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Post by Drew on Aug 19, 2020 21:47:32 GMT -5
Ever notice how there are almost no new guitar pop songs any more? Aside from Ed Sheeran and a few country-influenced artists (e.g. Taylor Swift), this sub-genre of pop music is all but dead. I'm talking about bands like Matchbox Twenty, Fountains Of Wayne, The Click Five, etc, that were so popular only a few years ago.
The pop rock bands that have remained pop-relevant like Panic At The Disco, Maroon 5, Coldplay, and Imagine Dragons, have largely changed their musical style to a very electronic or synth-driven sound. And, then there's others like John Mayer who have changed genres completely and decided to make a country album instead, given how little room there is for a singer/songwriter/guitarist on today's pop radio.
One of the big changes that may have inadvertently caused this change was the rise of EDM. As dance music became more prevalant on Pop radio, more and more artists wanted to be part of the next "big thing", and opted for electronic production over actual string instramentation on their songs. Consequently, we now have a whole lot of uninspiring music that sounds the same. In a way, I feel like we may be on the verge of losing an entire genre. And, while I do love dance and electronic music, there is still something real in the sound of an electric guitar, a bass guitar, and perhaps even an artist who actually plays their own instrament.
Thoughts?
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Aug 19, 2020 22:04:32 GMT -5
I miss hearing guitars. I feel the lack of guitar is why so many pop songs these days sound basic and indistinguishable.
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Post by Pipa on Aug 19, 2020 23:22:21 GMT -5
In order to get away with guitars on pop these days you need to be the "right" artist, like Juice WRLD and/or Marshmello...and ridiculously enough, not only does this apply to Pop, but Alternative too!
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Aug 19, 2020 23:59:56 GMT -5
In order to get away with guitars on pop these days you need to be the "right" artist, like Juice WRLD and/or Marshmello...and ridiculously enough, not only does this apply to Pop, but Alternative too! It's as if all genres are the same these days. F*ck this mono-genre.
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Post by ziggy2 on Aug 20, 2020 7:45:06 GMT -5
Rock n’ Roll will never die.
It’s just a phase. Artists adjusting to the sound of the moment, some would say ‘selling out’.
During the height of the disco period even KISS went disco.
Eventually people will get tired and guitar bands will be seen as making original music.
But there is certainly a lack of variety. Even during mono periods there is usually more artists with a different sound who squeeze in.
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JessieLou
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Post by JessieLou on Aug 20, 2020 7:51:04 GMT -5
FreakyFlyBry and Pipa both hit the nail on the head for me. I miss hearing ACTUAL rock music and not f*cking Imagine Dragons and 21 Pilots. Rock n’ Roll will never die. It’s just a phase. Artists adjusting to the sound of the moment, some would say ‘selling out’. During the height of the disco period even KISS went disco. Eventually people will get tired and guitar bands will be seen as making original music. But there is certainly a lack of variety. Even during mono periods there is usually more artists with a different sound who squeeze in. This is very true and this post is definitely a glimmer of hope, however I do feel like this "monogenre" crap has been going on for way longer than any other trend has. Disco only lasted a few years and this has been going on for, what, half a decade? Maybe even longer.
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Post by Vic on Aug 20, 2020 9:16:36 GMT -5
This is very true on the state of pop music. I miss when music wasn't so generic and disposable. The energy and soul of music is gone. I hope the cycle comes back but I have serious doubts, hip hop music is defining the music of this generation.
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Post by macprohawaii on Oct 26, 2020 1:12:50 GMT -5
I agree with all the assessments regarding the demise of guitar in rock, pop and surprisingly alternative rock too. I do however am impressed to see a few upcoming, young indie artists who do use guitar in at least the cover songs they do. Sad.
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Post by Pipa on Oct 26, 2020 12:07:17 GMT -5
This is how I see the future of rock radio in the coming years:
Alternative will evolve into a hybrid between its established indie pop sound and neo-Rhythmic influences. Heavily guitar-based music will no longer chart.
Active will fill the role Alternative once had and will focus on cutting-edge rock. Metal will phase its way off of the radio, with the exception of golds.
Triple A will continue to be the outlier, maintaining its focus on folk and indie rock, but will begin embracing more R&B and hard rock sounds.
As for rock music on any other formats, unfortunately, its fate depends on TikTok. Either by more classic rock going viral and influencing younger musicians, or by newer artists becoming big with a similar sound. But the loud and heavy sound you associate with Active rock may never see the light of day on other formats again, and hasn't in over a decade.
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Post by macprohawaii on Dec 28, 2020 14:17:07 GMT -5
Ever notice how there are almost no new guitar pop songs any more? Aside from Ed Sheeran and a few country-influenced artists (e.g. Taylor Swift), this sub-genre of pop music is all but dead. I'm talking about bands like Matchbox Twenty, Fountains Of Wayne, The Click Five, etc, that were so popular only a few years ago. The pop rock bands that have remained pop-relevant like Panic At The Disco, Maroon 5, Coldplay, and Imagine Dragons, have largely changed their musical style to a very electronic or synth-driven sound. And, then there's others like John Mayer who have changed genres completely and decided to make a country album instead, given how little room there is for a singer/songwriter/guitarist on today's pop radio. One of the big changes that may have inadvertently caused this change was the rise of EDM. As dance music became more prevalant on Pop radio, more and more artists wanted to be part of the next "big thing", and opted for electronic production over actual string instramentation on their songs. Consequently, we now have a whole lot of uninspiring music that sounds the same. In a way, I feel like we may be on the verge of losing an entire genre. And, while I do love dance and electronic music, there is still something real in the sound of an electric guitar, a bass guitar, and perhaps even an artist who actually plays their own instrament. Thoughts? I've noticed that. I guess guitar based pop and rock music will be more of a niche like jazz. I don't think it will completely go away. There are a lot of people who own and make music with guitars. They just aren't getting the radio and streaming airplay like their EDM based counterparts.... though I'd take EDM influenced pop over anything that is hard core hip-hop, rap.
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Post by Cody on Dec 29, 2020 17:22:59 GMT -5
Monsters by All Time Low is easier the most guitar inclusive song on pop radio from someone other than Imagine Dragons in years.
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Post by ziggy2 on Feb 19, 2024 22:56:11 GMT -5
4 years have passed and there’s a company called ChartCipher who analyzes streaming from the Billboard Chart now.
Here’s what they found happened since 2019:
Country went from 5% representation to 20% Rap/HipHop down from 53% to 27% And Rock? Up from 2% to 19% This also means that guitar prominence in hits went from 31% to 61%
Also songs are getting slower in general.
As for song length, we are getting under 3 minutes songs being the majority soon. (TikTok to blame?) I personally feel, longer songs are of better quality. And the decade that provided that was the 90s.. (Grunge era & peak of R&B AC)
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