OT - Why Are Bands Mysteriously Disappearing? (by R. Beato)

[MathOfInsects]

3 hours ago, El Lobo said:

The Box Tops

The Association 

The Doors

The Turtles (studio guys, but put a band on the road)

The Young Rascals 

The Music Explosion

Tommy James and the Shondells (I think I was in a show with those guys)
The Buckinghams  (I knew those guys, we played the same club)

Soul Survivors

Jay & the Techniques

Strawberry Alarm Clock

The Rolling Stones 

Buffalo Springfield 

The Beatles

Jefferson Airplane 

The Esquires

The Happenings (?)

Procul Harum

The Casinos

The Hollies

The Tremeloes (?)

The Cowsills (family band)

Herman's Hermits

The Seekers

The Hollies

Blues Magoos

The Easybeats

The Spencer Davis Group

The Grass Roots

Booker T. & the M.G.'s

The Electric Prunes

The Who

 

 

 

For sure, though you skipped over this caveat: "not compared to the..."X and the Y's" where the Y was put together for X by a producer, and "bands" that were manufactured wholecloth for recordings and tours." I crossed some of your entries out and some I wouldn't know well enough to cross out or not. BUT...we're left with 28 out of 100. That's really my point. Even in what we would think of as a golden age of bands, there were still two "solo" artists for every one band out there. 

 

In separate news, I'll be swinging through the Bay Area for a few shows this weekend. You're from there, correct? Happy to share details if you think you might make it out to something. Blues artist. 

[nursers]

16 minutes ago, MathOfInsects said:

In separate news, I'll be swinging through the Bay Area for a few shows this weekend. You're from there, correct? Happy to share details if you think you might make it out to something. Blues artist. 

 

How about you get off your lazy Blue ass and drive a little further, I have my money ready

[ElmerJFudd]

On 9/16/2024 at 3:00 PM, ProfD said:

In Rock music, there have been plenty bands across the various styles of it (Punk, Metal, New Wave, Grunge, Alternative, etc.).

 

There's no shortage of 4-5 piece Rock ensembles gigging up to present. 

 

I haven't watched RB's video either but I'd imagine the bands that spoke to his generation may be fading fast.😁😎

The topic of the video was/is bands that chart well today.  The data illustrates that bands have not been at the top of the charts for a long time.  So this leaves speculation as to why this has occurred.  
 

It has been offered that listening preferences have changed away from styles that were and still are dominated by acts that are bands.  Data suggests this is true.  
 

Another suggestion was that technology allows music to be created without the need for being a member of a band.  We all know this to be true.  

 

Some other ideas about why this might be happening - like preferences of industry people not wanting the costs of working with bands, the drama of managing band relationships, sharing royalties.   
 

That’s a brief synopsis.  There’s some other thoughts there, I forget.  But it doesn’t matter to me in the least that the topic is a Beato video.  But I do find it interesting that whatever the causes, the big players in the industry, topping plays/streams are not acts that are bands or marketed as bands.  Not even ones where they are all singers, or all rappers.  Curious observation.  

[Docbop]

Looks like places for live bands is drying up too.     Article below:

 

Why are so many music festivals canceled

[CrossRhodes]

I don't watch Beato's clickbait vids though I do enjoy his interviews. Interesting discussion though and just wanted to add that there are quite a few pop stars who keep the same bands with them for years. Timberlake and Bieber are both pop stars that give a lot of credit to their bands/musician fam and you can tell it's more than just a hired gun situation. A bit of a silver lining perhaps. 

 

[ProfD]

2 hours ago, ElmerJFudd said:

The topic of the video was/is bands that chart well today.  The data illustrates that bands have not been at the top of the charts for a long time.  So this leaves speculation as to why this has occurred.    

After watching the video, it just confirms what I've seen happening with music industry over several decades.

 

In parallel to being a musician, I've always felt that it's prudent to understand how the music business works too.

 

That's how I end up with tangential posts in these types of threads.😁😎

[El Lobo]

6 hours ago, MathOfInsects said:

In separate news, I'll be swinging through the Bay Area for a few shows this weekend. You're from there, correct? Happy to share details if you think you might make it out to something. Blues artist. 

Please let me know when and where your shows are. My weekend is fully booked, but if I can make it to one of your shows, I certainly will. I have my own local gig on Sunday afternoon in Princeton Harbor area (Half Moon Bay). 

