Rock has not seen as much attention lately, but popular musicians such as MGK and Barker continue to show an admiration for it.
Miley Cyrus has made an attempt at revitalizing rock music through her album Plastic Hearts, but will it be enough?
Gen Z isn’t fazed by the party lifestyle
Gen Zers are often described as independent, highly collaborative and social. They value diversity within communities as well as flexibility, relevance, authenticity and nonhierarchical leadership styles. While dismayed by issues like climate change, they take an optimistic and pragmatic approach when it comes to dealing with it. Gen Zers tend to be more politically progressive than their millennial parents with strong values of racial justice, sustainability and equality being at their core.
Gen Zers are living in an entirely different world than their millennial predecessors and this has had a dramatic effect on how they perceive and experience it. Generation Zers typically exhibit higher anxiety and less positivity compared to other generations due to global unrest, economic crisis and financial disruptions; further compounded by an ever-connected Internet presence which often feels like someone is following them through life online.
Due to this unique relationship between Gen Zers and alcohol and drugs, as evidenced by recent surveys by Voxburner. Only 27% of US Gen Zers and 17% from UK Gen Zers plan to drink or take drugs at their next festival – possibly due to health-conscious attitudes, advocacy for mental health awareness or fear for safety (as shown by lockdowns at Brixton Academy and Astroworld), Gen Z is less inclined than previous generations to imbibe at festivals.
They’re more interested in experiences and are willing to pay more for these than older generations, particularly when related to music and art/culture in their local community. This trend can be seen with virtual reality experiences being popular and an increase in ‘festivals with a purpose’ events where proceeds go toward supporting an important cause.
Gen Zers are increasingly concerned with the environmental sustainability of events they attend, unlike older generations who were more inclined to avoid environmental issues entirely. Instead, Gen Zers tend to seek out sustainable options and are willing to pay extra for them; they expect brands they support to be environmentally-conscious – those that aren’t can often turn them off completely.
Social media has softened the edge
Gen Z’ers have always loved rock music; from shredding electric guitar to metal. However, for years rock has fallen out of favor as new electronic instruments, declining traditional recording methods and social media influence erode its standing in popular music culture.
There are indicators that rock may be making a comeback. While it might not experience the same explosion as hip-hop and EDM, but fans seem to be rediscovering its charms.
Rock music has always been about rejection; its rebellious style challenged what was considered acceptable. Today, young people are seeking relief from hearing songs that give false promises of an improved tomorrow; instead they want something that makes them feel the pain in their lives and gives them something tangible to feel the sting of rejection once again; rock music provides this outlet perfectly.
Miley Cyrus channeled classic 1970s and 1980s rock on her latest album, Plastic Hearts; Billie Eilish released her sophomore record Happier Than Ever with an epic, full-band rock breakdown; while numerous indie rock bands released energetic music this year challenging stereotypes regarding women and minorities.
Notable among these acts is their choice to release physical records as opposed to streaming their songs online, providing fans with the chance to connect more intimately and build stronger relationships. Furthermore, physical records tend to outlive digital downloads as keepsakes; so this way fans can treasure these for years to come!
So while rock music may take some time to return to prominence, signs are showing that its star is set on being restored as one of the most beloved genres within music industry. Thanks to a renewed popularity of hardcore punk, Gen Z rebelliousness and growing movements against digital culture – rock could be back before long!
Gen Z doesn’t care about rejection
Rock music has long been a part of pop and hip hop cultures, yet in its most recent iteration it surpassed them as the most popular genre on Spotify!
Many older generations have long lamented the demise of rock music. Yet when one examines today’s music scene more closely, things look quite different: hip hop and rap artists have taken over much of the scene while bands like Motley Crue still have room to make a comeback; young people today don’t care as much for party lifestyle rock stars once led; rather they prefer seeing younger artists sing about lust and excess.
Gen Z is also living through considerable instability and unpredictability, according to recent research, with economic pressure, global unrest, environmental concerns, and environmental worries all present in their daily lives. For this reason they turn to rock music for inspiration.
As a result, this year we have witnessed an explosion of rock bands and singer-songwriters that don’t shy away from loud or unapologetic lyrics, including Maneskin from Italy who made it all the way to Eurovision’s finals with “Like I Used To.” While they didn’t win it this time around, their success surely shows that rock can once more be cool!
Indie rock bands are another great example, producing some of the most aggressive music available, such as Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age as well as up-and-coming acts like Fiona Apple and Phoebe Bridgers. Furthermore, Americana musicians have demonstrated their links with rock music through songs like Yola’s “Good Times Bad Times” and Brandi Carlile’s “Rise Up.”
As a result of all these factors, it appears as though rock music may be on its way back. While pop and hip hop may remain more prominent forms of entertainment, nothing stands in its way as becoming an influential genre once more.
Gen Z doesn’t want to listen to the same music as their parents
Gen Zers are more self-centered than older generations, living a large portion of their lives online or within virtual games and metaverses. Their unique identities are formed from this experience, seeking social validation for everything they do both offline and online – which makes selling them songs about lust and excess that sound exactly like those from their parents’ generation more challenging than before.
Gen Z isn’t completely indifferent to music of all genres and eras – they spend four or more hours per day listening to it! And two-thirds say they’ve discovered songs released over 10 years ago – great news for rock bands hoping to relaunch themselves!
Gen Z also appreciates the lyrics of older music, particularly its classics with strong messages about personal growth and self-improvement that appeal more than lyrics that tell them to ignore their problems in order to have a brighter future.
As evidenced by the rise of genres like rap and grime, Gen Z loves political commentary. This is particularly pertinent given that they grew up during an age of global instability and turmoil, and have experienced economic difficulties like rising housing, gas, and food costs that make music that addresses their concerns more appealing than ever.
There is good news for Gen Z-friendly rock artists releasing great music today: The Struts and Greta Van Fleet are two such examples, though there are many others as well. There have been an increasing number of new rock bands trying to gain attention, while some have become famous. But for them to survive and thrive they need wider exposure – which social media can provide through tools like TikTok which help connect them with those who might otherwise not hear about them or recognize them.