If everyone hates Nickelback so much, why does it still get airplay?

[upstate29651]

Silly question I know, but why does the most "unmanly" band in the world continue to receive rock radio airplay when they are universally despised? Is it a case of "they're safe, so screw the listener"?

G

 

[scottsvb5]

Whats wrong with Nickelback? They have good songs.. good beat.. some guitar play.. it's really what brought a end to the era of Alternative Bands.They opened the door to Shinedown,Theory of a Deadman and others over the past 7-8 years. Personally I think the peeps that don't like them are the people in their 30s who are use to the old grunge-alternative music or the metal heads. I listen to both Metal and Hardrock. I think Nickelback has a good sound to them, they are rockers. But if you like alternative music that has been near dead for 10 years outside of a couple bands.. then you will hate them.. if your only into 5 Finger Death Punch or Slipknot... then you won't like them.. but if your just into anything that Rocks.. then that's them and most Active Rock Bands.

They have a beat that gets radio orientated play... and they make $$$ due to alot of stations playing it.. and why do they play it? Cause they Rock!

 

[scottsvb5]

btw... to me.. unmanly bands are most alternative bands. Like Weezer,311 most stuff from 1994-2001

 

[upstate29651]

No denying they paved the way for ToaD & Shinedown (gag), and some...some of their songs "rock", but they put out plenty of AC-friendly ballads that are geared 100% at the women. Maybe that's one issue people have with them: They try to be all things to all people. Not to mention their unoriginality, and their being relatively "safe" to air.

But you didn't answer my original question. Anyone else?

G

 

[chrocket87]

Or could it be that everyone claims to dislike them, but secretly blasts their stuff in their homes/cars/etc.? For hearing everyone talk about how much they hate Nickelback, almost like how it's just everyone buying into the fad of hating them, they seem to sell out the concerts they put on. Or at least they did in Detroit...

 

[Mainedude2007]

No denying they paved the way for ToaD & Shinedown (gag), and some...some of their songs "rock", but they put out plenty of AC-friendly ballads that are geared 100% at the women. Maybe that's one issue people have with them: They try to be all things to all people. Not to mention their unoriginality, and their being relatively "safe" to air.

But you didn't answer my original question. Anyone else?

G

you answered your own question. Bands like Nickelback bring in the female listeners. Girlfriends may not like when their guys listen to the loud rock stations, but when Nickelback, or Shinedown or any of the other radio friendly bands come on, it keeps people from flipping to another channel.

 

[Jersey Maiden]

No denying they paved the way for ToaD & Shinedown (gag), and some...some of their songs "rock", but they put out plenty of AC-friendly ballads that are geared 100% at the women. Maybe that's one issue people have with them: They try to be all things to all people. Not to mention their unoriginality, and their being relatively "safe" to air.

But you didn't answer my original question. Anyone else?

G

you answered your own question. Bands like Nickelback bring in the female listeners. Girlfriends may not like when their guys listen to the loud rock stations, but when Nickelback, or Shinedown or any of the other radio friendly bands come on, it keeps people from flipping to another channel.

As a woman who listens to both AC and loud rock stations, I say it's a good strategy for those bands to have. Produce as many AC friendly songs and hard ones you'll bring in the dough. Unfortunately, I find it a shame that not as many people know the harder songs (particularly those of Daughtry, Renegade is my favorite).

Personally, I find Nickelback to be a mediocre band but they do have a few good ones once in a while. And there's nothing unmanly about "Something in Your Mouth" and "Bottoms Up."

And speaking of Shinedown, what's wrong with these songs? Yes, one of them is a cover and I'm sure they would fit on AC but I've only heard them on WDHA. Even if you don't like "Unity," you have to admit that the lyrics are awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KCDZoQTCSM&ob=av2e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbN99f9esS4&ob=av2n

 

[sdh483]

No denying they paved the way for ToaD & Shinedown (gag), and some...some of their songs "rock", but they put out plenty of AC-friendly ballads that are geared 100% at the women. Maybe that's one issue people have with them: They try to be all things to all people. Not to mention their unoriginality, and their being relatively "safe" to air.

