Hip-hop is tops according to 2002 CD sales and Rock is dead

bayarea.com ^ | Fri, Dec. 27, 2002 | Jim Farber

[Destro]

Rap rules.

As 2002 winds into its last weeks, its two biggest albums -- by Eminem and Nelly -- both pledge allegiance to the hip-hop nation.

With sales of 6.9 million so far, "The Eminem Show" left every other album behind, including the No. 2 entry, Nelly's "Nellyville," which made 4.2 million passes through the cash registers.

[Destro]

My theory? Small sized CD album covers and the music video killed off Rock.

[Walkingfeather]

MY THEORY: People that listen to rock are computer literate. They know how to down load music and don't buy CDs. Hip hop listeners are not as computer literate so the listen the old fashion way ... they but it or steal a CD.

[Destro]

If you go by radio play, Album Oreinted Rock is dead the so called Dinosaur Rock. Down also are the ratings of rock music stations of all genres. So are sales of guitars and traditional rock music instruments.

[Sir Gawain]

Your theory is retarded.

[UbIwerks]

Rock music to hip hop? Our culture is even worse than I though.

Rock music is garbage and hip hop is not even music.

[JNB]

If it wasnt for Eminem, the obits' would be allready written for hip-hop. Rap sales are down this year as well, with Eminem and Nelly(who grabbed on to Eminems coat tails in 2000)the only ones who had stellar sales, all others have done poorly.

Rock stations ratings are down, but alternative, basically amounts to new rock, ratings are up. The biggest loser in all of this is the entire record industry.

[Reagan Man]

Just for the record. See this LINK.

Here are the top concert tours for 2002.

1. Paul McCartney, $103.3 million
2. The Rolling Stones, $87.9 million
3. Cher, $73.6 million
4. Billy Joel/Elton John, $65.5 million
5. Dave Matthews Band, $60.1 million
6. Bruce Springsteen, $42.6 million
7. Aerosmith, $41.4 million
8. Creed, $39.2 million
9. Neil Diamond, $36.5 million
10. The Eagles, $35.4 million
34.Eminem, $15 million

[Destro]

Older people have more money to spend and old rock bands charge more for concert tickets?

[JNB]

The biggest problem rock faces is it lacks distinction. Its a bunch of politically correct mush that is derrivative of early 90s "grunge". That is one reason why Eminem has become so big, he at least is compelling, love him or hate him. Creed, who have been the biggest selling rock band in the last 5 years, are as compelling as dishwater. Eminem wont be on top forever, and other rappers had a horrible year in 2002, the genre is as tired as rock is, and unlike rock, it has to keep the "hype" going.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

The Justin Timberlake solo album, "Justified," sold nearly as much in a week and a half (536,000 copies) as the White Stripes' album,

If the industry classifies Justin Timberlake's "music" as rock, then I think I figured out one their biggest problems.

[JNB]

Rap doesnt lend itself well to touring, it never has, and it probably never will. If the Angel Managment tour, featureing Eminem as a headliner, along with several other big name rappers, has trouble selling out even with all of Eminems momentum, then how can we expect other rappers to gain a foothold in the touring industry.

Face it, if Dr Dre did not discover Eminem, hip-hop would have been written about as a has-been genre, and based on the lackluster sales of other rappers, we are close to that point allready. I guess you can consider Nelly rap, if one considers Bon Jovi heavy metal.

[dfwgator]

Rock has been dead since Buddy Holly died.

[sushiman]

Where have I heard that before ?

[July 4th]

Hah! I was thinking the same thing - who's more likely to download mp3's?

[sushiman]

Hey man ...Black / hip hop culture / fashion is not only what the black kids are into today , it is what the white kids are into as well . Black is hip . These kids PARENTS listen to rock so they wanna be different .

[dfwgator]

American Graffiti.

[College Repub]

Two of the best releases of the year were rock! Pearl Jam's "Riot Act" and Tom Petty's "Last DJ" are both spectacular albums. But because PJ and Petty no longer like to lick the boots of the establishment media (they prefer to focus on the music) their album sales are not as high. And don't be picking on early 90's grunge. It's the best stuff the music world had seen since the early 70s. And nothing has topped it since the early 90s. Alice in Chains/Soundgarden/Pearl Jam/Nirvana (not much of a Nirvana fan myself but many are) were all incredible bands. It's a shame that only Pearl Jam is still making music. However they, Pearl Jam, are the best rock band of this generation.

[strela]

It turns out all those "rock-is-back" stories (based on the bubbling-under success of the Strokes, the Vines and the White Stripes) were just so-much wishful thinking from a "rockist" press.

Who? I never heard of any of these guys.

Geez, I feel old.

[JNB]

Nothing has changed in 10 years, ever since many suburban white boys "got ill" when Dr Dres Chronic came out, Its still the same kind of mindless white kids wearings baggy pants listening to rap music today.

In reality, the kids who really "underground" the ones who are creative and actually write music laugh at rap as its about as empty as hair bands were in the late 80s and as empty as disco was in the late 70s.

[College Repub]

I'm only 21 and neither have I. Of course, I only listen to classic rock stations. I have heard of them from people but wouldn't be able to identify their music if I heard it. One new mainstream band that I do find quite talented is "Queens of the Stone Age" Well worth checking out