How Dead Is Rock Music?
Posted by Mike Schumacher
Over the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about how “dead” rock music is. Some even go as far to say that it has become extinct! While this may be true for most people who identify as hardcore fans, it certainly is not the case for all.
There are still plenty of opportunities to listen to your average classic rock song. You can find songs in any genre from anyone at almost anytime anywhere through streaming services or radio. Even if you don’t like these newer songs, they probably have some ear-catching lyrics that might help motivate you to work on the rest of the piece.
Furthermore, many musicians create new sounds and genres that we now recognize as part of what makes rock music special. Artists such as Kanye West and Drake incorporate elements of funk into their music while artists like The Weeknd experiment with EDM sound effects and melodies. These types of collaborations show that although more mainstream songs seem to take over the market, there is always going to be an audience for good music.
This article will discuss the reasons why it is increasingly difficult to tell whether or not rock is dead and what kind of future rock music could potentially have.
The popularity of music videos
Become a 'Drummer 4/4 Life' with our exclusive JA t-shirt!
Show your dedication to rhythm with our unique 'Drummer 4/4 Life' t-shirt. Proudly display a music staff with the 4/4 time signature, the heart of most popular music beats. This piece of Jam Addict attire not only makes a bold statement about your passion for drumming, but it also lets you be a part of the JA community, a team dedicated to fostering musicians for years.

As we know, music has always been important to people. Systems of musical notes have helped shape cultures for centuries, from Japan’s shamisen to the Indian raga. Even now, songs still carry significant cultural weight—think about how powerful “Happy Birthday” is or what influence Beyoncé’s “Formation” can have.
However, something seems to be changing with music consumption. People are no longer just listening to music passively – they are actively seeking out new experiences and opportunities to learn more about the genre and song. Technology makes it easy to listen to songs quickly, which helps account for the rise in listeners who prefer streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music.
But technology also allows us to create our own music playlists, making it easier to focus only on what you want to hear. A growing community of artists share their best tips and tricks via YouTube, creating an opportunity for anyone to pick up the guitar (or banjo) and start performing!
In fact, there was a time when musicians did not have access to very many resources to help them improve their craft. But these days, everyone has a way to communicate with each other, and that gives aspiring artists a chance to connect and collaborate. Artists use social media sites to showcase and discuss their work, leaving comments and messages for others to respond to and contribute to.
The death of record stores
Even as music has become an almost-ubiquitous form of entertainment, there are very few places where you can actually purchase music in most major cities. Record store owners have been dying out for some time now, but they’ve still managed to keep their doors open until this past year.
Since the advent of online music shopping services like Amazon and iTunes, it is increasingly difficult to find a good place to buy new albums. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though; with every passing day, music becomes less of an expensive commodity.
And while buying songs through these sites is definitely convenient, many people feel that by supporting the industry indirectly (by using such sites) they are investing in the downfall of the music business.
Music has always been a form of expression, and one that allows us to relate to each other. With the explosion of technology over the last decade, however, music has also allowed for more individual expressions. Artists no longer need physical media or retail locations to be heard by others.
This seems like a terrible thing, but instead it may be what helps save the music business. By having fewer opportunities to make money off of selling music, artists will have to invest more into their craft, which could result in better quality music.
Consumption of music
Another major factor in rock’s death is consumption. People are becoming increasingly conscious about how much music they listen to, and why. With technology making it easy to access almost any song or album anywhere, people are listening for longer and getting less out of each piece.
As we know, consuming more music is an excellent way to enjoy music. It helps you find your personal favorites, but also gives you new ones to love.
However, there comes a time when enough is too much. You have to recognize this and put some limitations on what you listen to as healthfully as possible.
This article will talk about some ways to help you determine that limit and what to do after that limit has been hit.
The impact of the internet
Over the past decade, music has undergone some major changes that have influenced how we listen to and enjoy songs. Technology has played an integral part in the death of the album as the main format for listening to music.
