Hip-Hop/R&B Is The Dominant Genre In The U.S. For The First Time - Sensationalist Headlines

[QUOTE][t]https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/813535374/960x0.jpg?fit=scale[/t] While it is no longer surprising to state that streaming, in general, is altering the music business, certain kinds of music now have power like never before because of this new model. Nielsen Music recently released its annual mid-year report, which takes a look at how the music industry is doing halfway through the year and lists which songs and albums are performing the best. This time around, the report revealed some fairly unsurprising stats, including the fact that streaming is still exploding, Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” is the most popular track and Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. is the album that the American public simply can’t get enough of. All of those could have been predicted, but there is one standout piece of information embedded in the document that is somewhat shocking. For the first time since Nielsen started measuring music consumption in the United States, rock is no longer the top genre in terms of overall consumption. Instead, the combined genre of R&B and hip-hop has taken the crown, and while the two styles are fairly close to one another when it comes to percentages, the latter has pulled ahead, and it seems like it will continue to distance itself from the competition in the coming months and years.[/QUOTE] [URL="https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2017/07/17/hip-hoprb-has-now-become-the-dominant-genre-in-the-u-s-for-the-first-time/#4f3ce5845383"]Source[/URL]

feels like it were already 5 years ago.

feels like it were already like TEN years ago even

To speak to how they said "rock is no longer the top genre in terms of overall consumption" that's not surprising at all considering that finding good contemporary rock music is fucking difficult while classic rock and metal, which not everybody enjoys, have basically stayed dominant. Like it took me literal years to find a new post hardcore band that wasn't dead, which happened just this week. As much as I love rap and hip hop I would also like to see more people attempting to do novel things within other genres.

There's a bunch of novel and great rock bands out there, it's just that none of it is radio material. That's the stuff that really makes money and impacts the industry at large.

[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;52483106]There's a bunch of novel and great rock bands out there, it's just that none of it is radio material. That's the stuff that really makes money and impacts the industry at large.[/QUOTE] If you have good suggestions PM me! I can send my spotify acc as a prompt if you want. Just no tracks full of screaming and grunting pls.

or post it here for me too pls and ty <3

There's also the fact that dominant popular music is blending more and more into each other. We live in a pop music universe where Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar can 'seamlessly' (I don't agree but whatever) make a song together, where Drake's songs are often down-tempo electronic music, and a huge realm of hip-hop is built off fusing ANY range of sampled genres, electronic music. Basically drawing from everywhere at once, just as easily from salsa and Caribbean as from middle eastern music. It's no surprise that hip-hop has emerged on top because "hip-hop" these days is basically rap and lyricism over ANY kind of "beat." I think instrument given rock just doesn't have the same dynamism, and metal already experienced a height of mainstream prominence (as seen in 2005-2010 with the rise of metalcore, deathcore popularity) so unless hardcore music returns in full I don't think hip-hop/RnB are going anywhere.

[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;52483106]There's a bunch of novel and great rock bands out there, it's just that none of it is radio material. That's the stuff that really makes money and impacts the industry at large.[/QUOTE] Yep, there's been a lot of really cool rock/metal bands here and there in the underground scene, but it just hasn't been sticking in the mainstream for a good long while. Queens of the Stone Age (sort of), Swain, Swans, Vektor, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Algiers, etc,. Even more conscious rap albums like [I]4:44[/I] and [I]DAMN.[/I] have been getting great hits in the billboards. Gambino's R&B album, [I]Awaken, My Love![/I], is still in the top charts, even though it was released [I]last[/I] year. Honestly surprised that it took this long for the genres to surpass rock. Ever since the 2000's with the debut of Kanye and Drake, as well as the release of GRODT, I would've expected rap to be the most dominant music genre for a good amount of time.

[QUOTE=Omilinon;52483207]Yep, there's been a lot of really cool rock/metal bands here and there in the underground scene, but it just hasn't been sticking in the mainstream for a good long while. Queens of the Stone Age (sort of), Swain, Swans, Vektor, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Algiers, etc,. Even more conscious rap albums like [I]4:44[/I] and [I]DAMN.[/I] have been getting great hits in the billboards. Gambino's R&B album, [I]Awaken, My Love![/I], is still in the top charts, even though it was released [I]last[/I] year. Honestly surprised that it took this long for the genres to surpass rock. Ever since the 2000's with the debut of Kanye and Drake, as well as the release of GRODT, I would've expected rap to be the most dominant music genre for a good amount of time.[/QUOTE] Frankly, I think it's a good thing rock/metal are out of the limelight. Underground or on a local/regional scale is where they thrive best imo. I'll take the genius of overlooked bands over the blandness of pop rock/metal any day.

