What Happened to Main Stream?!?!

[lanky316]

What is mainstream to you then FlyGuy?

[Der_Lex]

The problem with 'mainstream' is that what is and isn't mainstream varies depending on where you live and how old you are. Country, for example, may be big in the US, but it's a niche genre here in Europe. Likewise, Journey isn't nearly as iconic a band over here as they are in the US. As for age, I doubt that the average 16-year old has any idea who Stevie Ray Vaughn is, or that the average person in his thirties knows acts like 30 Seconds to Mars.

Of course there are some bands that would transcend these regional and temporal boundaries (The Beatles, The Stones, U2 come to mind), but those mega-acts are notoriously difficult to license. But other than those, wanting a priority for the stuff 'I listened to when I was growing up' is impossible, since people from many different countries and all ages play the game, and they all need representation.
And yes, that includes people like myself who never listened to the radio at all in their teens, but rather to the music their friends and parents introduced them to. To me, the music I grew up with is '80s and '90s progressive rock like Marillion, IQ, Queensrÿche, Porcupine Tree, Spock's Beard and Ayreon. Those are the songs that take me back to the best times of my youth, not the Britpop that was being played on the radio at the time.

In my opinion, diversity is the way to go to please everyone at some point, not focusing on mainstream bands from a specific time period. And that means that everything gets released at some point, whether that is more prog, more country, more hair metal, more darkwave (another genre I'm personally very fond of) or more modern mainstream. But I don't think punishing those with a broader appreciation of music, or those in different age groups, by narrowing the selection down too much is the best way to go.

[FlyGuyLXI]

What is mainstream to you then FlyGuy?

Every one of these bands I've mentioned had at least an album make the Top 10 on Billboards 200, and all but Spoon had a platinum-selling album.

[Rob_Reviving]

Tesla is awesome but not really something I'd call mainstream.

[Quaszar]

Again its the AGE issue. If you were born in the mid 80's or later how the hell would you know about Tesla? Perfect example yesterday: Roundabout by YES was announced, how many people on here said, " Who? " but then listened to them and got excited for keyboard/bass.But I do understand what he was trying to say about " main stream ". Just last week a poster listed about 8 bands he wanted in RB and I never heard of any of them....

[Lone Bulldogs]

Miley Cirus (or however you spell it) and Lady Gaga are both main stream. Sometimes mainstream just sucks.

[FITZERZ]

Im down with what Lex is preachin. But stil Lex u have to agree that there are awesome tracks and bands that are not in this game that if made availible for DLC would sell like hotcakes... That people would wait hours in line just to download.. Those are the songs that need to be released. Like yngwie malmsteen not a lot of people knew him, but love trying to play his guitar licks. Im down for things like that, but the real big music needs to be let out too.

[FITZERZ]

Miley Cirus (or however you spell it) and Lady Gaga are both main stream. Sometimes mainstream just sucks.

Both are main stream for like a year... Im talking about main stream bands and songs that have made an impact over time. Such as SRV. I say SRV and people know that I mean Stevie Ray Vaughn. YOu say LG and people will think you are talking about an electronic device.

[Edify1]

Both are main stream for like a year... Im talking about main stream bands and songs that have made an impact over time. Such as SRV. I say SRV and people know that I mean Stevie Ray Vaughn. YOu say LG and people will think you are talking about an electronic device.

Personally, none of your points make a whole lot of sense. You keep backpedaling. You said we need more mainstream, but then correct yourself when they mention we have Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus. They don't fit your narrow definition of "mainstream." Although they are very mainstream. Any average Joe on the street will know who they are if you ask them.

Also, the only people who know SRV means Stevie Ray Vaughan are Rock Band players who frequent the message boards, because they prefer to abbreviate. The average Joe will not think Stevie Ray Vaughan if you ask them who "SRV" is.

I had never heard of that Tesla song, either. The only Tesla song I'm familiar with is Signs, and from what I understand it's a cover song, anyway. Tesla is not a mainstream band, even from your definition.

I personally think that non-mainstream bands are better and more creative than mainstream bands. They're not required to fit in that "radio-friendly" formula.

[Witticus]

Sad thing is most radio listeners (mainstream) only know a song by how it sounds and never learn the name of the artist. I can't tell you the frustration I got the other day when somebody asked me who sang "Teenage Wasteland" and then began to hum it out only to find out they were talking about "Baba O'Riley" by the Who. And if you're looking for mainstream, Rock Band 3 has what appears to be a massive mainstream setlist coming along.

But with a wishlist, people realize that their artists they love aren't as known as ZZ Top so thats why they request them. It's the hope that Harmonix will look into their wishlist and grand them DLC from their favorite artists.