There are no more bands (2024) | Hacker News Reader

There are no more bands (2024)

theneedledrop.com

28 pointskleiba12 comments

Been in a band of one kind of another for over 30 years at this point. Bands are a pain in the ass. I also am not happy unless I’m in one. There’s something magical that happens when the different tastes and personalities mix. It’s thrilling to be surprised and delighted by your own collective creation. Also the visceral feeling of playing live with a group is something that I can’t describe. Its something that can’t be fully replaced with technology IMO.

As a public face, sure. But behind Drake, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, and the rest are a "band" of writers, talented producer musicians, and marketers in which their final music product isn't at the top of the charts without. Those "band" members just don't have public personas anymore.

I'd argue that there's a big difference between having a group of people involved in producing a song and a band.

> The one anomaly bucking that trend are all of these K-pop groups that are very popular and viral right now.

I’d argue, that those aren’t bands in the same intuitive sense as The Beatles or Radiohead, but manufactured brands owned by producers, who hire the “band members” as employees. This concept has been around the music business for a long time. From The Monkeys to Milli Vanilli to Spice Girls and many more.

Also: Many so called bands were effectively solo artists operating under a brand name. Sometimes with very long term employees (band members) sometimes only for a limited run of projects (albums and/or tours). From ELO to NIN and countless others.

And then there is “Yes”.

I like the idea of being in a band but the reality of getting 4-5 individuals on the same page in terms of instruments (too many guitarists, not enough bassists), music choice (oh you like shoegaze? I’m more into grunge…), personalities (fucking vocalists), schedules, space (more accurately a drummer with a basement) and commitment levels (aka good luck finding a drummer (that remember has practice space) that also goddamn practices to a goddamn metronome) was enough of a pain in the ass in HS with seemingly infinite amount of time let alone in adulthood. Much easier to collaborate with a drum machine.

Amyl and the Sniffers are tearing it up touring globally, Sleaford Mods are filling venues and mocking Blog Maggots, King Stingray are doing more tours than might be expected for a band from a remote island (as are Wet Leg but their island ain't quite as remote).

This seems to be a complaint about "mainstream" and charts .. which are waters I don't paddle in.

> This seems to be a complaint about "mainstream" and charts

Not only "seems", the article is very explicitly exactly about that. Of course there are still people who make music together as a group, playing actual instruments. The article, however, points out that while bands used to be a staple in charts (and hence in the public perception), all that gets airplay these days is individual artists with music not made by a group of like-minded dudes or girls, but a producer with his/her laptop.

> while bands used to be a staple in charts

... charts used to be very different, ostensibly tied to record sales, but frequently cooked in many ways.

"Charts" today are still an industry PR fantasy exercise, unvetted by independant third party auditors, but they are unlike the charts of yesteryear that pre smart phone types (and older) grew up with. (Same BS, different algorithm and new thumbs on the scale).

> all that gets airplay

You've lost me . . . what is "airplay" (today).

Does featuring on a national radio station not count as "airplay" ?

eg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr3iI8gg2fo

Like A Version: https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/like-a-version

or: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUh4W61bt_K6tflBpjWgn...

Live KEXP: https://www.kexp.org/visit/in-studio/

It could boil down to point of view; when I go I out I see live bands, where I live a part time touring band (and fencing contractors) live directly across the road from me, when I listen to the radio I hear bands, when I look to current radio promotions I see bands.

Be glad a human is still involved. Things can only get worse, as the song goes.

is that where software teams are going too?

This is why boomers and Xers are going to have to get used to the idea a lot more Kendrick Lamar style halftime shows. What even is the last mega mega band to make a dent in the zeitgeist? Coldplay? The Strokes? The Killers? Basically there are no bands after the iPod era aside from indie sleaze and pop-country. 2017 is the hard limit/tipping point where hip hop and electronic music began to permanently outsell rock and roll.

> What even is the last mega mega band to make a dent in the zeitgeist?

That's pretty much the point of the article. As far as mainstream music is concerned, bands have been replaced by individual artists, producers, and computers.

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