Only read this if you want to be depressed...

[girlwithnoname]

I'm not sure how accurate these "facts" are, but if true, I weep for humanity (at least American humanity, maybe you Brits are better, but then I remember Adele):

12 Extremely Disappointing Facts about Popular Music

[JackT]

Some of it is bullshit, some of it misleading, and some of them I'm not sure why we're supposed to be depressed.

[girlwithnoname]

Some of it is bullshit, some of it misleading, and some of them I'm not sure why we're supposed to be depressed.

1) BS: I agree.
2) misleading: I agree.
3) not depressing: I agree.

4) If you're NOT depressed that Katy Perry is popular, there's no helping you. Mindless twaddle.

[Malbert]

#12 is enough to make me want to put my head in a gas stove! Did anyone catch Jimmy Fallon's "tribute" to JB's baby scandal? It was fantastic......

[Malbert]

And I happen to think that Adele has a fabulous voice....that chick actually SINGS which is something Katy Perry cannot do without the magic of technology.

[Mr. Brian]

Many of these artists that outsell more critically acclaimed/revered bands have more cross appeal and/or longer careers than artists like Hendrix (4 albums when alive) or Led Zeppelin (mostly an album oriented band that only released 10 singles).

For these older bands, they were mostly active during a time when the concept of this vast youth culture and media outlets was non-existent or just beginning. Rock music from it's start was geared toward teenagers, but now songs are marketed toward pre-teens via Disney and movies. That's an audience that didn't even exist until the 80's. In the 1960's and 70's 7 year olds were never buying the same music as 40 year olds like the Black Eyed Peas.

And there will always be a Justin Bieber in some way, shape or form.

[Malbert]

Well, that was a master class, Mr. Brian. Perhaps you should rename yourself "Prof. Brian"? And I absolutely agree with what you're saying. To add to it, music is more available now than back then. When I was a kid, I had to wait for my mom to take me to the mall or music store to make a purchase. Now, it's just a keystroke away. But I PROMISE I would never have asked for anything Disney cranked out

[Mr. Brian]

I was just thinking today about how back in the old pre-internet days there was all this anticipation for a new release that went on for months and the radio would tease you with a track for a while and that was the only place you could hear it. Now as soon as you hear about a new release, it's "leaked" by the artist and available to anyone immediately via download or streaming

One thing that jumped out at me about that list...you can't really compare single sales of Led Zeppelin to Rihanna or anyone for that matter. Who ever bought Zeppelin singles? People bought the albums from that band. Their biggest song wasn't even released as a single.

[girlwithnoname]

One thing that jumped out at me about that list...you can't really compare single sales of Led Zeppelin to Rihanna or anyone for that matter. Who ever bought Zeppelin singles? People bought the albums from that band. Their biggest song wasn't even released as a single.

That's true, one really can't. However, I still maintain that a wide proportion of typical music consumers do not have any taste. And while it is also true that the Biebers and Perrys out there are targeting tweens and young teenagers, why the bloody fucking hell are OLDER people buying this shit? I live in a college town, and I can say with good authority that many twentysomethings are grooving to it.

[Malbert]

Twentysomethings are the new teens, and that's not a good thing.

[girlwithnoname]

Twentysomethings are the new teens, and that's not a good thing.

^^^^^ What she said. ARGH!

[Mr. Brian]

I think there is always going to be that element of shitty throwaway pop music that people gobble up. There are just more people, more marketing, more music and more ways to get it now. It just makes sense that it would grow exponentially and eclipse the sales of the first 30 years of rock music.

I'll bet in 40 more years no one will know who Flo Rida is but people will still know all the na na na's from Hey Jude.

[Malbert]

Prof. Brian, along with my strong hatred of The Cure is my strong hatred of The Beatles.

[withahip]

If the population has doubled since the Beatles - has it? of course more people are going to like something more than the Beatles.

I mean my grandfather was depressed more people like the Beatles than Jesus. The amount he could lift from the collection plate went down ten fold after that one.

[Voodoo Billy]

Jesus?