Jason Aldean sold out Wrigley the night after and nobody is making an argument that he is even the biggest country act, b/c he's not selling out stadiums night in and night out.
.
Jason Aldean didn't sell out Wrigley, and he had Kelly Clarkson to help sell tickets, too. <at least, it wasn't a sellout going into the week of the show.> Certainly didn't sell out in 5 minutes or whatever.
Sorry to say, but One Direction is probably the biggest band in the world right now. :(
The Rolling Stones and U2 and Springsteen (he's still with the Easy Street Band, right?) after that. After that there are many eligible bands who could be up there, and Pearl Jam is among them.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
It used to bother me that Pearl Jam lost a lot of their popularity. Had they not shunned publiciity, had they not warred with Ticketmaster and lost (thereby touring more when they were at their peak of success), they would absolutely be one of the top 5 bands in the world in terms of gross ticket and album sales, etc.
I would sit around and think about how all of these people are missing out on this great band, and it got to me a little. But as I've matured slightly, I've realized that the important thing is that I myself have not missed it. Everybody else? Fuck em.
It used to bother me that Pearl Jam lost a lot of their popularity. Had they not shunned publiciity, had they not warred with Ticketmaster and lost (thereby touring more when they were at their peak of success), they would absolutely be one of the top 5 bands in the world in terms of gross ticket and album sales, etc.
I would sit around and think about how all of these people are missing out on this great band, and it got to me a little. But as I've matured slightly, I've realized that the important thing is that I myself have not missed it. Everybody else? Fuck em.
They worked pretty hard to lessen their popularity, so I'm happy for them. They hated being at the peak of their success. That's why they did things the way they did. But still, they're a relatively massive band around the world. It's not like they're flying under the radar or anything. They have a huge fan base.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
0
curmudgeoness
Brigadoon, foodie capital Posts: 4,122
I think U2 "wins" this competition pretty easily. They still sell lots of records, in the U.S. and around the world. (Unlike, say, the Stones.) They sell out stadiums everywhere. (Unlike, say, Bruce, who occasionally plays stadiums, but mostly plays arenas.) They still make great music. (Unlike, for the most part, the Stones.)
I think that, based on the links Hollis Brown posted earlier, it's pretty easy to argue that U2 wins this contest.
The Rolling Stones, I really don't get. Their 60s and 70s output was amazing, but since Some Girls, eh, I don't get it. I really don't.
All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.
I think U2 "wins" this competition pretty easily. They still sell lots of records, in the U.S. and around the world. (Unlike, say, the Stones.) They sell out stadiums everywhere. (Unlike, say, Bruce, who occasionally plays stadiums, but mostly plays arenas.) They still make great music. (Unlike, for the most part, the Stones.)
I think that, based on the links Hollis Brown posted earlier, it's pretty easy to argue that U2 wins this contest.
The Rolling Stones, I really don't get. Their 60s and 70s output was amazing, but since Some Girls, eh, I don't get it. I really don't.
Can't stand The Rolling Stones music. There are maybe 3 songs that I kind of enjoy and that's it. I don't get the appeal, but hey, some people love them, so good for them.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
They worked pretty hard to lessen their popularity, so I'm happy for them. They hated being at the peak of their success. That's why they did things the way they did. But still, they're a relatively massive band around the world. It's not like they're flying under the radar or anything. They have a huge fan base.
Pretty much this. PJ has intentionally settled themselves to more of a niche market, as Digital Twilight put out. Touring less in the recent years is also kind of their own choice.
That said, the Backspacer album sounds more like a band looking for some attention from mainstream. I think the "They are all happy, grown-up people with kids now" explanation is too naive for the release of a pop-sounding album.
If this sounds continues in Lightning Bolt, I'd assume that they are still looking to enlarge their fanbase.
What's your part, who you are?
2012: Arras, Berlin 1-2
2013: Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires
2014: Milano, Trieste, Vienna, Berlin
2016: NY MSG 1
They worked pretty hard to lessen their popularity, so I'm happy for them. They hated being at the peak of their success. That's why they did things the way they did. But still, they're a relatively massive band around the world. It's not like they're flying under the radar or anything. They have a huge fan base.
