Times change and we change with them or we get left behind. I'm still a Rock guy but I'm definitely not following the cutting edge anymore. I saw Idles last fall and it was a great time so Rock is still breathing at least.
Rock is breathing! This essay is largely sarcastic. I don't define anything by what the academy or the Grammys reward or acknowledge. But I think it's funny how the industry keeps prioritizing these old dudes when there are plenty of other options.
The academy have been pale stale male for aeons anyway. Hence their safe, boring and predictable approach. As long as people make rock, and as long as others listen to it, it exists. Dirty guitars n drums will always have a primal part of my heart.
“The Grammy electorate is now younger, nearly 40 percent people of color, and 66 percent of our members are new,” he bragged after adding 3,000 female voters.
"He" being Harvey Mason Jr, the CEO of Naras who took over in 2020
While I agree that Rock is deader than dead in the eyes of the mainstream Top 40 thing, Rock music and all its multitude of genres and sub-genres from all ranges of artists and bands, is alive and thriving and still kicking. Albeit, below the mainstream radar of Jo Schmo fan who may only listen to the same bands from 10-20-30-40 years ago when they were in high school. And that's not a band thing. What is bad is saying that the genre is dead and buried just because you don't know where to look.
And I may be in the minority here in the fandom, but I don't need an awards show and accolades or a "hall of fame" to validate my favorite bands' art and music. Sure, it's nice and a badge of success (career-wise & financially) to be thrust into the mainstream and loved by more people. But is that really the goalpost to strive for? In my maybe naive and yet cynically jaded outlook, I'd think the art & impact means more than just some award or trophy.
When it comes to stuff like this...I always go back to what Eddie Vedder said when Pearl Jam won "Best Hard Rock Performance" at the 1996 Grammys: "I don't know what this means. I don't think it means anything."
There's definitely no shortage of new rock bands. It's just the mainstream industry being its typical self. I don't think awards mean anything to most people. At least most artists. All the musicians I know who've won Moonmen use them as toilet roll holders, but Grammys aren't even that useful. Haha.
They may not mean anything to most people, (I'm among those) but when a festival chooses its acts, being nominated or winning one award like the Grammy counts. That said, I love The Beatles, but best performance of the year going to them is just stupid nonsense.
Sorry I just don't give any thought or energy to awards ceremonies. How the fuck can the Beatles win. It's just beyond me. These fuckers should hang around Camden, Hackney and Brighton. There's loads of bands worthy of far more but because of what's been discussed about Spotify and especially these fucking awards. They can't break through. Including the writer of this post. It fucking sucks. All this talent buzzing in these areas. Struggling to get by. But passionate about the music they make. And fucking good people who appreciate people like you and I that go to gigs buy the records and merch. Not just paying lip service to the latest fashionable band. That's the rant over.
Thanks Carre - insightful as always. I think (and hope) that it’s the award shows and mindless back slapping that’s really dead - they don’t represent “real” music and are so far removed from grass roots and what’s actually happening it’s laughable. There are some awesome bands out there at the moment and long may the independent spirit of rock live on - reject the awards, reject that mainstream bollocks - as long as kids are picking up guitars and making a noise in their bedrooms / garages then I still have hope……
Another thought-provoking post ... but how would you cut it loose from the mainstream? I'm just curious - because that seems like a fascinating possibility.
Ah yes, rock—the old taxidermied beast propped up in the corner, wheeled out for ceremonial bows while the real action happens elsewhere. The Grammys don’t celebrate the living pulse of a genre, just its most recognizable ghosts. It’s not that rock is dead—it’s that the industry embalmed it, wrapped it in Beatles memorabilia, and plays it through a museum intercom. The real question: does rock even want to be resuscitated, or has it grown too comfortable in its own mausoleum?
This was a great read! I've tried to find modern rock music, but most of what I listen to that's contemporary is hip hop and pop with some left-wing country music (e.g. Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell). But aside from Price, those three dudes are basically rock musicians. If there's twang that makes them 'country' it's no more twang than the Allman Brothers or even Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. I dunno what I'm trying to say, except maybe artists are being labeled wrong?
Like I saw Maggie Rogers is considered "pop" but to me she kind of rocks a bit too much and uses too many acoustic instruments to be pop? But I'm no expert, that's just my take.
I think you wrote a great article and it begs the question, why you care what the corporate structure of music has to say about anything? I presume this article is just to evoke thought. Well let's face it. Any of the artists that are out there today, including myself are not concerned with the mainstream but when I asked the question of any of my peers at my level or surrounding it if they had a career-minded mentality, not a single one thus far has ever admitted to be fully committed to the art and to the process of the world it takes to becoming a sustainable artist. Most artists I see today have become hobbyists and content creators. Now I know that touring is become increasingly more expensive if you want to have high production value, long distances between dates and horrible logistics, but that doesn't have to be that way. Good tour management can make or break it. Does anybody develop artists anymore? Nobody is helping to understand the logistics of how to do it themselves and so many have this hard ego that they don't want to learn from anyone who's already done it year over year. I say f*** all those award platforms that somehow make them better than the rest. We're all human beings with creative ability and it takes authenticity, conviction and heart to get fans to like your work.
Agreed! Although I really was rooting for Pearl Jam in their two categories. Dark Matter is a great rock album.
I wonder how many of 13k voters actually voted for the rock categories. And maybe how old they are and are they men or women? I love rock and always will. But it would be nice to hear more fresh voices. Btw, I think rock and alt rock should be one category.
Times change and we change with them or we get left behind. I'm still a Rock guy but I'm definitely not following the cutting edge anymore. I saw Idles last fall and it was a great time so Rock is still breathing at least.
Rock is breathing! This essay is largely sarcastic. I don't define anything by what the academy or the Grammys reward or acknowledge. But I think it's funny how the industry keeps prioritizing these old dudes when there are plenty of other options.