Music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora don’t require you to own an album anymore. You can instead access all of their content through an app, which means you don’t need to keep up with what albums are being released and where they come from to really appreciate them.
The rise of the song as the lengthiest form of musical expression also plays a big role in why people no longer care about buying new albums. A one-minute song is enough to feel accomplished!
And finally, technology makes it easy to create, share, and remix music almost without limit. Artists and music fans use these tools more than ever to express themselves, connect with other people around the world, and even make money off their work.
All of these factors combine to show that the concept of the album as we know it is going away.
Trends in music
As we know, music trends come and go! Artists can rise to fame or fall depending on their luck with the market and what style of music they are producing. What makes a trend “die” is when people no longer seem to want to listen to it.
Usually, this happens because the media stops talking about the song or artist. People may still like the songs, but they feel that there is nothing more to hear from the source.
It also helps if the musician doesn’t put much effort into his/her creations anymore. If you watch TV while listening to popular music, you will see a lot of artists who don’t really care about what they are putting out. This includes ugly hair and makeup styles and sometimes clothes that look totally mismatched.
There has never been a better time to be a musician! With technology making it easy to produce your own music and share it easily, anyone can start creating and getting exposure for themselves.
Bad music affects the music industry
As we know, the death of rock is something that has been predicted for some time now. With popular music moving towards more electronic or folk-inspired sounds, it’s hard to say what kind of impact it will have on the future of the genre.
But even beyond that, the death of rock as an overarching style has huge implications for the way people perceive art in general.
When most people think about ‘art’, they probably envision paintings, sculptures, and other forms that are mostly representational. These examples typically feature still pictures or depictions of someone, object, or event.
Since rock is usually not represented by this description, many people may come to the conclusion that it isn’t really worthy of the term ‘art’.
This could lead them to dismiss artists who work with sound as simply having talent that is not appreciated enough. Or, if nothing else, it might make them feel like investing in music equipment is a waste of money because there’s no real hope of it rising up through the ladder of success to become expensive furniture.
The future of music
Even as more people rely on listening to music via streaming services, there are still ways to listen to music that require you to have software or a web browser connected to a device with speakers. This is true for both personal use and in order to fully enjoy the content you want to listen to!
In fact, many musicians depend on this very thing to make their monthly income. Many artists create new songs and upload them onto Spotify, YouTube, or another site so that their hard work will get heard by others.
The media is ever-changing, however, and it seems like every day someone calls out how dead music is. More than ever before, creating new music is difficult due to the lack of opportunities available to aspiring songwriters.
It’s time we had a talk about the death of rock.
First, let us define what makes something “rock”.
Rock is defined as an american genre of music that was pioneered in the 50s and 60s. It features lyrics that tell stories, heavy guitar melodies, and an overall energetic feel. Songs often include bass drums, rhythm guitars, and percussion instruments such as drum sets or pianos.
Throughout its history, rock has been known to blend together different styles and genres, making it one of the most versatile musical forms. Artists such as Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and Muse embody this theory, taking various elements from other genres and mixing them into their own sound.
There are too many good musicians
As music has evolved, so have its styles and genres. Even within some of these genres, like rock or hip-hop, there are infinite variations that artists can add to what makes a song successful.
The fact is, even if you hate on every single one of their songs, most current bands you listen to were at least part of the soundtrack for someone’s life. For all but a few select years, music was a major source of entertainment for countless people!
If you look back through time though, it becomes clear how quickly things change. A band that comes off as average today might be considered classic tomorrow. Or perhaps they get dropped from the radio station listings before they ever reach mass popularity.
By looking beyond just who wins a Grammy this year, we can start talking about whether or not an artist is in danger of disappearing completely. We need to ask ourselves why they are no longer popular and then determine if that reason still holds true now.

The Jam Addict team is a revolving door of writers who care about music, its effects on culture, and giving aspiring artists tools and knowledge to be inspired and keep on creating.
If you have any questions or concerns or just want to drop us a line, don’t hesitate to contact us! We always appreciate the feedback.