Photo: Brian May || “For those about to rock… best try another genre”: New stats show that bands are dead, solo and collabs are the way to go and rock has well and truly rolled. . . || Story by Daniel Griffiths, Music Radar | Article has a bunch of great charts to emphasize the issue | We’ve already touched upon the increasing prominence of the modern solo artist and the fact that such presence in today’s streaming numbers is having a detrimental impact to those bands still hoping for a slice of whatever gig or playback pie they can grab.
But now get set for some brand new bands-are-dead panic…
New figures put together by music tuition platform Skoove, using data from the Official UK charts, processed by DataPulse research, only backs up the worries, producing what looks like irrefutable visual evidence on where we – as music makers and consumers – are all heading.
Diving in, let’s look at the facts. The dwindling of band popularity and the rise of collabs and in particular solo artists when expressed as the proportion of the year that each was number one, is plain to see in the following graph [graph in full story on website].
And stepping away from merely measuring top spot, once again we see bands getting edged out in favor of solo artists and – especially in this area – collaborations.
The below graph looks at the makeup of the entire chart on each week from 1980 to the present day. And while solo artists increase slightly (let’s not forget that the ’80s DID have more than their fair share of big-name Madonna, Micheal Jackson, Prince, George Michael-style stars) it’s the collabs that are really eating your band’s lunch through 2000 onwards.
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Go here to read the full, glass-half-empty story:
Check out more of Skoove’s doomy data here.
https://www.skoove.com/blog/decline-of-bands-uk/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/for-those-about-to-rock-best-try-another-genre-new-stats-show-that-bands-are-dead-solo-and-collabs-are-the-way-to-go-and-rock-has-well-and-truly-rolled/
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“It’s already too late. This theft has already been performed and is unstoppable”: Queen’s Brian May piles on board the anti-AI
By Daniel Griffiths, Music Radar
The volume of anti-AI sentiment within music is becoming deafening. We’ve already reported about the increasing cavalcade of stars who are speaking out (including major artists no longer familiar with public speaking) and those big voices just keep on coming.
Now Queen’s Sir Brian May has delivered his take – via UK outlet The Daily Mail, an entity so outraged by the advent of AI that it has organised its own campaign against the current (Labour) government’s plans regarding the issue.
The Daily Mail is, of course, famous for panicking its readers with petty upset and far-right surprises but its campaign against the unwelcome intrusion of AI into music would appear to go beyond class, culture and political divides.
I Want To Break Free
The enterprise comes fueled by the Labour government’s apparently laissez-faire attitude to AI and its (mostly overseas) owners being able to loot (aka use) British music in the training of their systems to then – it’s assumed – barf out countless clones.
Under new copyright legislation, AI’s owners would be able to take and use anything out on the open net to train their algorithms. There is an option to ‘opt out’ but right-thinking folks know that to attempt to do so – to effectively chase the use of your work down every internet rabbit hole to every internet entity and tell them ‘no’ – will, of course, be impossible and unenforceable.
Instead, these major movers in music (and The Daily Mail) want the ‘no’ upfront, with the potential for deals to be struck afterwards instead.
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Read more here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/it-s-already-too-late-this-theft-has-already-been-performed-and-is-unstoppable-queen-s-brian-may-piles-on-board-the-anti-ai-bandwagon/
Photo: Brian May
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Bands Calling It Quits in 2025 – And More Who Live On & Tour
Bands calling it quits in 2025: Foreigner, Cold Play, REO Speedwagon, Yes (Wakeman), Alan Jackson (health), Gang of Four, Refused, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Oak Ridge Boys, Sum 41, Sepultura, X, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (last show in Colorado on August 10th — not their “last show” but the last one in Colorado).
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/musicians-bands-calling-it-quits-in-2025/
On the other hand, Offspring announces world tour with Jimmy Eat World opening! And Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, The Gatlin Brothers, Bruce Dickenson (Iron Maiden), Heart, Post Malone, Beck, Daryl Hall, Randy Travis*, Eric Clapton, Nine Inch Nails.
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Rock Legends on the Road: The Biggest Classic Rock Tours of 2025
Story by Luca von Burkersroda, Festivaltopia
AC/DC, Metallica, Pantera, Motley Crue (Las Vegas residency), Jason Bonham’s Led Zepplin Evening – 50th Anniversary. The year 2025 is a treasure trove for classic rock enthusiasts. Guns N’ Roses are set to rock 22 concerts through July 2025, while the Eagles have scheduled 8 concerts ending in April 2025.
Billy Joel is continuing his historic Triple Play stadium tour in NYC. With so many legendary acts on the road, fans have a rare chance to see some of the greatest bands in history perform live.
These concerts are not just shows—they’re celebrations of rock’s rich legacy.
The stage is set, and the amps are cranked. With rock legends touring the U.S., the question is: will you be in the crowd?
Whether you’re a fan of electrifying guitar solos, thunderous drum beats, or iconic rock anthems, 2025 promises to be an unforgettable year for rock music lovers. Which band are you most excited to see?
Grab your tickets and get ready for a rock and roll extravaganza!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/rock-legends-on-the-road-the-biggest-classic-rock-tours-of-2025/
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* Randy Travis Extends His 2025 More Life Tour With 30 New Dates
By Billy Dukes, Taste of Country
The question is – Is Randy singing? Sounds like James Dupre is doing the singing in front of Randy’s band and AI (Artificial Intelligence) is involved somehow. The show will be presented in Denver on August 21st.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/randy-travis-extends-his-2025-more-life-tour-with-30-new-dates/
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Eric Clapton announces short 2025 tour, MSG show. Get tickets today
By Matt Levy, New York Post
Vivid Seats is the New York Post’s official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change.