But you didn't answer my original question. Anyone else?

G

As a woman who listens to both AC and loud rock stations, I say it's a good strategy for those bands to have. Produce as many AC friendly songs and hard ones you'll bring in the dough. Unfortunately, I find it a shame that not as many people know the harder songs (particularly those of Daughtry, Renegade is my favorite).

Personally, I find Nickelback to be a mediocre band but they do have a few good ones once in a while. And there's nothing unmanly about "Something in Your Mouth" and "Bottoms Up."

And speaking of Shinedown, what's wrong with these songs? Yes, one of them is a cover and I'm sure they would fit on AC but I've only heard them on WDHA. Even if you don't like "Unity," you have to admit that the lyrics are awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KCDZoQTCSM&ob=av2e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbN99f9esS4&ob=av2n

Great point. Let's all create a band and make shitty music so we can make money. We can call it the "Big Mac Strategy." Mass produce a burger that gives you the runs to make some dough at the end. No thanks, I'll stick to bands and artists who perform for the love of music, not because it's a "good strategy to make some dough." Sell outs.
you answered your own question. Bands like Nickelback bring in the female listeners. Girlfriends may not like when their guys listen to the loud rock stations, but when Nickelback, or Shinedown or any of the other radio friendly bands come on, it keeps people from flipping to another channel.

 

[Neanderpaul]

See: Boston, Journey, Styx, Led Zeppelin, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, etc.

The formula works.

Nickelback rock *just enough* for guys, and write enough "chick songs" for girls.

You *must have* Women to win overall in PPM.

"Give The People What They Want" - Ray Davies

 

[upstate29651]

All of these replies fly in the face of who Active rock targets: 18-34 men. People complain about the impending "death" of rock radio. Bands like Nickelback, Shinedown et al are leading the charge towards that death with unimaginative songs that cater (pander) towards (what's supposed to be) a non-existent female demographic. Chicks who dig active are an anomaly, and not P1 material.

Keep that in mind. NOW answer my question within these parameters.

G

 

[Neanderpaul]

You need women to succeed in PPM.

Simple as that.

Men don't carry meters religiously. And male buys (read: auto, beer, electronics) are down.

Nickelback = women = ratings success = more revenue.

We're done here.

 

[waxonwaxoff]

Neanderpaul is right. You even go back to the 80's and look at the hair band era (where there still is a decent sized auidence in that age demographic who still love those bands) and the commercially succesful bands all catered to a certain look and auidence that was driven by the female audience not the male auidence. A really heavy guy band like Motorhead or even someone like Iron Maiden might sell a decent amount of records (Maiden moreso than Motorhead) but they rarely got any airplay at all and never had any bonafide hits and the auidence was mainly male. Bands like Poison would have a few fairly hard rocking songs but the powerballads were all you had multi-platinum selling albums. Your first single would usually be a little bit faster to try and apease the male auidence, but the ballad was what determined if the album was going to be huge or not. Sometimes it would even ruin your perception with some fans. An example I always think of was Saigon Kick (Love Is On The Way). They actually were a harder rocking band than you might think but because their hit was a ballad, they were thought to be soft.

 

[Jersey Maiden]

Neanderpaul is right. You even go back to the 80's and look at the hair band era (where there still is a decent sized auidence in that age demographic who still love those bands) and the commercially succesful bands all catered to a certain look and auidence that was driven by the female audience not the male auidence. A really heavy guy band like Motorhead or even someone like Iron Maiden might sell a decent amount of records (Maiden moreso than Motorhead) but they rarely got any airplay at all and never had any bonafide hits and the auidence was mainly male. Bands like Poison would have a few fairly hard rocking songs but the powerballads were all you had multi-platinum selling albums. Your first single would usually be a little bit faster to try and apease the male auidence, but the ballad was what determined if the album was going to be huge or not. Sometimes it would even ruin your perception with some fans. An example I always think of was Saigon Kick (Love Is On The Way). They actually were a harder rocking band than you might think but because their hit was a ballad, they were thought to be soft.