The academy have been pale stale male for aeons anyway. Hence their safe, boring and predictable approach. As long as people make rock, and as long as others listen to it, it exists. Dirty guitars n drums will always have a primal part of my heart.
It's not.
“The Grammy electorate is now younger, nearly 40 percent people of color, and 66 percent of our members are new,” he bragged after adding 3,000 female voters.
"He" being Harvey Mason Jr, the CEO of Naras who took over in 2020
While I agree that Rock is deader than dead in the eyes of the mainstream Top 40 thing, Rock music and all its multitude of genres and sub-genres from all ranges of artists and bands, is alive and thriving and still kicking. Albeit, below the mainstream radar of Jo Schmo fan who may only listen to the same bands from 10-20-30-40 years ago when they were in high school. And that's not a band thing. What is bad is saying that the genre is dead and buried just because you don't know where to look.
And I may be in the minority here in the fandom, but I don't need an awards show and accolades or a "hall of fame" to validate my favorite bands' art and music. Sure, it's nice and a badge of success (career-wise & financially) to be thrust into the mainstream and loved by more people. But is that really the goalpost to strive for? In my maybe naive and yet cynically jaded outlook, I'd think the art & impact means more than just some award or trophy.
When it comes to stuff like this...I always go back to what Eddie Vedder said when Pearl Jam won "Best Hard Rock Performance" at the 1996 Grammys: "I don't know what this means. I don't think it means anything."
There's definitely no shortage of new rock bands. It's just the mainstream industry being its typical self. I don't think awards mean anything to most people. At least most artists. All the musicians I know who've won Moonmen use them as toilet roll holders, but Grammys aren't even that useful. Haha.
They may not mean anything to most people, (I'm among those) but when a festival chooses its acts, being nominated or winning one award like the Grammy counts. That said, I love The Beatles, but best performance of the year going to them is just stupid nonsense.
Do you think P.R.R. Jackson just lays on that pile like Smaug?
100%
Sorry I just don't give any thought or energy to awards ceremonies. How the fuck can the Beatles win. It's just beyond me. These fuckers should hang around Camden, Hackney and Brighton. There's loads of bands worthy of far more but because of what's been discussed about Spotify and especially these fucking awards. They can't break through. Including the writer of this post. It fucking sucks. All this talent buzzing in these areas. Struggling to get by. But passionate about the music they make. And fucking good people who appreciate people like you and I that go to gigs buy the records and merch. Not just paying lip service to the latest fashionable band. That's the rant over.
The Grammys are IRRELEVANT
Thanks Carre - insightful as always. I think (and hope) that it’s the award shows and mindless back slapping that’s really dead - they don’t represent “real” music and are so far removed from grass roots and what’s actually happening it’s laughable. There are some awesome bands out there at the moment and long may the independent spirit of rock live on - reject the awards, reject that mainstream bollocks - as long as kids are picking up guitars and making a noise in their bedrooms / garages then I still have hope……
I go back to Jethro Tull winning for best Heavy Metal Band - a long, long time ago - and submit that the Grammys have had no credibility since.
Rock still exists but I fear it is going the way of Jazz. It will always have a following but it will have little influence on Popular Music
Great article.!
To me, rock is far from dead. Rather, as it relates to rock, the Grammys are irrelevant.
Another thought-provoking post ... but how would you cut it loose from the mainstream? I'm just curious - because that seems like a fascinating possibility.
Ah yes, rock—the old taxidermied beast propped up in the corner, wheeled out for ceremonial bows while the real action happens elsewhere. The Grammys don’t celebrate the living pulse of a genre, just its most recognizable ghosts. It’s not that rock is dead—it’s that the industry embalmed it, wrapped it in Beatles memorabilia, and plays it through a museum intercom. The real question: does rock even want to be resuscitated, or has it grown too comfortable in its own mausoleum?
Baby boomers are just as toxic in society as israel. Until they all die off rock will be cringe.
This was a great read! I've tried to find modern rock music, but most of what I listen to that's contemporary is hip hop and pop with some left-wing country music (e.g. Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell). But aside from Price, those three dudes are basically rock musicians. If there's twang that makes them 'country' it's no more twang than the Allman Brothers or even Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. I dunno what I'm trying to say, except maybe artists are being labeled wrong?
Like I saw Maggie Rogers is considered "pop" but to me she kind of rocks a bit too much and uses too many acoustic instruments to be pop? But I'm no expert, that's just my take.
Everything is cyclical. It will come back.
I think you wrote a great article and it begs the question, why you care what the corporate structure of music has to say about anything? I presume this article is just to evoke thought. Well let's face it. Any of the artists that are out there today, including myself are not concerned with the mainstream but when I asked the question of any of my peers at my level or surrounding it if they had a career-minded mentality, not a single one thus far has ever admitted to be fully committed to the art and to the process of the world it takes to becoming a sustainable artist. Most artists I see today have become hobbyists and content creators. Now I know that touring is become increasingly more expensive if you want to have high production value, long distances between dates and horrible logistics, but that doesn't have to be that way. Good tour management can make or break it. Does anybody develop artists anymore? Nobody is helping to understand the logistics of how to do it themselves and so many have this hard ego that they don't want to learn from anyone who's already done it year over year. I say f*** all those award platforms that somehow make them better than the rest. We're all human beings with creative ability and it takes authenticity, conviction and heart to get fans to like your work.
Agreed! Although I really was rooting for Pearl Jam in their two categories. Dark Matter is a great rock album.
I wonder how many of 13k voters actually voted for the rock categories. And maybe how old they are and are they men or women? I love rock and always will. But it would be nice to hear more fresh voices. Btw, I think rock and alt rock should be one category.