The sad, unwarranted decline of rock music on FM radio

capthowdy1027 · December 2011

Of The Aggie wrote:

I guess I can admit that I really don't discover new music that much. I'm sort of content to listen to the stuff on my ipod and get new releases from those artists I've known and loved for years. But when I do find new stuff it's primarily from word of mouth of friends or on this forum.

I'm the same exact way. It's not very often that I actually add a new artist to my iPod.

Over the years I can admit that I have become very closed minded to listening to new music. For almost the last year all I had in my car was a radio so that was my only option. Here in Cincinnati I think we actually have 3 rock stations. One that is a new and old station, one that is more newer stuff, and one classic rock station. I'll admit that anytime I'm listening to a song that I actually like and that ends then the station will say something about "new rock now" I'll change the station over to something else and try to find something I'm familiar with and already like. Back in the 90's I would actually get excited when it was time for them to play something new.

But radio is just garbage now. The same songs, over and over with waaaaay too many damn commercials. It's just not to enjoyable listening experience for me at all anymore. But, now I got a new car a couple months ago with an iPod jack so I haven't listened to the radio at all since I got it.

DriftingByTheStorm · December 2011

PKTrekGirl wrote:

How do some of you guys who listen exclusively to your iPods 'discover' new bands, for the most part?

i gave up trying to broaden my musical horizons a few years ago when i sort of just stopped caring ... but before that (circa 2005-7) ... if i wanted to "discover" new music, i went over to amazon and started reading "lists" ...
it is a GREAT way to find new music. Why? Cuz you don't have to listen to SHIT, if you don't want to ... you can READ concise reviews of WHY you MIGHT want to listen to it.

I found out about bands like The Hold Steady when they were still "uknown" and playing bars, Sparklehorse, and even Silversun Pickups before they hit the radio ... just by spending about 10 minutes every couple of days browsing lists on Amazon.

Not endorsing any of those bands .... just saying ... you can truly find "new" stuff just by checking out those lists ... cuz they are compiled by record store dorks and indie freaks.

PKTrekGirl · December 2011

^ Thanks much for the YouTube link. I enjoyed that. Quirky, but rockin'! I liked it! I had heard of those guys, but hadn't had time to look them up properly. Great pick - right up my alley. I will check them out some more!

And good idea bout Amazon, too. I spend a fair amount of time on there - any music that I purchase, I usually purchase there since there is not much of a selection where I live (Best Buy is pretty much my only real option, besides places like Target). I will pay closer attention to the lists!

mookeywrench · December 2011

PKTrekGirl wrote:

How do some of you guys who listen exclusively to your iPods 'discover' new bands, for the most part?

I listen to KEXP, or go to shows and check out opening bands, or go to record stores and talk with the clerks, or read critics reviews, or album liner notes when bands thank other bands.

eeriepadave · March 2018

Indifference71 said:

RoccoT.....312 wrote:

the reason i posted this is because we the people can have a voice to change the things that we want, weather it is a big or little thing in our lives so help get a alternative rock station back on the air!!!
Q101 will be on the AIR in Chicago for ONE NIGHT ONLY. THIS Saturday Night at 9pm cst James Van Osdol will be on 97.9fm the loop and loop.com, playing Q101 music, and saluting the greatest Alternative Station in the nation, Q101. If you want to be heard and let the suits know Q101 deserves to be back on the airwaves again TEXT everyone you know, post on your wall and tell them to listen tomorrow night at 9pm cst. Do you have an Arbitron People Meter? Make sure you wear it and listen. If you move the needle, it will get noticed. This is something 97.9 the loop is doing on their own, without our input or permission. BUT, it's a testimant to YOU and your commitment to Q101. Never before has a Chicago heritage rock station like 97.9 the loop aired programming ABOUT another radio station. This is a test. Does Chicago want Q101, or Thin Lizzy. Be heard. TWEET. FACEBOOK. TEXT. Forward this to everyone you know and ask them to: Join the Q101 Club Follow Q101 on Twitter Become a Q101 Fan on Facebook GO TO Q101.com

The Loop has been playing 90s music all weekend....it has been great.

That article by Electra is great....she was always my favorite Q101 DJ

RIP The Loop in Chicago

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wlup-sold-emf-christian-20180306-story.html

Last three songs they played were:

Motley Crue- Shout at the Devil
Iron Maiden- Number of the Beast
AC/DC- Highway to hell

josevolution · March 2018

lol Rock is dead it’s not the stations that are killing Rock the fact is there are no good Rock bands on the up&coming !!!

brianlux · March 2018

josevolution said:

lol Rock is dead it’s not the stations that are killing Rock the fact is there are no good Rock bands on the up&coming !!!

