For decades, rock music topped the charts. Starting in the 1950s, rock and roll had a vice grip on the entertainment industry for generations. But in recent years, other genres of music have become much more popular. This led some to believe that rock music had died, left behind as a product of past generations. In 2025, however, the claim that “rock is dead” has never been more wrong. In the last few years, many rock bands have started to ascend charts, win awards, and sell massive amounts of tickets once again.
Rock music peaked in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. It remained a highly popular stable of radio, but its popularity declined in the 1990s when hip-hop and pop music became more popular. Billboard’s classification of Top 20 songs in the 2000s showed that only 5% were rock. But recently, rock music is coming back to the mainstream. I believe this comes from four factors: the rise of younger rock bands, self-isolation during the COVID pandemic, social media discovering old music, and movies and TV becoming more focused on nostalgia.
Nowadays, the internet makes it easier than ever before for artists to promote themselves. Three of the most successful bands of the last 15 years are Bring Me the Horizon, Ghost, and Sleep Token. These bands all formed in Europe, but are now selling out arenas in America because of their hype on social media. Social media has also allowed for more underground artists such as Knocked Loose and Lorna Shore to become popular after reaction videos and live footage go viral.
Related to the boom of rock music on social media is the fact that people had more time on their hands during the COVID-19 pandemic to reminisce on their concert memories and discover new music. This has resulted in a booming concert industry since the end of the pandemic. According to concert promoter Live Nation, ticket sales have gone up 20% from what they were before the COVID pandemic. Many rock bands, new and old, have embarked on high grossing tours since the pandemic, including stadium-filling shows from the likes of Metallica and Green Day.
Younger generations have also discovered older bands, causing their popularity to surge, just as new bands trend on social media. Two notable examples are Deftones and Pierce The Veil. While still popular, these two bands have seen their popularity grow in recent years. Despite being around for over 20 years, these two bands are more popular now than ever before. This same phenomenon has also occurred with many other nostalgic artists, which has led some inactive bands to reunite.
Finally, I believe that TV, movies, and games that are built around nostalgia have exposed younger people to older music. Media has always used popular music, but with newer series and films such as Stranger Things that take place in the past, older music takes center stage in these soundtracks. Classic artists such as Metallica and Kate Bush have seen their streaming numbers go up after being featured in television shows and video games. This exposure to older songs has inspired younger generations to explore more diverse music.
Besides these forms of media, mainstream pop musicians have referenced rock music. Pop stars like Olivia Rodrigo have described the likes of Nirvana and Paramore as influences, and rapper Travis Scott often wears shirts of classic New York punk band Sick of It All. In conclusion, I believe that the sentiment “rock music is dead” is wrong. While its popularity may have waned, no single genre currently dominates.