[ElmerJFudd]

The “kids” today call the stadium band acts of the 70s/80s “dad rock” which they are entirely turned off by (regardless if secretly one might hear them humming or singing along in the back of the car).   When they go to write their own music they avoid these sounds, along with the “Boomer Bends” so prevalent in blues based rock.  

[DroptopBroham]

Totally agree Fudd. Where I'm at in central FL seems like every band playing out is nothing but a group of boomers playing that dad rock crap, lucky if they play anything less than 40 years old. These aging boomer weekend rock stars need to hang it up and let the twentysomethings play. Boomers are hogging up all venues. A lot of the bigger more popular groups are full boomer musicians with a 22 year old hot female vocalist. They typically sound good but watching the old pervs on stage eyeing up the young singer is creepy af and it happens with all of these bands fronted by a young hot chick. 

[ElmerJFudd]

3 hours ago, DroptopBroham said:

Totally agree Fudd. Where I'm at in central FL seems like every band playing out is nothing but a group of boomers playing that dad rock crap, lucky if they play anything less than 40 years old. These aging boomer weekend rock stars need to hang it up and let the twentysomethings play. Boomers are hogging up all venues. A lot of the bigger more popular groups are full boomer musicians with a 22 year old hot female vocalist. They typically sound good but watching the old pervs on stage eyeing up the young singer is creepy af and it happens with all of these bands fronted by a young hot chick. 

I get what you’re saying.  There’s different acts for different audiences.  But there’s clearly enough fans of dad rock around that they continue to play and get gigs.  Having a marketable singer is just a part of the business.   
 

I’m not really sure how active younger live bands are in your area performing more current music.  I imagine they might be duos or trios with backing tracks, computer sequenced elements, a DJ.   I know that generally speaking for party bands (younger people’s parties), DJs get a lot more bookings than 12 piece bands.   Now that’s partly a financial issue but also generational.  Younger audiences prefer to hear their favorites just played from the recording.  

[DroptopBroham]

Yeah maybe it's just that dad rock is popular. Going out over here it's like the bands are aged 60-65 playing 70's and early 80s covers, they people at the bars are mostly in their mid 30s but still come out to see the older guys play dad rock.

 

They other thing I was thinking is that maybe kids aren't doing the band thing anymore and that's why you don't see bands with people in their 20's even doing the dad rock outside of that band from the northeast on youtube who kill that dad rock stuff and even have horns. When I was a teenager almost everyone was learning guitar or trying to put a band together. I don't see teens really doing it now.

[Baldwin Funster]

Alien abduction. 

Space Aliens love boomer dad rock.

They just do.

[Mark Schmieder]

I don't have time for videos right now, but I find the wording very strange. Sounds like bands got swallowed up by the Bermuda Triangle.

[Thethirdapple]

Seems to also be a “natural” ebb and flow, from a “producer centric” to a “musician centric” drive and Im sure other aspects of the music industry which move the market. Other periods in the contemporary (since 1890’s) “music” landscape have always had a  VERY VISIBLE sales force driving one or other aspect of that which has been labeled and sold as: music

 

Are bands going away? No…

Are YT videos from producers the new “it”? Yup…

 

The real question: Why has “sheet music” been mysteriously disappearing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

PEACE

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[cphollis]

23 hours ago, DroptopBroham said:

Totally agree Fudd. Where I'm at in central FL seems like every band playing out is nothing but a group of boomers playing that dad rock crap, lucky if they play anything less than 40 years old. These aging boomer weekend rock stars need to hang it up and let the twentysomethings play. Boomers are hogging up all venues. A lot of the bigger more popular groups are full boomer musicians with a 22 year old hot female vocalist. They typically sound good but watching the old pervs on stage eyeing up the young singer is creepy af and it happens with all of these bands fronted by a young hot chick. 

Also in central FL, but I had to look up Intercession City on Google.

 

We have plenty of aging boomer groups here.  None are that good, but they don't seem to care.  They'll willingly play no-pay and low-pay gigs just to get out of the house.  That being said, our community is chock-full of aging boomers.  It's a hobby for them.  Everyone is happy.

 

The age demographics sort of preclude a "younger music" scene -- only a few venues cater to a younger audience.  And you do see bands with non-boomer musicians and non-boomer audiences -- often playing boomer songs as part of their setlist.

 

We also have plenty of tiki bar acts playing tracks, which are annoying but in a different way.  You have to be buzzed to enjoy them.