[QUOTE=luverofJ!93;52483423]Frankly, I think it's a good thing rock/metal are out of the limelight. Underground or on a local/regional scale is where they thrive best imo. I'll take the genius of overlooked bands over the blandness of pop rock/metal any day.[/QUOTE] I'd rather have something good blaring over the shop radios though.

[QUOTE=Shirt.;52483645]I'd rather have something good blaring over the shop radios though.[/QUOTE] If I had my way they'd be playing Grateful Dead 24/7 but you don't see me complaining. Don't worry so much about what's popular, it's never meant anything and never will.

Damn was the biggest album drop I've seen in my lifetime, in terms of impact on peers...

year in year out you see fantastic forward thinking hip hop records.. the other good stuff barely hits the charts.

[QUOTE=luverofJ!93;52483423]Frankly, I think it's a good thing rock/metal are out of the limelight. Underground or on a local/regional scale is where they thrive best imo. I'll take the genius of overlooked bands over the blandness of pop rock/metal any day.[/QUOTE] If the two-bit hacks that keep clogging up the airwaves every sunday when my local station throws the limelight on the locals is anything to go by I'm not missing much by sticking to rock royalty.

Not that I'm against hip hop taking over but in no other era would I have had to endure the embarrassment of drunk white girls rapping "m.a.a.d city" at parties

[QUOTE=Yogkog;52483822]Not that I'm against hip hop taking over but in no other era would I have had to endure the embarrassment of drunk white girls rapping "m.a.a.d city" at parties[/QUOTE] drunk white girls are cancer regardless of time and place

If you're looking for a good modern rock band, check out Rival Sons [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umrIUDOo-aM[/media]

*prepares mixtape*

the Glasgow grind core scene is wild

[QUOTE=Kabstrac;52483702]Where I live the metal scene is dead, so I disagree with that. All my favourite bands are from Scandinavia, Germany, or USA.[/QUOTE] 10-12 years ago where I grew up in the arse end of Scotland, we had an incredibly lively metal scene with large gigs every week and at least 1 local metal festival every summer, most of my mates were in bands or had been bands at some point. That shit has died a death as the metalheads grew up and moved to different areas, nothing really replaced the subculture we had going. I do wonder what happened, I guess the death of periodic mainstream exposure to metal is partially to blame. That said, the amount of stoner/desert/psych bands that have popped up in the past few years has been absolutely incredible, facilitated by Bandcamp and Youtube, personally I've never been more spoiled for choice.

[QUOTE=Omilinon;52483207]Yep, there's been a lot of really cool rock/metal bands here and there in the underground scene, but it just hasn't been sticking in the mainstream for a good long while. Queens of the Stone Age (sort of), Swain, Swans, Vektor, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Algiers, etc,. Even more conscious rap albums like [I]4:44[/I] and [I]DAMN.[/I] have been getting great hits in the billboards. Gambino's R&B album, [I]Awaken, My Love![/I], is still in the top charts, even though it was released [I]last[/I] year. Honestly surprised that it took this long for the genres to surpass rock. Ever since the 2000's with the debut of Kanye and Drake, as well as the release of GRODT, I would've expected rap to be the most dominant music genre for a good amount of time.[/QUOTE] 4:44 better win a grammy. honestly best album and title track of 2017

[QUOTE=elitehakor;52484016]4:44 better win a grammy. honestly best album and title track of 2017[/QUOTE] So far, I agree with you. However, Eminem, Nas, Jay Rock, Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler, and Schoolboy Q all have their albums slated for this year.

[QUOTE=Yogkog;52483822]Not that I'm against hip hop taking over but in no other era would I have had to endure the embarrassment of drunk white girls rapping "m.a.a.d city" at parties[/QUOTE] this is me and i'm sorry [editline]19th July 2017[/editline] MAN DOWN, WHERE YOU FROM, NIBBA? [editline]19th July 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=elitehakor;52484016]4:44 better win a grammy. honestly best album and title track of 2017[/QUOTE] Brockhamptons Saturation was better then jay z album in my opinion but they won't win best album. maybe best new artist

lots of creativity and experimentation going on with hip hop right now, it's really great. i haven't seen a whole lot of rock projects that have been catching my attention lately, but i'm still digging around.

