2. History of Rock
Rock music originated as ‘Rock and Roll’ in the USA during the 1950s. It is heavily
influenced rhythm & blues and country music. There is usually a group that is formed to play
rock music. It is centered around the electric guitar. It also includes electric bass guitars and
drums.
1950s. The Birth of Rock and Roll- This is a combination of electric blues, country and
gospel. This time period would include singers like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley.
1960s. The Expansion of Boundaries in Rock. Rock music began to dominate the charts.
However, it was not only the charts in the US that were being dominated; it was also the UK
charts. The singers that were a part of this domination were The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
1970s. Rock Music becomes big business. The rock music in the 70s started to progress
into hard rock and heavy metal. A couple of musicians from this time were David Bowie and
Bruce Springteen.
1980s. TV and Technology Influence. MTV was launched in 1981. musicians began to
make music videos to reach out to their audience.
1990s. Internet and Digital Music. The internet allowed the distribution of music legally and
through peer to peer sharing.
3. What is Alternative Rock?
This is a genre of rock music that was known as ‘underground
music’ throughout the 1980s. Alternative rock (alt-rock), however,
is different from other kinds of rock music. Rock music is like pop
music because the lyrics talk about romantic love and addresses a
large variety of other themes. Whereas, alternative rock has a more
nonchalant and defiant attitude and the lyrics are more
transgressed. Something they do have in common however would
be that they both have an emphasis on society and politics.
It became popular by the 1990s. Its sub genres are:
Indie Rock
Grunge
Indie Pop- this is what I will be focusing on in my magazine. (front
page, contents page, double page spread).
5. What is Indie Pop?
Indie pop is a genre of Alternative rock. It is a more
independent genre when compared to pop music.
It originated in the UK during the mid 1980s with Scottish
post punk roots.
Indie pop is different from the mainstream pop that we
hear today. It has a very electric sound and often has
elements from other styles including urban, dance, rock,
Latin and country. Although indie pop has a somewhat
similar sound to pop it is more melodic and does not have
the sound of the popular music today.
6. Audience
The audience for the genres of alternative rock and indie
pop are listened to by both males and females from the
ages of 16-24.
7. Rock magazines
Kerrang! Magazine
Kerrang! is a rock devoted magazine
that is based in the UK. Published
June 6th 1981.
The gender ratio for the readers of
Kerrang! is 45.3% female and 54.7%
male.
The ages for Kerrang! magazine’s
reader profile is quite young with a
median age of 22.
You can tell that this magazine is for
young people because along the top
of it, they show that there are posters
that can be collected. Posters would
typically be found in a young
person’s room where they are not
sharing with anyone.
8. Rock Magazines
Rolling Stone
This is a music based biweekly
magazine that also has emphasis
on the popular culture and
politics. It was founded in 1967 in
San Fransisco.
The male audience for Rolling
Stone magazine is 60.7% and
has a female audience of 39.3%.
Rolling Stone magazine is mostly
popular with older audiences who
either work non professionally or
professionally, is married
(37.5%)/single (48.1%) and
owned their own homes (56.7%)
9. Indie Magazines
NME
NME (New Musical Express) is a
weekly, British music journalism
magazine that was published
March 1952. It is widely
associated with rock, alternative
and indie music.
NME magazine targets a male
audience from the ages of 17-
30, with an average age of 25.
The readers for the magazine
are generally modern, young
and trendy who are also
dedicated to the magazine.
10. Links
Alternative Rock:
Arctic Monkeys- example of indie rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6INdLUR2Jrc
Foo Fighters- example of grunge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3B0Vx_yQgo
Neutral Milk Hotel- example of indie pop (genre
focus).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TudLjZ_4VhU&ind
ex=3&list=AL94UKMTqg-9Aa364Aa_03f_UCuP8B6-
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