Is Rock Music Dying in the Post-Pandemic Age?

The COVID-19 pandemic may have permanently altered many industries around the globe including the music industry. But did it also affect specific music genres? Many people believe rock music is dying in the post-pandemic age.

While there may be some truth to this claim, the reality is actually a bit more interesting. So join us as we answer the question “Is rock music dying in the post-pandemic age”

Is Rock Music Dying in the Post-Pandemic Age?

Rock music has been a staple part of the music industry for over six decades. Iconic rock acts such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Doors, and The Velvet Underground inspired thousands of new acts. You might be surprised to learn that the notion that rock music is “dying” has been around for many decades.

Many people openly declared this in the late 90s when hip-hop and R&B acts were dominating music charts. They said it again the early 2010s dance music genres such as House and Dubstep were all the rave. For this reason, it’s no surprise that people are saying this once again in the post-pandemic period when pop music, K-pop, and hip hop are dominating music charts.

Rocky Music’s Popularity Cycles

Many people who declare that rock music is “dying” fail to consider that the genre experiences a lull every few decades. For example, rock was overshadowed by hip-hop and R&B in the late 90s, but it reemerged in various forms in the early 2000s. This was when new genres such as pop-punk, nu-metal, and post-grunge made an appearance.

Similarly, rock music began to lull again in the 2010s due to the rise of electronic music. However, the truth is that there are still plenty of “rock” bands around making music.

Death or Diversification?

You don’t have to look very hard to find bands and artists that fall under the “rock” genre such as IDLES, Black Country New Road, black midi, or King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. None of these bands could be purely called “rock” despite the fact that their music clearly does “rock”. Instead they fall under different rock subgenres.

For example IDLES are considered “post-punk” and “post-hardcore”. Similarly, Black Country New Road and black midi are considered “art-rock” and “experimental rock”. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are considered “psychedelic rock” and “garage rock”.

The albums these bands release make it onto popular music charts regularly, so it’s safe to say that rock music is very much alive and well in the 2020s.

Finding New and Innovative Rock Bands

If you want to see what modern rock music is like, you can look up different playlists on music streaming platforms such as Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music. Many people enjoy making playlists showing off their favorite modern day rock bands, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding some new and innovative acts that carry on that rock spirit in the 2020s.