The world’s foremost axeman may be coming to a venue near you.
Eric Clapton just announced he’s mapped out a brief 2025 arena tour this September in support of his bluesy 2024 album “Meanwhile.”
He’ll be joined by Jakob Dylan’s The Wallflowers at all shows.
Near the end of the six-concert run, ol’ Slow Hand is slated to stop into New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Friday, Sept. 19.
This NYC one-off will be his first gig in the Big Apple since 2022 when he played back-to-back shows at MSG as part of his ‘US Tour 2022.’
For those that have yet to see the former Cream/Blind Faith/Derek and the Dominos/Yardbirds/John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers guitarist live, he typically plays acoustic and electric tracks at each show. According to Set List FM, he performed timeless tracks like “Layla,” “Badge,” “After Midnight,” “I Shot The Sheriff,” “Cocaine” at one of his two September 2022 MSG performances.
At a more recent show, the 79-year-old Rock Hall of Famer opened with the Cream classic “Sunshine of Your Love.”
What will he bring to the stage this September? That’s a great question. Although we don’t know yet, we do know the best way to find out is live.
Fans can purchase tickets for all upcoming Eric Clapton shows on sites like Vivid Seats; the official on-sale for the six-concert North American tour is Friday, March 7.
Vivid Seats is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.
They have a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and will be delivered before the event.
Eric Clapton tour schedule 2025
A complete calendar including all North American (as well as a few UK) tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.
Eric Clapton set list
Wondering what else Clapton played at that MSG gig back in September 2022?
Based on our findings at Set List FM, here’s the full rundown of what made the cut that evening.
Electric Set I
01.) “God Save the Queen” ([traditional] cover)
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Neil Young will be having 2025 tour with The Chrome Hearts
Daily Motion – Video: Neil Young has suggested on his website that he and his band The Chrome Hearts will be touring the UK, Europe and North America later this year.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/music/neil-young-will-be-having-2025-tour-with-the-chrome-hearts/
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All the Artists Playing Warped Tour for the First Time in 2025
By Pop Crush
Now that Warped Tour has revealed the majority of its 2025 lineups, let’s look at all the artists who are playing the iconic festival for the very first time this year.
To celebrate 30 years of Warped Tour, the festival revealed bits of the lineup for all three 2025 locations every day for 30 days. This past Wednesday (Feb. 26) marked the end of the lineup rollout, and thus the big reveal featured a ton of rock and metal acts that will play it.
They’re technically not finished announcing all of the bands just yet, as their social media teasers suggested more artists will be revealed on or before May 19.
Some of the bigger groups that will make their Warped Tour return this year include Falling in Reverse, 311, Ice Nine Kills, Simple Plan, Asking Alexandria, mgk, We Came as Romans, Black Veil Brides, The All-American Rejects and more. But, there are quite a few artists that will be making their Warped Tour debut.
Avril Lavigne, Body Count, Better Lovers, Slaughter to Prevail, blackbear, The Funeral Portrait, Nova Twins and Vended are among the many artists who are playing Warped Tour for the very first time in 2025.
Seriously, there are over 100 on the list (121, to be exact), and we compiled all of them below.
https://popcrush.com/artists-first-time-warped-tour-2025
The festival’s mission has always been to bring attention to young, aspiring acts in the heavy music scene. And they definitely took that mission seriously this year. So while we have household names returning to Warped, it’s still keeping its intentions true and allowing some newer groups to take the big stage.
Warped Tour will stop in three cities this year — Washington D.C. (June 14 to 15), Long Beach, Calif. (July 26 to 27) and Orlando, Fla. (Nov. 15 to 16). See more information on their website.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/all-the-artists-playing-warped-tour-for-the-first-time-in-2025/
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Alanis Morissette Announces Las Vegas Residency
By Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone
The spirit of the Nineties will be alive in Las Vegas this year: Alanis Morissette is planning an eight-date residency at the Colosseum at Caesars. The shows are set for Oct. 15, Oct. 17-18, Oct. 22, Oct. 24, Oct. 25, and Nov. 1-2, with all tickets on sale March 7 at 10 a.m. PT.
Morissette is spending much of the rest of the year playing festivals, including two U.S. stops so far, alongside numerous overseas dates: BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, CA on May 4, and Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend in Miramar Beach, FL on May 10. At last year’s Pitchfork Festival, she brought Muna onstage to join her for “Ironic.”
Also last year, Morissette celebrated the 25th anniversary of Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie with a tour that featured Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. In November, she was nominated for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Her most recent studio album was 2020’s Such Pretty Forks in the Road. In an interview at the time with the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, she said she was deep into writing a memoir. “I have written 1300 pages, and in it, I’ve used every name,” she said. “But I’m not going to name names [in the final product]. I mean, maybe I will if I get some permissions here and there, but again, not unlike ‘You Oughta Know,’ I’m not writing for some revenge-filled outcome. The irony for me is that I don’t care about my story. I’ve hired people to help me care, because I don’t. It’s why I get excited when I hear other people tell me their stories. But my intention is not to just do a tell-all that ruins 25 people’s lives in one minute.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/alanis-morissette-announces-las-vegas-residency/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/alanis-morissette-announces-las-vegas-residency/