Rock Music Data explores the evolution of rock music through the objective lens of data analysis, moving beyond subjective opinions to examine sales figures, concert attendance, and chart performance. This approach provides unique insights into the genre's commercial and cultural impact, revealing hidden trends and challenging conventional wisdom about rock's trajectory. For instance, sales data pinpoints peak popularity periods, while attendance records demonstrate the increasing scale of rock performances, highlighting how the music industry grew alongside the genre.
The book approaches its subject chronologically, beginning with the rise of rock and roll in the 1950s and 60s, tracing its explosion using sales figures and chart data. It then analyzes the arena rock era of the 70s and 80s, using concert attendance records to demonstrate the increasing commercialization of rock. Finally, the fragmentation of rock in the 90s and 2000s is examined using data to pinpoint the rise of alternative rock, grunge, and the impact of digital music, making it valuable to anyone interested in music history and the music industry.