 

In my band, half of the musicians are under 35.  They like playing with experienced musicians, being part of a well-run band, and inviting their friends and family to their gigs.  They get to weigh in heavily on setlist, arrangements and so on to better reflect the tastes of some of our younger fans.  For example, let's try this classic rock number with a reggae beat, modulate keys for the bridge, add a techno beat, etc.  The older types value their input.  It doesn't sound like the record.

 

Forming a local band is a heavy lift -- at a time in their lives where they're working hard, starting families and trying to make ends meet.  Older musicians have more time and more resources to invest in playing music.   Our festival audiences run about 50/50 at the 35 year mark.

 

I will have to give credit to the local school music programs where the focus is ensemble playing.  It was great to find a nice pool of talented younger people itching to play.

 

 

[HammondDave]

On 9/17/2024 at 11:14 AM, AROIOS said:

Beato click-baiting as usual.

 

His question suffers from a typical logical fallacy called "Loaded Question". These type of questions are "loaded" with unproven presumptions. By answering the question, you fall into the trap of agreeing with their premises. An example would be "Why is Beato losing bladder control?

There are plenty of new bands around these days. Being a producer in a major city, there's no way Beato doesn't see that.

 

The simple reasons fewer bands show up in Pop charts are: 1) the channels/gatekeepers aren't promoting them; 2) consumer taste is largely a result of channel/gatekeeper conditioning.

 

If the channels/gatekeepers bombard today's kids with Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, that's what you'll see dominating charts 10 years down the road, not just bands, big big bands!

The technical aspect of music production contributing to fewer prominent bands is incidental. It wouldn't explain the success of popular bands in the 80s~00's.

 

Again, there's no way Beato doesn't understand all that, having worked in the industry for so long. He purposely narrowed his focus to the meaningless charts to generate buzz and traffic for his channel.

Do you feel better now?   Beato’s point is that it is the commercial aspect of the industry that is destroying the formation and longevity of bands. These are not “unproven assumptions”. He pulls out the list of Spotify’s top contemporary musical artists, clearly proving that single artists are dominating the music industry. This proof clearly supports his conclusion.
 

Now that you continue to trash his commentary, let’s see your proof countering his argument. Then we can have a real discussion, instead of your own “unproven assumptions”. 

[HammondDave]

On 9/18/2024 at 12:05 PM, El Lobo said:

The Box Tops

The Association 

The Doors

The Turtles (studio guys, but put a band on the road)

The Young Rascals 

The Music Explosion

Tommy James and the Shondells (I think I was in a show with those guys)
The Buckinghams  (I knew those guys, we played the same club)

Soul Survivors

Jay & the Techniques

Strawberry Alarm Clock

The Rolling Stones 

Buffalo Springfield 

The Beatles

Jefferson Airplane 

The Esquires

The Happenings (?)

Procul Harum

The Casinos

The Hollies

The Tremeloes (?)

The Cowsills (family band)

Herman's Hermits

The Seekers

The Hollies

Blues Magoos

The Easybeats

The Spencer Davis Group

The Grass Roots

Booker T. & the M.G.'s

The Electric Prunes

The Who

 

 

 

Seems to me that they are ALL bands. 

[HammondDave]

On 9/19/2024 at 5:05 AM, DroptopBroham said:

Totally agree Fudd. Where I'm at in central FL seems like every band playing out is nothing but a group of boomers playing that dad rock crap, lucky if they play anything less than 40 years old. These aging boomer weekend rock stars need to hang it up and let the twentysomethings play. Boomers are hogging up all venues. A lot of the bigger more popular groups are full boomer musicians with a 22 year old hot female vocalist. They typically sound good but watching the old pervs on stage eyeing up the young singer is creepy af and it happens with all of these bands fronted by a young hot chick. 

Being a “Boomer Musician” myself, I will gladly propose that if you were accomplished enough to take my band’s jobs, you would have done so already. Instead of pissing and moaning about Boomers taking YOUR gigs, maybe you should use that time to rehearse more.  
 

Also, your comments about us being “old pervs” is totally offensive. We are professional musicians. If you end up surviving this profession for a few more decades, you may understand what I am saying. 

[AROIOS]

4 hours ago, HammondDave said:

Do you feel better now?   Beato’s point is that it is the commercial aspect of the industry that is destroying the formation and longevity of bands. These are not “unproven assumptions”. He pulls out the list of Spotify’s top contemporary musical artists, clearly proving that single artists are dominating the music industry. This proof clearly supports his conclusion.
 

Now that you continue to trash his commentary, let’s see your proof countering his argument. Then we can have a real discussion, instead of your own “unproven assumptions”. 

