It's all local now


You guys and gals tell me? How could the Beatles exist now? Or really any of the hundred or so bands that made it fairly big in the 60's and 70's? How does anyone make it big anymore? In the past an artist would get on the radio, sell a whole bunch of albums and go on tour to make it big. Now, because there is really no record company push/ads to sell an artist, how the hell does any artist get big? So, since a band or artist can't rely on album sales or their record company to become popular or to finance their tour how do they become popular or world famous? Isn't it the end of big time world famous rock stars? No more stadium or maybe even arena tours of big bands. Really, your looking at local bands playing live at local clubs. Yes, the absolute best will play be able to play big clubs or college halls around the country or even overseas. But, to me, the sad fact is young folks no longer will have their musical hero's like we did and be able to listen to them in ultimate sound in a big concert setting. Tell me how I'm wrong?
wildoats
If I remember correctly The Beatles started in 1962 but got really popular in 1964. Last concert was two years later and since then the best material was released in the studio only - no chance to listen to most of great records at the concert (starting with Sgt. Pepper). Rolling Stones, on the other hand, have been giving concerts for almost 50 years but they play only in large venues and not the local clubs.

Today, celebrity status becomes more important than music, with lip-syncing, synchronized dancing and effects. Most of the performers don't write their songs. I remember three girls, that won some amateur singing contest, when asked what they going to do with the money answered - to buy new dresses because their success depends on good looks (and not the singing lessons!). They were perhaps right.
Reality/talent search type shows and Disney channel apparently have the inside track on making new stars that appeal to the young.

KElly Clarkson was a good find.

But Taylor Hicks? Really? Really?

Miley Cyrus? Talent, but eh....

Selena Gomez? J'lo? Ahem.......

I liked Scotty last year on AI too but not a huge modern country fan his first album was way too predictable and cookie cutter for me.

Times change. Maybe the new Beatles will still pop up somewhere someday somehow. I think the pop culture world is a lot more diverse these days so any single act will have a challenge attaining the levels of popularity and success long term that the Beatles have. Those that reach the pinnacles of popularity these days are so generic though that I suspect they will have difficulty retaining popularity over time aka The BEatles.

Maybe the days of super mega pop stars that also break new ground continually during their lifetime are gone.

I find I like a lot of new music these days however there is such diversity that no single artist or artists retain a major % of my music playtime to any extent similar to the past for me where I tended to levitate more towards certain acts. Its all good.

As long as there is always something new and interesting to listen to, who cares who the artist is really?
The truth to say is that it's not that popular anymore. Indeed the rock consert season is very poor later years. ACDC used to bring large events to our towns so is Rolling Stones, Zeppelin... Who's there now? Is there anybody ...Out-there?