Pretty much this. PJ has intentionally settled themselves to more of a niche market, as Digital Twilight put out. Touring less in the recent years is also kind of their own choice.
That said, the Backspacer album sounds more like a band looking for some attention from mainstream. I think the "They are all happy, grown-up people with kids now" explanation is too naive for the release of a pop-sounding album.
If this sounds continues in Lightning Bolt, I'd assume that they are still looking to enlarge their fanbase.
I don't think they're looking for what they had when they almost broke up again, but you're right, I think they were/are? looking to grow the fanbase a bit after they allowed themselves to fall off... And it seems to be working. PJ is a much hotter ticket now than it was even a few years ago. And just look at how they handled this tour announcement and Wrigley and the new album. These countdowns, and super interesting marketing schemes... They are definitely doing what they can to bring attention to themselves. However, I don't think they are intentionally compromising their art to do it.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Jason Aldean sold out Wrigley the night after and nobody is making an argument that he is even the biggest country act, b/c he's not selling out stadiums night in and night out.
.
Jason Aldean didn't sell out Wrigley, and he had Kelly Clarkson to help sell tickets, too. <at least, it wasn't a sellout going into the week of the show.> Certainly didn't sell out in 5 minutes or whatever.
It was a sellout according to many news sources. True he had Kelly Clarkson to help, but everybody knows the headliner is responsible for the vast majority of tickets sales. My point was more that the yearly concerts at Wrigley are a big event and them selling out isn't indicative of a band's ability to sellout stadiums for a whole tour.
Jason Aldean sold out Wrigley the night after and nobody is making an argument that he is even the biggest country act, b/c he's not selling out stadiums night in and night out.
.
Jason Aldean didn't sell out Wrigley, and he had Kelly Clarkson to help sell tickets, too. <at least, it wasn't a sellout going into the week of the show.> Certainly didn't sell out in 5 minutes or whatever.
It was a sellout according to many news sources. True he had Kelly Clarkson to help, but everybody knows the headliner is responsible for the vast majority of tickets sales. My point was more that the yearly concerts at Wrigley are a big event and them selling out isn't indicative of a band's ability to sellout stadiums for a whole tour.
That's true..... Check out the tour page. Most shows are not sold out yet, and they are only arenas: http://pearljam.com/tour
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
They are definitely doing what they can to bring attention to themselves. However, I don't think they are intentionally compromising their art to do it.
I also dont claim Backspacer or the new songs are a compromise to their art. I am very fond of the recent stuff.
What's your part, who you are?
2012: Arras, Berlin 1-2
2013: Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires
2014: Milano, Trieste, Vienna, Berlin
2016: NY MSG 1
They are definitely doing what they can to bring attention to themselves. However, I don't think they are intentionally compromising their art to do it.
I also dont claim Backspacer or the new songs are a compromise to their art. I am very fond of the recent stuff.
I'm glad you like it... But you did say that they were intentionally making their music more mainstream for the purpose of marketing and that Backspacer sounded like a band seeking attention, which would be compromising their art whether you like that music or not. I don't agree that that was their motivation in making Backspacer sound the way it did.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
two morumbi stadium is like 140 k, festival mas grande 60k, lollapalooza chile 40k
250 k not bad for an act without any explosion, elevators and makeup, only two letters at the back and five mid age guys
Santiago I 2005
Santiago II 2005
West Palm Beach 2008
Alpine Valley PJ20 I 2011
Alpine Valley PJ 20 II 2011
Santiago 2011
Lima 2011
Buenos Aires 2013
Brooklyn I 2013
Brooklyn II 2013
Santiago 2015
Bogota 2015
Ft Lauderdale 2016
Miami 2016 Rio de Janeiro 2018 Boston 2 2018
It's fair to say that Pearl Jam intentionally stepped back from its fame when it was at its peak, but it is much harder to claim that, but for stepping back, Pearl Jam would still be as popular today, or nearly as popular today, as it was in 1994. People's tastes change. The landscape of popular music has changed.
