Photo by Sebastian Ervi
Adapting to new trends in society is one of the most important things for rock bands to do. It helps them ensure their legacies are as strong as possible, before their eventual retirement. Acts that are still going today are in a particularly privileged position, as they have the help of the modern entertainment machine to get them in front of as many people as possible.
Netflix and other streaming services have emerged as an unexpected way to keep classic rock bands alive and market them to new listeners. Trends on social media and in the online gaming market have helped too.
What Are Some of the Most Successful Recent Classic Rock Documentaries?
One of the biggest crazes on streaming services in recent years has been the revival of classic rock bands in documentary format. Netflix has played a central role in this, with titles like Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story and Rolling Stones, Ole Ole Ole! A Trip Across Latin America. These movies offered intimate access to the legendary rockers, with a lot of footage that had never been seen before.
Amazon Prime Video has jumped on the trend as well. The streaming service has opted for projects that follow a particular angle, such as The Rainbow and It Might Get Loud. The former explores the Sunset Strip where Lemmy and Ozzy Osbourne were often found, and the latter features various guitar legends like Jimmy Page.
Disney+ has also put itself into the mix to reinforce the strength of this trend. The Beatles: Get Back is one of the best classic rock titles on the platform. Despite having a long run time, the Peter Jackson offering engaged audiences with its rich storytelling.
What Other Ways Are Classic Rock Bands Getting in Front of New Audiences?
Many classic rock bands know they need to jump on technological trends to reach new listeners, and there are many who have realised that live-streaming is a great way to connect. The technology has been around in entertainment for a while, especially in the UK casino market where it’s used to transmit live games to players in their homes. Musicians have jumped on this to broadcast their shows to fans around the world, with the recent Black Sabbath farewell concert a prime example of the medium’s power.
Various other major rock bands have live-streamed their concerts around the world before too, with the Rolling Stones and U2 among the early adopters of the technology. Many people watch live streams on their smartphones, giving bands a new way to get in front of today’s mobile audience.
Social media sites have been a huge boost in helping new generations discover classic rock bands in other ways too. There’s been a recent trend on social media of creators sharing short videos of iconic acts to help new people discover them.
Streaming services and other modern forms of entertainment have been a welcome development for classic rock bands, who are now finding new audiences in the digital world. Many acts from the past are enjoying a renaissance as well, with more people discovering and spreading them on social media.