Hair bands are a staple on active rock stations (at least on WDHA). I hear Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Crue all the time on it. As much as hair metal is maligned, there's no question it has a lot of staying power. So are female active rock fans really that much of an anamoly? And the last time I went on DHA's facebook page, the person who won a Dodge from them was a woman. Two of my former roommates are metalheads and also fans of DHA. And to assume too much about gender can actually backfire. When Merlin Media first launched its chick news format, many female fans of the rock stations they flipped (myself included) were offended.

And one more point, one man's sellout is another's jack-of-all-trades. After he finished playing "Bully," Curtis Kay (afternoon jock for DHA) actually said that one of the things he liked about Shinedown was that they knew how to write both the angry songs and ballads.

 

[nocomradio]

I think Nickelback is easy. All their songs sound so much alike I can't tell them apart, and they are not controversial or threatening to the audience. Because of this, the MD can safely put them on and walk away knowing they won't get any calls from angry listeners offended by a heroin using, public fighting musician that makes great music but has an explosive personal life or has made news for some other unsavory act.

Just my personal theory, of course.

The better test will be to wait a few years and see where Nickelback is. If they are like most cookie-cutter bands of late, they will fade into obscurity after about 3 albums and won't be heard from again, except as a footnote.

 

[Mainedude2007]

The better test will be to wait a few years and see where Nickelback is. If they are like most cookie-cutter bands of late, they will fade into obscurity after about 3 albums and won't be heard from again, except as a footnote.

They've been around long enough to know they're staying: Last 5 albums have all been Top 10 in 9 different countries. They're marketed perfectly, softer stuff goes to the AC/Top40/Hot AC stations while the harder singles go to the rock stations. Combine the 2 together and you have a sold out concert filled with all different demos.

 

[sdh483]

"If everyone hates Nickelback so much, why does it still get airplay?"

You might want to double check your grammar.

 

[upstate29651]

"If everyone hates Nickelback so much, why does it still get airplay?"

You might want to double check your grammar.

Really? :

So far, I've received replies as to how Nickelback is great because it's also Hot AC-friendly, it's "safe" & because they kinda look like women, then women also dig them.

Rock radio is dying. Rock is dying. Nickelback is leading the charge in killing off this format, and no one seems to care.

G

 

[scottsvb5]

There is nothing wrong with Nickelback... They are not metal and they are not modern rock.. they are just Rock. People that don't like them are pretty much the same peeps that only listen to Metal or Modern Rock stuff. Nickelback has some good riffs to their songs. They sell and since they sell, they are being liked and played. I sound like a fan of theirs.. tbh I don't hate them but not my favorite bands.. If I did have a top 5 it would probably go (For active rock)

5 Finger Death Punch
Shinedown
Disturbed
Pop Evil
Avenged Sevenfold

 

[Neanderpaul]

In the 70's "everyone hated Kansas/Boston/Styx"

In the 80's "everyone hated Journey/Bon Jovi/Def Leppard"

In the 90's "everyone hated U2/Green Day/Creed"

In the first decade of 2000's "everyone hated Limp Bizkit/Korn/Godsmack"

When "everyone hates you," you've made it. You're a staple of a format.

Nickelback wins. We as an industry will milk them dry. Just as we've done with the rest, and move on to the next teat.

That's what we do.

 

[vchimpanzee]

"If everyone hates Nickelback so much, why does it still get airplay?"

You might want to double check your grammar.

It's proper to refer to a group as singular. Either way works.

What really gets me is "How You Remind Me" showing up on an AC. In a market with no soft music other than classical and religious.