Quote:
Originally posted by Rick and Roll
By pure #'s, the progressive movement is indeed lower. And maybe even as a comparison by share to other music, it's about level (pop being the majority, country a lot, etc). But it's comparatively as strong as it ever was.
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I've mentioned numbers a lot on various forums because a lot of people have the perception that a certain album sells 50,000 units, when in fact it sold 10,000. And ones they think sell 10,000, sell 1,000, and many not even that.
A festival that ran out in LA (10 million + several million in outlying areas) "ProgFest" couldn't even bring in 500 people in 2000, with a great lineup (Banco, Kenso, etc).
But the internet can change our perception to just how popular the movement is as we immerse ourselves deeply into the minutia of the concepts of progressive rock. Now we can talk to a bunch of people who actually know who The Flower Kings are!
Most of these festivals, albums, etc are all being market to the same several thousand fans over and over and over again. Only a handful of albums each year are recognized much outside that small fanbase.
Within that constraint, yes I agree that the movement is alive and well (though maybe in need of a little shakeup).
- Cozy