logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2019
23m 39s

Is rock music doomed?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Bruce Springsteen is turning 70; rock’s gods are getting on. It’s not clear who’s there with electric guitars to replace them. Younger acts are failing to make hit singles. Veteran rock journalist Mark Coles believes rock music has lost its ability to surprise and innovate. Record label boss Vanessa Higgins describes how the writing of hit songs no longer favours the rock format. Music critic Michael Hann blames the high costs of making rock as part of the reason for its decline. But Chris Woltman, manager of the band Twenty One Pilots, believes bands have adapted rock for a new generation of fans and industry veteran Sat Bisla details how rock is making headway in non-traditional markets like India and Indonesia. With Neal Razzell.

Up next
Jul 8
Can Brazil’s supercows feed the world?
Brazil’s Zebu cattle, or “supercows” are bred for size, strength, and meat quality. Every year the animals are showcased at ExpoZebu, Brazil’s premier cattle fair. These animals are preened, pampered, and prized, before being sold for millions for their genetic material. Zebu cat ... Show More
23 m
Jul 1
Does Trump care about Taiwan?
Ahead of last year’s US Presidential elections, Donald Trump was asked if he would defend China against Taiwan, he responded that Taiwan should pay the US for protection from China. Taiwan is a self-governing island, claimed by Beijing and whilst Taiwan is not formally recognised ... Show More
22m 58s
Jun 25
How crucial is the Strait of Hormuz to global oil supplies?
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important energy corridors in the world. It is the only sea route from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, it serves as the primary maritime route for oil exports from the Gulf. Any disruption to traffic through the strait would have i ... Show More
22m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
The Sunday Read: ‘Is Måneskin the Last Rock Band?’
The triumphant return to Rome of Måneskin — arguably the only rock stars of their generation, and almost certainly the biggest Italian rock band of all time — coincided with a heat wave across Southern Europe. On a Thursday morning in July, the band’s vast management team was off ... Show More
28m 51s
Feb 2024
#2106 - Kid Rock
Kid Rock is a musician, singer, rapper, and songwriter. His most recent album is "Bad Reputation." See him live on the "Rock the Country" festival tour.  www.rockthecountry.com www.kidrock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
3h 33m
Feb 2019
Three Days Grace Are Infra-Red Hot
Three Days Grace like Borscht, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, and the fact that they now just topped Van Halen for having the most #1 rock songs of all time (with 15). They’re also up for 3 Juno Awards (Canada’s equivalent of the Grammys), opened for the Rolling Stones, have a huge s ... Show More
1h 12m
Apr 2021
The80s Metal Scene Was Nuthin But A Good Time
Authors Tom Beaujour & Rich Bienstock captured the rise and fall of one of the most storied eras in rock & roll history in their new book, “Nothin’ But A Good Time: The Uncensored History of the ‘80s Hard Rock Explosion.” They document the exploding hard metal scene on the Sunset ... Show More
1h 13m
May 2016
Inside Radiohead’s Return; Plus: The Myth of Rock’s Original Wild Man
Radiohead have been one of rock’s most exciting bands for decades, but many fans had mixed feelings about 2011’s The King of Limbs. Is their first album in five years a return to form? Rolling Stone’s Nathan Brackett, Brian Hiatt and Andy Greene go deep on the gorgeous A Moon Sha ... Show More
46m 48s
Apr 2020
5-Time Grammy Winner Neil Giraldo Talks MTV, His Latest Passion--Whiskey--and the Future of Music
The great Neil Giraldo joins Fred for a chat about life, grappa, MTV, whiskey, vodka hate and more. Neil also gives advice to rising musicians and talks about his new venture--a spirits company--including a solid whiskey called Three Chord. NEIL GIRALDO Neil is a professional mus ... Show More
52m 28s
Mar 2022
Le Journal Du Rock - Ed Sheeran ; Leonard Cohen ; Stevie Wonder, Rammstein,... ; Deep Purple ; Tool - 07/03/2022
Ed Sheeran a comparu devant la justice britannique pour s’être en partie inspiré du titre "Oh Why" pour la mélodie de "Shape Of You’’. Les héritiers de Leonard Cohen suivent la vague d’artistes qui vendent leurs droits musicaux à des société d'investissements. De grands noms du r ... Show More
3m 3s
Dec 2021
The Strokes
I remember being in London in the summer of 2001…I made my usual pilgrimage up to the original Rough Trade records store on Talbot Street, off Portobello Road in Notting Hill… I was a little bummed out with music at the time, so I was hoping for some inspiration…the mainstream wa ... Show More
33m 1s