Will there ever be another phenomenon like The Beatles?

[Axe]

I ended up on a webpage with a listing of the artists with the most number one hits on the Billboard 100 (US).

1. The Beatles (20)
2. Mariah Carey (18)
3. Elvis (17) pre-Hot 100
4. Michael Jackson (13)
5. Three tied with 12
-Madonna
-Rhianna
-The Supremes
6. Whitney Houston (11)
7. Two tied with 10
-Janet Jackson
-Stevie Wonder

The page included milestones including this fucking insane one -- on April 4, 1964, The Beatles occupied the entire top five! Other artists have occupied the top two spots at the same time, but never more than that.

Can't Buy Me Love
Twist and Shout
She Loves You
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Please Please Me

So it got me to thinking -- will there ever be another band like The Beatles in terms of chart success and media exposure?

I just can't see it happening -- the confluence of the band members, their off-the-chart songwriting abilities and the emergence of mass media seems like those once-in-a-lifetime occurrences.

While they're far from being my favourite band, I do respect them. As a friend of mine said, "You know you're in a fucking ridiculous band when George Harrison is the third best songwriter."

[marshallnoise]

Hopefully not. I know, I am a heretic.

[Elessar [Sly]]

Who are all these artists?

[nightflameauto]

I hate to agree with mraslulznadz on anything, but I hope to hell not.

I think there was a lot of talent in the Beatles, and they made music that appealed to a huge percentage of humanity. I am not one of those people, but just by sheer popularity it still, to this day, feels like they get shoved down my throat on a consistent basis. I remember moving to Sioux Falls in 1990 and having kids my own age (10th grade) start preaching the holy gospel of the Beatles to me when they found out I liked music like it was something I couldn't have possibly ever heard of. Just stop. I've heard 'em. I just don't enjoy it. Maybe at one time I could have if not for the absolute oversaturation every single one of their populars songs has gotten. On the rare occassion I hear one of their less popular songs, I can almost stomach it. Until a progression or a melody or a rhythm reminds me who it is.

I'm not a pop music guy to begin with, but any "phenomenon" act will oversaturate and will annoy the piss out of me because of it.

[Marc G]

I love the Beatles... I'm not a SUPER fan by any means but I dig their stuff.... just based on how the music industry is set up now I doubt we will ever see something like them again...

[sleewell]

i love the beatles and dont think anyone will ever be as big as they were.

[benjamin801]

just based on how the music industry is set up now I doubt we will ever see something like them again...

There's your answer.

[Axe]

It's pretty easy to be cynical about them now -- after all, they've had 50 years to accrete on pop culture.

My dad tried to explain exactly how huge they were in the early to mid-'60s but he said there isn't a suitable example today to compare it to. The way he put it, you know you're something unusual when kids are lining up to buy Rubber Soul in a small mining town in Northern Ontario (Kirkland Lake, where I was born).

[Axe]

Let's get rid of Clarence.

[video]http://vimeo.com/27037546[/video]

[neilrocks25]

no, is the simple answer.

[ComOp]

Yeah, some artist or group will come along and have a similar kind of success.... But it won't happen the same way as the Beatles. My guess is that it will happen via the internet and without marketing support from any known commercial success machine in existence. Oh, once they realize it's starting to happen they'll leach on, but they won't be the reason it happens.

[racerevlon]

Didn't the Bee Gees occupy the top five in '78 or '79, or was that just 5 cuts off the soundtrack?

To answer the original question (as it's already been answered), no, due to the new industry model and the pervasive access to new media. Even great music today is just a "flash in the pan" with a short shelf-life.

[Shark Diver]

No, but I think it has less to do with the new industry model and more to do with the state of our culture then and now.

[marshallnoise]

In general, good music rarely occupies the top of charts. Best selling cars are rarely the best cars. Pop is pop and The Beatles were every bit as manufactured as Lady Gaga. That's how I feel about it anyway.

[facefirst]

I just don't get The Beatles. I mean, I think they're a decent group but I can name a ton of groups that I think are infinitely more talented and make way better music. I know it's all subjective. But to answer the OP's question - No way. Never again. As it has already been stated, there's too much access to new music. There are no musical phenomenons. Even the ones that reach that sort of level (Adele, for instance) still pale in comparison. So no, there will never be something like that in music again. Pop music sucks anyways, but that's another discussion.

[Le_Marteau]

Skrillex

[PunchedDrunk...]

In terms of a cultural impact there will not be another act that can follow let alone surpass what has been done by any of the notable acts in our past. As for as 20+ #1 hits I think it is doable. If it is done it will be done by a Disney kid actor that sticks with it as they get older. Pretty much the path Miley Cyrus was put on, except they don't veer off the wholesome America road. Sucker in the kids and their parents.

[Telephant]

I don't trust a man that doesn't like the Beatles or Zeppelin.

[ShaneV]

I don't trust a man that doesn't like the Beatles or Zeppelin.

This is a good general policy for life.

[GuitarBilly]

There won't be anything like the Beatles, at least as far as rock bands are concerned. Rock now is pretty much a "traditional" music style like blues, jazz etc and no one will reignite the same excitement there was when rock was like 5-10 years old.

Having said that, we are just in the beginning of the new century/millennium and a lot of things will change. Rock N Roll was the music that defined the last century and it didn't appear until the 50's (mid-century).

We're in 2013 still so a lot will happen. You can say a lot of things in 1913 were still like the 1800's but as the last century progressed, things started to change. No reason why this century will be any different (and probably faster).


So yes, there may be another phenomenon like The Beatles, but it won't be a rock band.

[100 watt]

There are 4 types of music.

Hendrix '66-'68
Hendrix '69-'70
The Beatles
then there's everything else.

(IMHO)

[RSBro]

If Nickelback + Avril co-write an album on honeymoon, yes.

[spawnofthesith]

I sure hope there's never another band so absurdly overrated....

[SpacedOutAce]

I sure hope there's never another band so absurdly overrated....

Fucking this. The Beatles are godawful.

I don't trust a man that doesn't like the Beatles or Zeppelin.

I want a white Zeppelin shirt [Beatles would work too, I guess], so I can write "Fuck" at the top, similar to Johnny Rotten's "FUCK Pink Floyd" shirt, though to Floyd's credit, they are actually enjoyable.

Realize that Nicki fucking Minaj was THE JUDGE of talent on a show, then ask that question again.

Could've been worse... she could've been elected vice president as Beyonce's running mate.