Joey788
Refugee
Alright, I've read through this thread and feel like giving my two cents to the topic.
Personally, I think the days of a U2-sized act are long over. The music scene has changed in several ways.
1. Rock is sadly out of the mainstream in the U.S. So far for 2009, only 6 rock songs have broken the Billboard top 10. Most of them are generic garbage (IMO).
2. The rock scene has become extremely fragmented by the Internet. While it's helped boost the careers of many lesser known artists, it's also created a more niche environment.
3. Many rock bands don't really want to be huge. They focus more on crafting great albums, which may be critically acclaimed but won't be played on mainstream radio. (On a side note, thank god for 101.9 RXP. They're the most daring rock radio station I've ever heard, playing songs that you'd never expect to hear on the radio. If you live in New York City, check them out.)
4. The record business is hanging on by its fingernails in the wake of the Internet. Major labels can't wait for a rock band to develop their sound over a few albums. They need instant hits to make the band profitable to keep.
I really think U2 is one of the last stadium tour sized bands around. The Rolling Stones, Bruce, Metallica, and a couple other older acts can still sell out stadiums but no one from the 90s or 2000s seem to have that great a chance. To go through some of the acts mentioned earlier:
Coldplay - I recently saw Coldplay live and was really surprised at how good they sounded. However, unless their fifth album moves off the path they've been on, this is where they'll peak
The Killers - They may have already had their peak and could be on their way down. I loved Day and Age but it didn't do anywhere near as well as Sam's Town, which in turn did worse than Hot Fuss. They'll need a stellar fourth album to turn this around. Brandon Flowers also needs to shut down his ego.
Green Day - Hit a new peak with American Idiot but they already seem to be retreading the same ground. I mean, isn't 21st Century Breakdown another album about life during the Bush era? Two albums in a row with the same theme is not a good way to increase your status.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Great band but they're too old to make a run for the mantle. They seem to be happy with where they are.
Radiohead - The mantle may have actually been given to them during the late 90s but they left it on the ground for U2 to pick up again in 2000. Too environmentally conscious and too experimental to try a stadium tour.
Muse - I think they could succeed U2 but again, they don't really want to. Muse can play sold-out stadium shows but they haven't really cracked the U.S. yet.
That being said, I think many bands will still be able to grow to cult-status, like U2 after Live Aid. Arena concerts will be around for the foreseeable future. Stadium shows are getting to be a rare thing though. Only festivals will be able to fulfill a stadium level attendance.
Personally, I think the days of a U2-sized act are long over. The music scene has changed in several ways.
1. Rock is sadly out of the mainstream in the U.S. So far for 2009, only 6 rock songs have broken the Billboard top 10. Most of them are generic garbage (IMO).
2. The rock scene has become extremely fragmented by the Internet. While it's helped boost the careers of many lesser known artists, it's also created a more niche environment.
3. Many rock bands don't really want to be huge. They focus more on crafting great albums, which may be critically acclaimed but won't be played on mainstream radio. (On a side note, thank god for 101.9 RXP. They're the most daring rock radio station I've ever heard, playing songs that you'd never expect to hear on the radio. If you live in New York City, check them out.)
4. The record business is hanging on by its fingernails in the wake of the Internet. Major labels can't wait for a rock band to develop their sound over a few albums. They need instant hits to make the band profitable to keep.
I really think U2 is one of the last stadium tour sized bands around. The Rolling Stones, Bruce, Metallica, and a couple other older acts can still sell out stadiums but no one from the 90s or 2000s seem to have that great a chance. To go through some of the acts mentioned earlier:
Coldplay - I recently saw Coldplay live and was really surprised at how good they sounded. However, unless their fifth album moves off the path they've been on, this is where they'll peak
The Killers - They may have already had their peak and could be on their way down. I loved Day and Age but it didn't do anywhere near as well as Sam's Town, which in turn did worse than Hot Fuss. They'll need a stellar fourth album to turn this around. Brandon Flowers also needs to shut down his ego.
Green Day - Hit a new peak with American Idiot but they already seem to be retreading the same ground. I mean, isn't 21st Century Breakdown another album about life during the Bush era? Two albums in a row with the same theme is not a good way to increase your status.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Great band but they're too old to make a run for the mantle. They seem to be happy with where they are.
Radiohead - The mantle may have actually been given to them during the late 90s but they left it on the ground for U2 to pick up again in 2000. Too environmentally conscious and too experimental to try a stadium tour.
Muse - I think they could succeed U2 but again, they don't really want to. Muse can play sold-out stadium shows but they haven't really cracked the U.S. yet.
That being said, I think many bands will still be able to grow to cult-status, like U2 after Live Aid. Arena concerts will be around for the foreseeable future. Stadium shows are getting to be a rare thing though. Only festivals will be able to fulfill a stadium level attendance.