way too many to mention here...