With respect to those who have argued here that "Backspacer" was calculated to appeal to a broader audience, if that was the band's intention, they did a terrible job of executing the "plan." First, they decided to give an exclusive to a single large retailer, meaning that major music retailers including Wal-Mart and Best Buy (this was still true of Best Buy in 2009) were completely cut out of the equation. (And for those of you who think a record is a collection of MP3s, the majority of sales of "Backspacer" were of physical CDs, so retail matters.) Second, they did virtually nothing to push the single that could have been their first cross-format hit in over a decade, "Just Breathe," to greater sales and airplay. (I know many people here are not crazy about "Just Breathe," but it was the only song since "Last Kiss" that got played at modern rock radio, Triple A, adult contemporary and CHR (i.e., top 40).) A little promotion could have pushed that song into the top 10 on the pop chart, which would have translated to another 100,000 or 200,000 in album sales, but they pretty much let that single release die on the vine, even diluting it by making it a double A-side with "Got Some." These were not the actions of a band seeking to reach mainstream audiences and maximize sales.
Finally, if Pearl Jam were really concerned about growing its audience, it wouldn't slow its creative output to a trickle. Since 2002, Pearl Jam has released exactly two albums of new studio material. "Lightning Bolt" will make it three in 11 years. You can't disappear from radio and the marketplace for that length of time and expect to come back to the same audience. (Not that it can't or hasn't been done, but it's tough.) The market is crowded. People have a lot of options. When four years go by between records, a lot of people start to forget that they liked you. As I mentioned earlier, "Mind Your Manners" hasn't even cracked the playlist at KROQ in Los Angeles, an influential station with a very large audience. That station has played three different Foo Fighters songs and three different Nirvana songs today, all "oldies," and they can't be bothered to play a rocking new PJ song. Why? Because their market research tells them people aren't interested, I'm sorry to say.
I would say when The Suburbs came out they were on top of everything.
-They closed almost every festival you could think of.
-The album debuted at #1
- They closed the Grammy's
- They won Album of the year
- They are universally critically acclaimed, and have quite a large following.
I think at that time you could make a really good argument that they were the biggest band on earth. It might not have been a five year span, even though I think the Grammy's suck closing that show, and winning album of the year is a pretty big step in being considered the biggest band on the planet at the time.
I would say that The Strokes could make that claim when Is This It first hit, and KOL during Only By the Night. They may not still be as big of a deal, but at that time both of the bands completely blew up.
I would agree your points above suggest they are more relevant than PJ these days, but still not bigger. AF play arenas in certain markets, but certainly couldn't sell out four nights in Philly, or probably any city for that matter.
Biggest bands, as far as radio, album sales, concerts, and still going would have to be Foo Fighters, Green Day, Coldplay, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers. There's probably others but those immediately come to mind.
Biggest bands of all time would be Zeppelin, Beattles, Floyd.
Arcade Fire is an amazing band and they put on a HELL of a show. One my top 10 greatest concert memories was when I saw them perform and they did "Wake Up"....it was insanely awesome. But they aren't nearly "big" enough to be considered the biggest band on the planet.
Its hard to say...as far as ticket sales I would say the Rolling Stones could probably command the biggest crowd of any active band. I would assume Paul McCartney and Bruce would also sell a fuckload of tickets.
U2 commands a huge crowd, so does Radiohead. I think Pearl Jam is in the conversation but PJ is more of a "cult" and has more of a select devoted crowd. Its a big size crowd but they don't really have the mass appeal.
Its hard to say right now. There isn't a huge, dominating musical act.