There is some good stuff being made out there but not like there once was. I've read a number of times that this is due in part to the fact that labels don't give bands a chance to develop the way they used to do. Now days its, "Give us a hit song and then get out, you're done".

But besides that, even when something good is released these days, are you going to hear it on FM radio? How many songs from Dinosaur Jr's excellent Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not from last year got any radio play? Not much, if any. Or even going back as far as Yield and No Code- how often did any of that great stuff get air play?

I think good rock radio is a thing of the past.

rgambs · March 2018

Rock radio is dead because they have been playing the same 3 ACDC, Def Leopard, and Van Hagar songs 10 times a day for 30 years.

rgambs · March 2018

eeriepadave said:

Indifference71 said:

RoccoT.....312 wrote:

the reason i posted this is because we the people can have a voice to change the things that we want, weather it is a big or little thing in our lives so help get a alternative rock station back on the air!!!
Q101 will be on the AIR in Chicago for ONE NIGHT ONLY. THIS Saturday Night at 9pm cst James Van Osdol will be on 97.9fm the loop and loop.com, playing Q101 music, and saluting the greatest Alternative Station in the nation, Q101. If you want to be heard and let the suits know Q101 deserves to be back on the airwaves again TEXT everyone you know, post on your wall and tell them to listen tomorrow night at 9pm cst. Do you have an Arbitron People Meter? Make sure you wear it and listen. If you move the needle, it will get noticed. This is something 97.9 the loop is doing on their own, without our input or permission. BUT, it's a testimant to YOU and your commitment to Q101. Never before has a Chicago heritage rock station like 97.9 the loop aired programming ABOUT another radio station. This is a test. Does Chicago want Q101, or Thin Lizzy. Be heard. TWEET. FACEBOOK. TEXT. Forward this to everyone you know and ask them to: Join the Q101 Club Follow Q101 on Twitter Become a Q101 Fan on Facebook GO TO Q101.com

The Loop has been playing 90s music all weekend....it has been great.

That article by Electra is great....she was always my favorite Q101 DJ

RIP The Loop in Chicago

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wlup-sold-emf-christian-20180306-story.html

Last three songs they played were:

Motley Crue- Shout at the Devil
Iron Maiden- Number of the Beast
AC/DC- Highway to hell

If they had played those songs less they wouldn't be dead lol. A fitting end, I guess.

Tim Simmons · March 2018

Fuck the Loop.

Who even listens to radio anymore? Between podcasts and streaming, whats the point? Do people love local commercials?

chitty · March 2018

At work it's radio and I listen to the local "rock" radio station. They have a great morning show, but wow the last years it has gone form a rock radio station to pop rock at best. Today they were promoting the Jay Z and Beyonce tour...crazy

No Coder · March 2018

rgambs said:

Rock radio is dead because they have been playing the same 3 ACDC, Def Leopard, and Van Hagar songs 10 times a day for 30 years.

Couldn't agree more. The main mainstream rock station in Australia is Triple M and they get by on a steady diet of AC/DC, GnR, Queen, a few great 80's Oz bands and not much else. Then when they do play a new song, they smash it for 3-4 months. They do play PJ, Foos and Nirvana, but it ALWAYS the same songs. Play some new shit!!! I've started listening to Triple J, which is an alternative station aimed at the 15-25 yr bracket and whilst some of the music is terrible, 90% of what they play is brand new and they have no ads (government funded)

reesdog · March 2018

Here in New Zealand we have similar issues with the rock radio stations, one is literally called ‘The Rock’, it’s very repetitive and after about 2 hours you’re sick of it. The Hauraki station is slightly better, funny dj’s loads of good banter, a broader music pallet, from for example, The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers to Tool, Soundgarden and Oasis with some older hip-hop, but not very much. Very repetitive too, so you tire of that easily, plus all the stupid ads. I’ve recently brought a ‘Digital Gateway’ amp which streams internet radio stations and it’s really great. You can choose from a huge range of stations worldwide, whichever genre or sub-genre you like, rock, punk, electronic, grunge, dance, rap, certain decades, latin, alternative, classical, whatever floats your boat. A constant of quality new music and zero ads or dickheads talking over everything. This is where decent radio is at...

The sad, unwarranted decline of rock music on FM radio

Comments

Categories