[QUOTE=Omilinon;52484115]So far, I agree with you. However, Eminem, Nas, Jay Rock, Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler, and Schoolboy Q all have their albums slated for this year.[/QUOTE] true. interested to see what tyler and earl have in store. [QUOTE=June;52484117]this is me and i'm sorry [editline]19th July 2017[/editline] MAN DOWN, WHERE YOU FROM, NIBBA? [editline]19th July 2017[/editline] Brockhamptons Saturation was better then jay z album in my opinion but they won't win best album. maybe best new artist[/QUOTE] YAWK YAWK YAWK YAWK

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;52483135]If you have good suggestions PM me! I can send my spotify acc as a prompt if you want. Just no tracks full of screaming and grunting pls.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=thelurker1234;52483142]or post it here for me too pls and ty <3[/QUOTE] It really depends what you're looking for, but if you want "throwback" rock made by modern bands, check out: White Reaper Sheer Mag Clutch Most of Ty Segall's stuff Thee Oh Sees [QUOTE=luverofJ!93;52483423]Frankly, I think it's a good thing rock/metal are out of the limelight. Underground or on a local/regional scale is where they thrive best imo. I'll take the genius of overlooked bands over the blandness of pop rock/metal any day.[/QUOTE] I agree, but we're still getting people shouting "rwaaa rock is dead" just because we haven't seen a breakthrough sound climb up the pop charts in a while. They don't realize that the problem rock has that hip hop doesn't is that rock always been carrying on the torch of playing older sounds instead of emphasizing on experimenting with something new and innovative. And I don't blame them, those older sounds sound great, but some people want to hear something new before a band is accused of "copying [three decade old rock band]." Not to say that there's no experimentation and innovation right now (I don't think most modern metal has this problem), of course there always been has. I think one of the benefits of rock not being in the limelight is that there's always an incentive to create new sounds, but it would be a shame if some local band today created a totally new genre of rock, only to have that sound to never gain at least little attention decades to come.

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;52483082]To speak to how they said "rock is no longer the top genre in terms of overall consumption" that's not surprising at all considering that finding good contemporary rock music is fucking difficult while classic rock and metal, which not everybody enjoys, have basically stayed dominant. Like it took me literal years to find a new post hardcore band that wasn't dead, which happened just this week. As much as I love rap and hip hop I would also like to see more people attempting to do novel things within other genres.[/QUOTE] I just wish there was more diversity in charts overall speaking, honestly I am an absolute nerd when it comes to music and I like extremely obscure, unusual and hipster stuff but I honestly I like radio from time to time and most of the stuff currently being played is so homogenous and unremarkable. I did not feel like it was like that back in the day.

[QUOTE=junker|154;52484778]I just wish there was more diversity in charts overall speaking, honestly I am an absolute nerd when it comes to music and I like extremely obscure, unusual and hipster stuff but I honestly I like radio from time to time and most of the stuff currently being played is so homogenous and unremarkable. I did not feel like it was like that back in the day.[/QUOTE] This is why the 80s pop music where the best, everything from Michael Jackson esque dance music to New Wave to Melodic Metal topped charts.

[QUOTE=luverofJ!93;52483423]Frankly, I think it's a good thing rock/metal are out of the limelight. Underground or on a local/regional scale is where they thrive best imo.[/QUOTE]This depends entirely on the definition of "underground", but the notion about local scenes looks like a bit of bullshit from where I'm standing. Local scene is death. If you want to have anything resembling what could be called a "proper career" in music, you need to expand outside the local scene as fast as you can. I've seen and played with many bands that would have the potential to be bigger, but they stay in the "local scene" and when they're gone no-one outside the small local circle will remember them, saying "Man that bunch were good, shame they never went anywhere!". You need exposure, you need visibility, and local scene can only offer so much. It is the hole a band HAS to get out of if they have any desire to survive as artists. Fuck, Finland is such a small country that you could even call the national scene "local", especially if you play anything that isn't black/folk/gothic symphonic stuff. Can you imagine what would've happened (or rather what wouldn't have) if Metallica had only stayed in their local scene, playing up and down the Bay Area but never properly reaching outside those boundaries? Local scene is also, in the metal/punk/whatever circles (especially punk), usually the horde that is quick to stab you in the back once you start to achieve anything resembling success, calling you a sellout and a poser because you're not just their own private thing anymore.