I remember being at an outdoor barbeque about 10 years ago, and the host's teenage daughter put on a CD that surprised me – Steve Miller's Greatest Hits. I was sort of expecting Green Day, or Mariah Carey, or maybe even the boy band of the month. And as one hit played after another, everyone – young kids, teens, and adults – was rocking along with Steve Miller.
Now, just in time for the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, a new Pew Research Center study of more than 1,800 Americans 16 and older reveals what most of us have known all along:
Rock Rules
In fact, that's the way the Pew researchers phrased it for this chart that shows the overall popularity of different music genres across this mega-sample:
Rock beats out Country, and of course, Pop and whatever Adult Contemporary is these days.
But it gets better because as the study points out, it's hard to imagine a time when parents and kids saw music with such a high degree of compatibility. This speaks to the multi-generational appeal of Rock in general, and the timeless quality of Classic Rock specifically.
The chart below, isolating 16-29 year-olds, speaks volumes about the power and appeal of Rock N' Roll:
Perhaps it also suggests that young people today are more open about music, and possess broader tastes than at any time in memory. Impressively, they appreciate Elvis, Dylan, the Beatles, Aretha, Johnny Cash, and even Sinatra.
And Rock's universal appeal – crossing generations – is a more powerful story than any ratings book or value added promotion.
So, Rock radio sales reps, let's start telling it.
Post Script: The ABC circulation figures for music magazines in the UK is scary. NME has taken a 27% dump in the past year, not to be outdone by Kerrang! (-28%), Uncut (-12%), Q (- 11%), Mojo (-8%), and Metal Hammer (-5%).
The only winner? Future Publishing's mag, Classic Rock – up 5.5%
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Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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I’ve often said on the air that I never borrowed records from my father, and today my son doesn’t borrow my cds- he just takes them. He’s butchered half my collection- The Doors, Led Zep, Van Halen, etc. I’m 29 years older than my son and he’s turned me onto OLD Pink Floyd (at Pompeii and w/Syd Barrett).
Rock Radio needs better new music to survive. Will our great grand children be listening to Killswitch Engage 40 years from now?
Tommy Griffiths
I know this is a rather simplistic viewpoint, however, most contemporary pop music, well, it sucks. it’s no surprise that ‘classic’ rock still garners ‘youngsters’ ears… which inevitably leads me to exclaim, ‘hey you kids, get off my lawn!’