# Chicken & Egg situation vis a vis rock FM and "Classic Rock" and guitar-based rock is dead **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 13, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236 "2024-04-13T17:30:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/21 "2024-04-14T11:21:21Z")
That sounds plausible / familiar in a way, but not all the way. When I listen to FM radio (only when I’m driving), the rock stations here play lots of the exact same stuff they played back in c. 1985 - 1989 when I listened to rock radio every day for hours. Then they extend the repertoire by playing for instance the latest single by Judas Priest or Iron Maiden, or bands that were huge in the '80s. But they also play completely new rock music, by literally adding new bands and extending the genre some. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/22 "2024-04-14T12:01:53Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Not in our cars - my kids and their friends listen to streaming channels, or downloaded playlists that were streamed. As do I. My wife does listen to the radio, but not for music. In our family car, during long trips we take turns — kids and parents — being “deejay”: each gets to choose a song — any song — and play it for all to hear (via YouTube on a phone, Bluetoothed through the car speakers). It’s great! We all get to hear things we like, while potentially expanding the tastes of the other folks. (Sorry for the hijack, but it does relate to teaching kids-these-days about guitar-based rock, old and new). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/23 "2024-04-14T12:18:28Z")
For trips we have a shared playlist we set to shuffle. That and YA audiobooks. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/24 "2024-04-14T12:22:40Z")
Nice! Same effect. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/25 "2024-04-14T15:39:54Z")
Today I learned something. The local radio station (WDHA) that covers North Jersey has always played a blend of old and new rock. More older songs than new songs but definitely a blend that made it different than Classic Rock stations. The older songs tend to be more 90s than 60s. I learned there is an official radio classification for that. It’s called “Mainstream Rock.” There is also a format called “Active Rock” which tends to be harder than mainstream rock. > **[Mainstream rock](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainstream_rock)** > > Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. > Mainstream rock stations represent a cross between classic rock, active rock and alternative rock on the programming spectrum, in that they play more classic rock songs from the 1970s and 1980s and fewer songs from emerging acts than active rock and alternative rock stations, and only rarely play songs on the softer edge of the classic rock format or the harder ... ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/26 "2024-04-14T17:49:38Z")
So “oldies for the post-Boomers” ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/27 "2024-04-14T18:12:15Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > did peoples’ tastes change so quickly and drastically People’s tastes changed almost overnight to _streaming_, the radio business became generally unprofitable, which led to mass consolidation and national programming. There’s noticably more ads on radio today which reinforces the situation. I’ve also read that radio audiences drastically shifted to female adults as well which accounts for many of the programming changes. In Chicago there are at 3 stations that play Christmas music for 3 months. It’s not a healthy business. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/28 "2024-04-14T18:36:16Z")
My wife’s car is too old to have any kind of streaming capability. So while she’s driving, she listens to the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/29 "2024-04-14T21:58:03Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Boomers are the largest generation in human history, there is a lot more money catering to things they like than any generation after them. Boomers are all in their 60s and older, which is the _least_ desirable audience for mass media. As for radio stations, the big chains all do their own research to try and find the next big thing. There are fad in radio just like in fashion. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/30 "2024-04-15T00:28:45Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > _Boomers are all in their 60s and older, which is the least desirable audience for mass media._ As I said further up the page. The reasons for this, whether they are true or not, are: Boomers already have everything they want, so they rarely purchase anything new. Boomers, when they do make a purchase, always buy the same brands they have always bought. Boomers are skeptical of advertising. Radio stations whose audience is 50+ don’t get any agency business and depend on “local direct” advertising, which has dried-up thanks to Walmart et cetera. More than 20 years ago, I came off the air and tried my hand at radio sales, at a 60s-based Oldies station that had great ratings. It was a tough sell even then. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/31 "2024-04-15T22:41:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Not in our cars - my kids and their friends listen to streaming channels, or downloaded playlists that were streamed. As do I. My wife does listen to the radio, but not for music. Yeah, kids are being exposed to classic rock on TikTok and TV/movies, not the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/32 "2024-04-16T11:04:41Z")