Cincinnati 06'
Lollapalooza 07'
Bonnaroo 08'
Columbus 10'
Noblesville 10'
Alpine Valley 11'
Alpine Valley 11'
Music Midtown 12'
Wrigley Field 13'
Cincinnati 14'
Lexington 16'
0
curmudgeoness
Brigadoon, foodie capital Posts: 4,122
As I mentioned earlier, "Mind Your Manners" hasn't even cracked the playlist at KROQ in Los Angeles, an influential station with a very large audience. That station has played three different Foo Fighters songs and three different Nirvana songs today, all "oldies," and they can't be bothered to play a rocking new PJ song. Why? Because their market research tells them people aren't interested, I'm sorry to say.
But is FM 94.9 playing it?? Based on their Facebook page, I'd guess, yes they are. And that's the only station that really matters.
All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.
As I mentioned earlier, "Mind Your Manners" hasn't even cracked the playlist at KROQ in Los Angeles, an influential station with a very large audience. That station has played three different Foo Fighters songs and three different Nirvana songs today, all "oldies," and they can't be bothered to play a rocking new PJ song. Why? Because their market research tells them people aren't interested, I'm sorry to say.
But is FM 94.9 playing it?? Based on their Facebook page, I'd guess, yes they are. And that's the only station that really matters.
It looks like their overnight DJ must like it. They played it twice within two hours during the overnight last night, but it hasn't been played since 3:18 a.m. according to the playlist on their website.
The Rolling Stones hold the throne until . . . . . . you know.
My local station DC 101 plays a ton of shite, so I'm not too familiar with some of the "buzzier" bands. As a matter of fact, DC 101 has been promoting the new PJ single by playing snippets of the song and saying, "check it out on the website". That's criminal. It just seems that there's a kind of keyboard/ sythn fad happening; not a fan.
Firstly I really like Arcade Fire. They are a great band, great albums and brilliant live. I would say that they are nowhere near one of the biggest bands on Earth however (yet). They have received a lot of critical acclaim and awards (rightly so), are very successful and a big band. Awards & critical acclaim alone do not make you the biggest band. They are at best however, on a worldwide scale, an arena band, not a stadium band. (Hell, I would LOVE to be in a band big enough to sell out arenas around the world). Yes, they will headline nights at festivals around the world but they wouldn't (as yet) be able to do a stadium tour. This day may come, but I doubt it.
To be considered the biggest band on Earth I think you really need to look into worldwide CD sales, downloads etc. and the tours that the band can do. I would say that (from the bands still out there playing) U2, Coldplay, Rolling Stones (their back catalogue alone probably shifts more than an AF album or a PJ album for that matter), Bruce, Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, Muse, RHCP & Green Day to name a few are "bigger" than Arcade Fire. Better? No (especially not KOL) but bigger yes. Then we have to look at sustaining that size over a period of time and we are really only left with a handful of truly big bands led by U2 & the Stones.
Well the Arcade Fire -vs- Pearl Jam debate was put to rest, as far as Australia is concerned. Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire are both part of that festival series but Pearl Jam is the HEADLINER and not A.F..... so I think it's fair to say PJ > AF ... atleast in Australia
R and R Station - Mar 26, 1992 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Aug 29, 1992 ** Summerfest Milw - Jul 08, 1995 ** Summerfest Milw - Jul 09, 1995 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 26, 1998 ** ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre (E.V. at Tibetan Freedom Concert) - Jun 13, 1999 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Oct 08, 2000 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 21, 2003 ** United Center - May 16, 2006 ** Summerfest - Jun 30, 2006 ** Riverside Theatre Milw (Eddie Solo Tour) - 2008 ** United Center - Aug 23, 2009 ** The Chicago Theatre (Eddie Solo Tour) - Jun 29, 2011 ** Orpheum Theatre MN (Eddie Solo Tour) - July 2, 2011 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 03, 2011 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 04, 2011
Well the Arcade Fire -vs- Pearl Jam debate was put to rest, as far as Australia is concerned. Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire are both part of that festival series but Pearl Jam is the HEADLINER and not A.F..... so I think it's fair to say PJ > AF ... atleast in Australia
Right but AF was also second band listed in front of Blur and Snoop Dogg. Those are two BIG 90's acts they're headlining over.
I think it shows they are a top 5 modern music act in terms of name value. WIth Muse Black Keys Jack White etc.
