Where have all the bands gone? Why have bands disappeared from the charts

From The Beatles to Queen and Earth Wind & Fire to NWA, bands – who mostly wrote their own songs -dominated music. But that started to change sometime in late 1990’s and 2000’s.

Why have bands disappeared from the charts

During that era, record labels and A&R encouraged bands like Aerosmith to co-write their hits with outside producers and songwriters.

“This ultimately led to the demise of the bands,” says music business vlogger Rick Beato. Why sign – or join – a band when with the help of the right producer, songwriters and session musicians you can create one?

In the current Top 400 on Spotify, only three of the bands formed within the last 10 years.

There are other reasons for the dramatic shift. Taste change: Pop – a solo dirven genre is more popular than band-driven rock. Technology changes: With a laptop and the right software a single person can “become” the entire band. Economics change: – earning a living and putting one person on the road is way more cost efficient than four or five.

Watch Beato’s short video for more on why have bands disappeared.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.