Classic rock is killing modern rock. People would far rather pay their money to see a Saxon tribute act where they know two songs, than go a see a band with original new rock music but standing four feet in front of them, We go to a rock pub where we’re upstairs watching a great band with great music, in a half filled room, and downstairs is packed listening to the fifth Fleetwood mac song of the evening. There’s a movement in the UK of some success, called NWOCR, New Wave Of Classic Rock, but it’s mostly limited to the UK, and normal radio stations won’t pick up on it. [Welsh Gene on Scotland Rocks radio has a few shows which can be listened to not live](https://www.mixcloud.com/scotlandrocks2019/welsh-genes-breakfast-bangers-10-april-2024/) But such bands we’ve listened to in the last few years are: (Bigger bands) Those Damn Crows Massive Wagons Eclipse H.E.A.T Kris Barras Band (saw him Saturday night, think new album currently #7 in Uk album chart) Scarlet Rebels The Dust Coda Empyre South of Salem Smaller, but ones I love Baleful Creed Ashen Reach Devilfire She Burns Red Wicked Smile Trucker Diablo Collateral Sam Millar Sons of Liberty Statement DK Bigfoot 4th Labyrinth Piston Massive The Hot One Two Even the large bands here hit a barrier in the UK, of medium sized venues, which they’ll fill, but same venue will be packed next weekend with a couple of old rock cover bands and people not interested with anything new. Still, that’s not for me, and I’m listening to more new rock than ever. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/33 "2024-04-16T11:41:17Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > to see a Saxon tribute act I just left Montreal and during the ten years we lived there I was fortunate enough to see a lot of older bands playing in various sized venues - I actually did see Saxon and UFO playing in a small venue in Montreal, where I could literally lean on the stage. I also saw Saxon and Judas Priest about six months later in an area in Ottawa, and I had a floor ticket (and shook hands with Saxon’s bass player during the Priest set; he was just relaxing and having a beer and watching the show). I’m also fortunate enough that these bands aren’t charging a fortune; I suspect that what I’ve paid for the floor probably wouldn’t get me in the door for a lot of more popular acts. > [@Smid](#): > > band with original new rock music but standing four feet in front of them I’ve discovered a ton of these on Youtube - 1000Mods, from Greece; Truckfighters, from Sweden; King Buffalo, All Them Witches, and Valley of the Sun, all from the US. So far I’ve only seen 1000Mods live, in a basement venue of a bar in downtown Montreal and that was an absolute blast. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/34 "2024-04-16T13:45:32Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > I’ve discovered a ton of these on Youtube - 1000Mods, from Greece; Truckfighters, from Sweden; King Buffalo, All Them Witches, and Valley of the Sun, all from the US. So far I’ve only seen 1000Mods live, in a basement venue of a bar in downtown Montreal and that was an absolute blast. You seem to have to make do with whatever local you have to you (even in the UK there are bands which each play West Midlands, East Midlands, Sheffield, Glasgow and don’t really go to each others areas), or commit to visiting a UK or European rock festival (we love Winterstorm in Troon, Scotland). Some of the larger acts have toured the EU, but not likely to hit the US unless on the back of a medium size US bands tour. It’s still quite striking though that unsuccessful bands in the US, like Alter Bridge, sell out stadiums in UK and EU. We’ve been looking out for a US tour of small venues to perhaps catch them, but they don’t seem to think it’s worth it much over there. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236/35 "2024-04-16T17:51:34Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > So while she’s driving, she listens to the radio. She should upgrade to the new tech. You can get add on 8Track players for cars. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-egg-situation-vis-a-vis-rock-fm-and-classic-rock-and-guitar-based-rock-is-dead/1000236.md?page=1)