10/31/2000 (****)
6/7/2003 (***1/2)
7/9/2006 (****1/2)
7/13/2006 (**** )
4/10/2008 EV Solo (****1/2)
6/25/2008 MSG II (*****)
10/1/2009 LA II (****)
10/6/2009 LA III (***** Cornell!!!)
Comments
Jason Aldean didn't sell out Wrigley, and he had Kelly Clarkson to help sell tickets, too. <at least, it wasn't a sellout going into the week of the show.> Certainly didn't sell out in 5 minutes or whatever.
The Rolling Stones and U2 and Springsteen (he's still with the Easy Street Band, right?) after that. After that there are many eligible bands who could be up there, and Pearl Jam is among them.
I would sit around and think about how all of these people are missing out on this great band, and it got to me a little. But as I've matured slightly, I've realized that the important thing is that I myself have not missed it. Everybody else? Fuck em.
I think that, based on the links Hollis Brown posted earlier, it's pretty easy to argue that U2 wins this contest.
The Rolling Stones, I really don't get. Their 60s and 70s output was amazing, but since Some Girls, eh, I don't get it. I really don't.
Pretty much this. PJ has intentionally settled themselves to more of a niche market, as Digital Twilight put out. Touring less in the recent years is also kind of their own choice.
That said, the Backspacer album sounds more like a band looking for some attention from mainstream. I think the "They are all happy, grown-up people with kids now" explanation is too naive for the release of a pop-sounding album.
If this sounds continues in Lightning Bolt, I'd assume that they are still looking to enlarge their fanbase.
2012: Arras, Berlin 1-2
2013: Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires
2014: Milano, Trieste, Vienna, Berlin
2016: NY MSG 1
That reminds me that Pearl Jam wasn't even one of the biggest Grunge/Seattle bands, Tad and Screaming Trees were way bigger.
It was a sellout according to many news sources. True he had Kelly Clarkson to help, but everybody knows the headliner is responsible for the vast majority of tickets sales. My point was more that the yearly concerts at Wrigley are a big event and them selling out isn't indicative of a band's ability to sellout stadiums for a whole tour.
I also dont claim Backspacer or the new songs are a compromise to their art. I am very fond of the recent stuff.
2012: Arras, Berlin 1-2
2013: Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires
2014: Milano, Trieste, Vienna, Berlin
2016: NY MSG 1
Not where I'm from.
250 k not bad for an act without any explosion, elevators and makeup, only two letters at the back and five mid age guys
Santiago II 2005
West Palm Beach 2008
Alpine Valley PJ20 I 2011
Alpine Valley PJ 20 II 2011
Santiago 2011
Lima 2011
Buenos Aires 2013
Brooklyn I 2013
Brooklyn II 2013
Santiago 2015
Bogota 2015
Ft Lauderdale 2016
Miami 2016
Rio de Janeiro 2018
Boston 2 2018
With respect to those who have argued here that "Backspacer" was calculated to appeal to a broader audience, if that was the band's intention, they did a terrible job of executing the "plan." First, they decided to give an exclusive to a single large retailer, meaning that major music retailers including Wal-Mart and Best Buy (this was still true of Best Buy in 2009) were completely cut out of the equation. (And for those of you who think a record is a collection of MP3s, the majority of sales of "Backspacer" were of physical CDs, so retail matters.) Second, they did virtually nothing to push the single that could have been their first cross-format hit in over a decade, "Just Breathe," to greater sales and airplay. (I know many people here are not crazy about "Just Breathe," but it was the only song since "Last Kiss" that got played at modern rock radio, Triple A, adult contemporary and CHR (i.e., top 40).) A little promotion could have pushed that song into the top 10 on the pop chart, which would have translated to another 100,000 or 200,000 in album sales, but they pretty much let that single release die on the vine, even diluting it by making it a double A-side with "Got Some." These were not the actions of a band seeking to reach mainstream audiences and maximize sales.
