Mammoth featuring Wolf Van Halen released their third album on Friday, “The End”. I heard from quite a few passionate rock fans of all ages who pronounced a a similar statement: “Wolf is the future of rock”.
Fan perception is sometimes more astute than industry ear static. I’ve always been a gal of the fans, a programmer for the people.
It got me thinking of another phrase I have heard for years. “Where is the next Robert Plant”? “The rock format has no stars”.
Really? Perhaps it is us who are out of touch.
There is no “next” Robert Plant, there is Robert Plant. One and done. Why do we keep buying into this notion that rock passionate fans are dumb and have no understanding that the tickets they buy and the music they download isn’t “really” what they want?
Rock is the second most streamed genre of music globally and in the U.S. Rock Radio has stars. Not stars from 20 years ago. Legit stars NOW.
Streams, Sales, Sellouts and Support
Ticket sales, streaming stats, YouTube mania and radio charts. It’s all a part of the equation, but we cannot discount support.
Fan support. The lifeblood and connection to music. I’ve witnessed this connection firsthand. At events, shows and interacting with rock fans as a daily part of my life as a Rock Programmer for thirty years.
Where are the next stars of the format? Making music and performing. Just like the “old stars”. Where else would they be?
Are things different now? You bet. Do we have stars? We do.
Five For The Future
Sleep Token: U.K masked Metal Masters with hundred of millions of streams and sold out shows the moment they go on sale. Sleep Token are a phenomenon. Defying all the norms.
Gary Jay, President of Landshark Promotion was an early believer in the band. He told me, “More than just a band, Sleep Token is a true phenomenon. Where other band’s lyrics strum at the surface of the soul, Sleep Token’s songs—wreathed in myth and melancholy—delve into the very marrow of the human spirit. Their concerts – ‘rituals’, as their fans have dubbed them – are an intimate liturgy that garners unbridled joy and whispers redemption to the faithful in ways no other artist/band on the planet can currently echo or rival.”
RCA records spotted greatness in the band that started on the Spinefarm label, without identity, without interviews, without speaking. They cannot be explained or categorized. Hundreds of billions of streams later and tickets selling out in seconds, they have redefined the word “fan”. There is a world with ST. #Worship
Mammoth: Wolf Van Halen just released his (and the bands) third record in five years, “The End”. It’s for a loyal and growing fan base hungry for musicianship and authenticity. No gimmicks, just simple and effective, Wolf wows. Playing, writing, singing (sometimes producing), the bands live shows make kids want to pick up something to play. Mission accomplished!
Mammoth shows are impressive. You can see their evolving fanbase growing. Kids waiting by the bus, young players, females, merch warriors selling out the booth. Oh and btw, not just VH fans. I spoke with Wolf recently for my “Carr Stereo Podcast” about his fans. He shared this with me.
“It’s starting to break into this fanbase where you see people who like [MAMMOTH] for the band, and it’s all ages and genders. It’s really crazy, man. I can’t believe we’re really starting to do it.”
They are. With tickets to their headlining tour (kicking off Friday) selling out.
The Warning: The power trio of sisters who got their viral start with their cover of “Enter Sandman” as kids racked up millions of YouTube views and their musicianship and electrifying performances have resulted in one of the most loyal fanbases in rock. I have witnessed their fan loyalty, (known as The Warning Army) after running a radio station contest with Dani, Pau and Ale.
For their fans, The Warning is a way of life. Haven’t seen them? Check out their live concert film released in August. You have been “Warned”!
Yungblud: Let’s face it, we need rockstars. Enter Yungblud. Ozzy approved, wowed the crowd at the “Back to The Beginning” Ozzy celebration concert and he’s cruising up the charts with Aerosmith. Sexy with Swagger just like Steven Tyler was back in his day.
Yeah, we need this. Big Time. Good luck getting a ticket for his upcoming tour. You can’t.
Bad Omens: Are they the new face of Modern Metal? Some would say yes. Their initial presence on TikTok pushed the band full steam ahead onto the Rock Radio charts and hundreds of millions of streams later they are part of a new wave of younger metal acts driving ticket sales and moving metal into “big business”.
The masters can’t do it alone. We need newbies to drive the revenue rate of return in the right direction.
Stars are everywhere. These five are just the tip.
Please stop comparing then and now. There is too much great new music to listen to.
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