Everything I needed to say is in my original post. I'm neither a fan nor a foe of him. It's as easy for me to praise his good interviews as calling out his attention-whoring and click-baiting.

You're obviously a triggered fan who failed to comprehend my original reply without assuming malice, so I'm not gonna waste my time soothing your cognitive dissonance.

[CrossRhodes]

[ElmerJFudd]

8 hours ago, Thethirdapple said:

Seems to also be a “natural” ebb and flow, from a “producer centric” to a “musician centric” drive and Im sure other aspects of the music industry which move the market. Other periods in the contemporary (since 1890’s) “music” landscape have always had a  VERY VISIBLE sales force driving one or other aspect of that which has been labeled and sold as: music

 

Are bands going away? No…

Are YT videos from producers the new “it”? Yup…

 

The real question: Why has “sheet music” been mysteriously disappearing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

PEACE

_
_
_

Sheet music is still alive and well, shockingly.  It’s just less and less in hard copy.  Digital sites like musicnotes.com and sheetmusicnow.com sell printables and have apps for reading.   That surprises me as YouTube and its video tutorials and Tetris-like falling lights for which keys to play seems prevalent enough to have a big affect on the number of people who learn to read notation.  

[GovernorSilver]

I still see bands who play jazz and/or other genres using sheet music for sure.  It's still the quickest way for the bandleader or whoever wrote the tune to communicate the structure to the band members, especially in bands that have busy musos like the bass player who had a wedding gig that morning, a recording gig in the afternoon, church gig in the early evening, etc.

[ProfD]

Printed publications (books, magazines and sheet music) will exist as along as people need a tangible piece of toilet, er, paper to read especially while sh, sitting in the bathroom, study of recliner.😁

 

As @GovernorSilver mentioned, some busy musicians use sheet music to avoid bowling nights aka standing band practice/rehearsal.🤣😎

[uhoh7]

Beato....the first man to get a signature guitar from a Youtube career.... He's trained his kid for perfect pitch....but is the young man playing music? 

 

Here is my favorite anti-beato, Uncle Larry....who has been on Beato's show. He's a session man with a great channel of his own....super-low fi....uses only an iphone...but he's the real deal. After another off the cuff piece of virtuosity in one of his "homeskoolin" vids to demonstrate something or other...."that's probably a mode I never heard of". Here he is live with Trapp:

 

 

BTW he loves to play keyboards...and a bunch of other stuff

[AROIOS]

2 hours ago, uhoh7 said:

Beato....the first man to get a signature guitar from a Youtube career.... He's trained his kid for perfect pitch....but is the young man playing music? 

 

Here is my favorite anti-beato, Uncle Larry....who has been on Beato's show. He's a session man with a great channel of his own....super-low fi....uses only an iphone...but he's the real deal. After another off the cuff piece of virtuosity in one of his "homeskoolin" vids to demonstrate something or other...."that's probably a mode I never heard of". Here he is live with Trapp:

 

 

BTW he loves to play keyboards...and a bunch of other stuff

Tom is a monster of a player and always chill AF, the kind of musician most would love to hang around with.

[Bill Heins]

uhoh7, thanks for posting that video, best thing I've seen and heard in a while!

[Adan]

Bands disappearing? Even if it's true, who cares. music is music regardless how it's made.

 

No, the big news here is BOOMERS HAVE TAKEN OVER FLORIDA! 

 

btw, band culture is alive and well here in Vermont. lots of young upstarts. helps if you don't mind flannel . . .

[ProfD]

38 minutes ago, Adan said:

No, the big news here is BOOMERS HAVE TAKEN OVER FLORIDA! 

I thought it was already well known that Florida is the preferred daycare center for kids (Disneyland) and old folks (retirement homes).😁😎

[Docbop]

Bands are disappearing because bars don't give the bands free pitchers of tap beer anymore, bands can't afford their bar tab anymore. 

[Bill H.]

A glimmer of hope for bands may be the mad scramble to score tickets for the upcoming tour of (not Taylor Swift this time) Oasis. 

 

Granted - this is a special case. There's a lot of interest in the reunion of Noel and Liam, and a lot of curiosity if they can survive a tour without beating each other up. This could also qualify as a legacy act, since they haven't been together for 15 years. Still... it shows that there is still a demand for bands - which could possibly show up in more social media exposure of newer bands. 

 

Their shows will be in among the biggest arenas in the world (Wembley etc) . Here in the US Oasis will be performing at MetLife, Soldier Field, and the Rose Bowl.