Gene Simmons 'Rock is finally dead...' Reaction
10 days ago KISS bassist Gene Simmons had an interview with Esquire magazine in which he said 'Rock is Finally Dead. It Was Murdered.' He goes on to say that file sharing and programs like Pandora and Spotify have ruined the music business and how no one values music 'enough to pay for it.'
This interview is a really big deal to people interested in the rock genre. Since Simmons is such a well known musical figure, his saying really has taken off and inspired many reactions among music fans. He really trails off into some interesting topics such as patriotism in America but I won't get bogged down with all of that. I will just focus on the main portion in which he talks about how in the 60s-80s, any group of kids with a electric guitar, amp, drums, and mics had a shot at making it big on the rock stage. All they had to do was perform at a few gigs and be good enough for a major record label to hear about them. He says that nowadays those kinds of record labels, the ones that tried to 'help the next Beatles, Stones, Prince, Hendrix,' don't exist anymore. He states that its all due to file sharing and illegally downloading music and listening to music on Pandora or Spotify.
In my opinion, I think the rock genre is no where close to being dead. Just the fact that my blog exists shows that it isn't dead. The rock genre is not the same I know, and it never will be, but there is still that style of music out there. Most importantly, however, there are still fans of that style of music, and that is what keeps the genre alive. The fans that love to rock out when they hear a sweet bass line or that air guitar their favorite guitar solo keep new modern rock bands afloat. I understand that the new age of technology has brought about illegally downloaded music and internet radio where you can listen to artists for free, but people still buy music when they can and when they think its worth it. I myself, when buying music, usually listen to an artist on Spotify for a while and then if I like it I will buy it on iTunes. My point is that Simmons has a point with the file sharing madness, but he exaggerates it too much. Rock is definitely not dead, and I don't think it will be for a very long time.
Links:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gene-simmons-rock-is-finally-dead-20140907
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/culture/gene-simmons-future-of-rock
Links:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gene-simmons-rock-is-finally-dead-20140907
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/culture/gene-simmons-future-of-rock
Isn't it possible that without having to go through a major record label (getting "signed") for marketing, that artists could actually have more opportunities to get their music to the public. For example, if they can market and sell their own music online, then they don't need to relay on (and pay for and/or share profits with) the label? I suppose it is likely that more pirating happens, and less profits result...but if artists could build a following and get gigs or a tour on their own merit/volition, wouldn't that be good?
ReplyDeleteIt just seems more "Rock" to me to get out there, dig in and do it yourself...for the music and the listeners. The corporate music industry (major labels) seems like "the man" and anti-rock.
Thoughts?