I found this

[sadie65]

And while I have no idea who this person is, I found the choices a little interesting and the statistic given very interesting. It stands to reason though.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/1/prweb328895.htm

Over 40? Your Tunes Are Back - Indie Musician Targets Baby-Boomers Who Want Better Music





Chicago indie musician/recording artist Robert Kramer releases new album for the over 40 crowd wanting a better quality of music. Says consumers are tired of the trash being offered by major labels.

Chicago,IL. (PRWEB) January 6, 2006 -- Chicagoland musician/indie recording artist Robert Kramer is a failure. At least when measured by major label industry standards. "I've got rejection letters from some of the worlds' biggest record labels, but I don't care..." quips Kramer, who at 51, doesn't seem concerned about hitting the "big time".

Wanting instead to target the adult audiences who have been left out in the cold by the youth-oriented popular music of today, the outspoken singer/recording artist writes, produces, records, and independently releases all his own product specifically for those in the over-40 crowd, many of which feel there is a severe lack of quality music available to them.

Statistics & public opinion seem to suggest Kramer isn't far off the mark. Barry Kukes, a member of the over 40-crowd and media director of Evolution Studio Works agrees. "Very little of todays' music is memorable..there are no catchy tunes being written anymore. You used to be able to turn on the radio and hear a variety of really great music. Where are the Billy Joels, the Elton Johns, bands like Styx, Boston, Moody Blues? Noone's writing that kind of quality stuff, and people miss that..."

Kramer echoes this sentiment, and offers that if the record industry is experiencing a downturn in sales, it's because people are getting tired of poorly written, forgettable tunes the major labels are offering today, and says the decline in profits has little to do with illegal downloading. "Who'd want to steal some of the garbage the majors call music anyway??" he continues. "A lot of it's just depressing. People are tired of all the trash, and they're responding by simply not buying. My music is a return to the type of songwriting and singing people don't get anymore."

As a result, Kramers' newly released album, "Legacy Of Love", a collection of fresh, upbeat, catchy tunes that remind the listener of classic rock artists like Sting, Moody Blues, Beatles and Springsteen all rolled into one, seems to be attracting some attention, and not only in the baby-boomer camp. "I have a couple of publishers interested, but I'm not selling out what I believe in...I just want to get the music out to the people who miss this kind of stuff. The over 40 crowds, people who remember what good music was."

According to the Recording Industry Association of America's RIAA Consumer profile, the older segment of the population has steadily increased its share of the music market. In 2001, those 40 and older made up 34 percent of music buyers. But the current fare offered by the majors seems to indicate their choices are limited, and many over 40 fans are finding refuge in indie artists who don't follow the youth-oriented musical trends pushed by top record companies.
Claiming the boomers are among the ones left out by the big labels, Kramer also suggests that the record-buying public in general are hungry for a higher quality of material.

"The public is tired of the poor-quality garbage being forced on them. It's time we got back to real music.."

[NealIsGod]

You used to be able to turn on the radio and hear a variety of really great music. Where are the Billy Joels, the Elton Johns, bands like Styx, Boston, Moody Blues?

Well, Elton, Boston and Styx are still doing it. And I hear Billy Joel is going to release pop music again. And Journey is just as good as ever.

[Abitaman]

That is right!-ERIC

[sadie65]

You used to be able to turn on the radio and hear a variety of really great music. Where are the Billy Joels, the Elton Johns, bands like Styx, Boston, Moody Blues?

Well, Elton, Boston and Styx are still doing it. And I hear Billy Joel is going to release pop music again. And Journey is just as good as ever.

That they are...but sadly...very little to no airplay on the radio...while it may be part of the evolution of the business...doesn't always make it good.

[classicstyxfan]

Amen ! I wish the major labels would wake up and smell the coffee....I have been "voting" with my purchases ( and lack thereof ) for a long time now.........

I wonder how much of today's music will be considered "standards" 20-30 years from now ? and if there will be radio stations devoted to playing the hits of this current era ?

[Abitaman]

Amen ! I wish the major labels would wake up and smell the coffee....I have been "voting" with my purchases ( and lack thereof ) for a long time now.........

I wonder how much of today's music will be considered "standards" 20-30 years from now ? and if there will be radio stations devoted to playing the hits of this current era ?

What hits from this era. There is nothing out there to me that is a hit. Just because it made # 1 doesn't mean it is a hit. If everything is garbage, something still has to sit at the top-ERIC

[yogi]

Not as good as ever but pretty damn good.

You just cant go back and listen to Infinity, Escape, Frontiers, Equinox, The Grand Illusion & Pieces Of Eight and say these bands are as good now as they ever were!!!

It is just not true!!!

[bugsymalone]

I just have this mental image of today's teens and twenty-somethings having 50 Cent? Nelly? on the muzak, when they reach a certain age?? Sheesh!!!

There was an interesting article I read somewhere that said the biggest buying power lies with the baby boomers, but ads etc. are all aimed at a younger market.

Thanks for posting that article, Sadie.

Bugsy

(BTW, I agree with you completely, Yogi! )

[NealIsGod]

Well, Journey's new one is just behind ESC4P3 and Frontiers, in my book. I can't comment on Styx, not a fan.

[Abitaman]

. I can't comment on Styx, not a fan.

DID I READ THAT RIGHT NOT A STYX FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-ERIC

[styxfanNH]

20+ years after they hey day of many bands, fans at all levels of interest still attend their concerts.

It is unfortunate that the teenagers of today will never have that opportunity for the bands they follow today. The bands of yesterday are done tomorrow for airwave play.

Just look at Bare Naked Ladies, already considered a nostalgia act to many...

[sadie65]

20+ years after they hey day of many bands, fans at all levels of interest still attend their concerts.

It is unfortunate that the teenagers of today will never have that opportunity for the bands they follow today. The bands of yesterday are done tomorrow for airwave play.

Just look at Bare Naked Ladies, already considered a nostalgia act to many...

Which I believe has a great deal to do with "progress". When we were kids there were maybe movie theaters with only 3 screens at most? There was AM/FM radio. Cable and satellite weren't heard of. Bands had more regional pull on the radio, a longer time was given for them to hit. We are becoming more and more a disposable society. Our attention span is growing limited because we feel we must have limitless choices.

I think there will be artists/bands that will stand the test of time for today's youth (who they are I really don't know), but I think as we continue to "progress" we will see more and more limitations put out there.

It is just the nature of the beast right now.

[jrnyman28]

Isn't it sad that "hits" are made on opening weekend for movies, and debut week for CDs? The industries don't even care past that....
They want to recoup their expenses and turn their profit IMMEDIATELY and then it is on to the next thing!

Instant gratification.........that's all everyone wants now.

[Abitaman]

Isn't it sad that "hits" are made on opening weekend for movies, and debut week for CDs? The industries don't even care past that....
They want to recoup their expenses and turn their profit IMMEDIATELY and then it is on to the next thing!

Instant gratification.........that's all everyone wants now.

[Abitaman]

guess I got carried away on that one.-ERIC