A couple of times a year, we take a break from the serious media issues of the day to look at more frivolous stories in the news. It doesn’t get any more escapist than our obsession with Classic Rock, a format our company launched 30+ years ago, and it’s still going strong.
But beyond a radio format, Classic Rock as a genre, a lifestyle, and a phenomenon has proved to not only be durable, but also culturally significant. And so, in today’s post, we look at some of the ways Classic Rock, its artists, and its artifacts are changing the world, decades after the music first hit the scene back in the days of the British Invasion by using key data points.
So, let’s jump into Classic Rock – by the numbers.
75
That’s the age of Mick Jagger who just received a new heart valve in a fascinating new surgical procedure called TAVR – or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.
The procedure eliminates the need for open-heart surgery, as the replacement valve is threaded through an artery. Lots of seniors in their seventies – even rock stars – suffer from aortic stenosis, the narrowing of one of the heart valves.
Med tech companies and cardiologists believe the success of Jagger’s surgery (patients are usually released from the hospital after a 1-2 day stay) – 
expected to make a complete recovery – will stimulate others to see their physicians when the telltale signs of heart problems occur. The new valve is small (pictured right) enabling it to travel through an artery to replace the failing biological version.
Jagger took to Twitter to thank his doctors. Hopefully, this event is another indication that Classic Rockers of a certain age will become more aware of their cardiac health, and take steps to get it checked out.
The Stones had to postpone their “No Filter” tour as a result of Jagger’s health. But the chances are excellent he’ll be back on stage, prancing and singing “What a drag it is getting old” with an entirely new meaning and relevance.
Thank you everyone for all your messages of support, I’m feeling much better now and on the mend – and also a huge thank you to all the hospital staff for doing a superb job.
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) April 5, 2019
And what would a Classic Rock story about the Stones be without an accompanying one about the Beatles?
60s & 15s
Once Google became a verb, you knew our lives had changed. We don’t just use Google to search for an article about….heart replacement valves. The search juggernaut has become the way we learn about pretty much everything, helping us get through many of the trials of life, not to mention being a virtual answering machine for almost all our questions.
So, what song would you choose for Google to summarize how the tech company meshes with our lives?
“Help” by the Beatles, of course.
And starting with the debut of the Major League Baseball season earlier this month, an entire raft of 60 and 15 second spots in a new “Here To Help” campaign have invaded the TV and video outlets, reminding us of the many ways Google helps us navigate life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7_RtEr8cq0
These are great spots, made even better by a familiar, iconic, and relevant soundtrack. Amazing how a song that’s over a half century old sounds contemporary in this context, providing appeal (and smiles) spanning the generations.
570%
That’s the percent increase Mötley Crüe songs have been streamed on Spotify since the release of their new biopic, “The Dirt.” Like “Bohemian Rhapsody” before it, the film has earned mediocre reviews from most critics. But Crüe fans – not surprisingly – are enamored with the story, the music, the actors, and the whole deal.
The thumbs-down grade from the movie community didn’t stop Nikki Sixx from expressing his opinions about “The Dirt,” and the Hollywood establishment that has trashed it. Shades of Brian May.
Based on the box office successes of both the Queen and Mötley Crüe films – as well as all the millions and millions of dollars in sales of band-related material, streams, and merch – we can expect a raft of Classic Rock biopics in the coming months and years. It can’t be much longer before “When Doves Cry” and “Rebel, Rebel” come to a theater near you.
£429
That’s the cost of the new Guns N’ Roses branded turntable from Pro-Ject. In U.S. dollars, that’s about $560 – perfect for the GnR enthusiast in your 
household.
While the UK tries to iron out its Brexit crisis, the good news is that Classic Rock merchandizing in the country is alive and well.
The Pro-Ject PR team notes, “Everything in a classic GnR track sounds real, everything fits together and everything sounds better than many modern recordings. So, what better way to experience their iconic sound in the modern era than with an award-winning turntable that’s designed in their honour?”
In case you’re wondering, the company has already manufactured tribute turntables for the Beatles and the Stones.
Of course, there will be more amazing stories from the Classic Rock ecosphere, and you can bet we’ll find another slow day later in the year to showcase them.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Fred and Everyone —
If you are a Classic Rock freak and are within a few hours’ drive (or ride) to NYC, check out “Play It Loud” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Over 100 iconic and legendary rock instruments on display until late October.
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2019/play-it-loud
Worth It !
OK, Al, you beat me to it. Look for an up-and-coming blog on this exhibit.