Finally, if Pearl Jam were really concerned about growing its audience, it wouldn't slow its creative output to a trickle. Since 2002, Pearl Jam has released exactly two albums of new studio material. "Lightning Bolt" will make it three in 11 years. You can't disappear from radio and the marketplace for that length of time and expect to come back to the same audience. (Not that it can't or hasn't been done, but it's tough.) The market is crowded. People have a lot of options. When four years go by between records, a lot of people start to forget that they liked you. As I mentioned earlier, "Mind Your Manners" hasn't even cracked the playlist at KROQ in Los Angeles, an influential station with a very large audience. That station has played three different Foo Fighters songs and three different Nirvana songs today, all "oldies," and they can't be bothered to play a rocking new PJ song. Why? Because their market research tells them people aren't interested, I'm sorry to say.
I would agree your points above suggest they are more relevant than PJ these days, but still not bigger. AF play arenas in certain markets, but certainly couldn't sell out four nights in Philly, or probably any city for that matter.
Biggest bands, as far as radio, album sales, concerts, and still going would have to be Foo Fighters, Green Day, Coldplay, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers. There's probably others but those immediately come to mind.
Biggest bands of all time would be Zeppelin, Beattles, Floyd.
With such a strong view on a very creative and talented band I'd love to hear what you think is good?
Its hard to say...as far as ticket sales I would say the Rolling Stones could probably command the biggest crowd of any active band. I would assume Paul McCartney and Bruce would also sell a fuckload of tickets.
U2 commands a huge crowd, so does Radiohead. I think Pearl Jam is in the conversation but PJ is more of a "cult" and has more of a select devoted crowd. Its a big size crowd but they don't really have the mass appeal.
Its hard to say right now. There isn't a huge, dominating musical act.
Lollapalooza 07'
Bonnaroo 08'
Columbus 10'
Noblesville 10'
Alpine Valley 11'
Alpine Valley 11'
Music Midtown 12'
Wrigley Field 13'
Cincinnati 14'
Lexington 16'
But is FM 94.9 playing it?? Based on their Facebook page, I'd guess, yes they are. And that's the only station that really matters.
2000 - Noblesville * Cincinnati * Columbus
2003 - Lexington * East Troy * Noblesville* Columbus
2006 - Cincinnati
2008 - NYC night 1 * NYC night 2
2009 - EV Solo Nashville
2010 - Columbus * Noblesville * Cleveland
2011 - East Troy night 1 * East Troy night 2
2014 - Cincinnati
2016 - Greenville * Lexington
2022 - Louisville
2024 - Noblesville
It looks like their overnight DJ must like it. They played it twice within two hours during the overnight last night, but it hasn't been played since 3:18 a.m. according to the playlist on their website.
My local station DC 101 plays a ton of shite, so I'm not too familiar with some of the "buzzier" bands. As a matter of fact, DC 101 has been promoting the new PJ single by playing snippets of the song and saying, "check it out on the website". That's criminal. It just seems that there's a kind of keyboard/ sythn fad happening; not a fan.
To be considered the biggest band on Earth I think you really need to look into worldwide CD sales, downloads etc. and the tours that the band can do. I would say that (from the bands still out there playing) U2, Coldplay, Rolling Stones (their back catalogue alone probably shifts more than an AF album or a PJ album for that matter), Bruce, Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, Muse, RHCP & Green Day to name a few are "bigger" than Arcade Fire. Better? No (especially not KOL) but bigger yes. Then we have to look at sustaining that size over a period of time and we are really only left with a handful of truly big bands led by U2 & the Stones.
Right but AF was also second band listed in front of Blur and Snoop Dogg. Those are two BIG 90's acts they're headlining over.
I think it shows they are a top 5 modern music act in terms of name value. WIth Muse Black Keys Jack White etc.
6/7/2003 (***1/2)
7/9/2006 (****1/2)
7/13/2006 (**** )
4/10/2008 EV Solo (****1/2)
6/25/2008 MSG II (*****)
10/1/2009 LA II (****)
10/6/2009 LA III (***** Cornell!!!)