Originating from Bloomberg, a rather fascinating look at the Business Of Chad Kroeger/Nickleback and their incredible ability to manufacture money.
Hating Nickelback is a lifestyle choice. It’s like being against Crocs, Microsoft or the French. And yet the foursome formed in Hanna, Alberta is one of the best-selling active rock bands in America, thriving as the recording industry has declined. How it does so has less to do with the band’s artistry than with the commercial genius of its Jäger-swilling frontman.
He's definitely smart when it comes to business. I've talked to people who worked at local newspapers and radio stations when Nickelback was starting out, and nobody self-promoted like they did. Kroeger worked hard to get where he is, and I respect him for that. But I still think his music is dull and contrived.
Good for him, but he better get used to the hate. He's basically everything artists in any industry despise.
No really. At least he has talent and writes and plays music. The "artists" I really dislike are those that can't sing, can't write music, and are basically a manufactured product.
No really. At least he has talent and writes and plays music. The "artists" I really dislike are those that can't sing, can't write music, and are basically a manufactured product.
Thats exactly what Nickelback is though. You just described them to a tee.
No I didn't, Kroeger is a real musician, as much as it pains me to say that, he has talent. I don't like 99% of his music, but he does write, compose and perform dozens or even hundreds of songs. Rebecca Black is a good example of an industry creation. Or Britney Spears.
Thats exactly what Nickelback is though. You just described them to a tee.
I think you missed his point, though. You can argue that they suck, but his point was that they write their own songs and he sings honestly. Yes his voice can be grating to some, but it's his real vioce.
Azmler was reffering to those pop musicians that literally can't sing so they have to use autotune, and the songs are written for them. Basically they're truley a manufactured product.
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Exactly. It's the in thing to bash Nickelback, and they deserve it for their formulaic sound. But they don't deserve to be bashed and called out for not being a real band. These guys can play, and if they dropped the mass market sound they could probably make some pretty good music.
Fair enough, but I really don't see/hear the talent at all. Somehow I doubt they would be any better without the marketing but thats just me. Sure they have done well for themselves making a ton of money, but so has Justin Bieber. To each their own I guess.
Exactly. It's the in thing to bash Nickelback, and they deserve it for their formulaic sound. But they don't deserve to be bashed and called out for not being a real band. These guys can play, and if they dropped the mass market sound they could probably make some pretty good music.
I actually liked a lot of their older stuff. They used to have more of a raw, grungy sound. They definitly know how to play, but just gave in to formula driven, easy sales songs.
I learned to play drums from their old drummer, and he seemd to have a similar opinion of their direction.
Fair enough, but I really don't see/hear the talent at all.
What do you consider talent? Can you strap on a guitar and play like Kroeger? That guy can slam out a riff pretty damn good. Maybe because I dabble in a few instruments (and am pretty good at a couple of them) I have a different perspective.
Here's a live Nickelback performance. Yes this is live enough though it looks like the audio is slightly out of sync. The vocals are highly processed to get that "big mean" sound but almost all bands do this now. Metallica has done it for a very, very long time. (lyrics NSFW)
....edit... I'd like people to post bands that they think have talent. Has to be live performances though.
Fair enough, but I really don't see/hear the talent at all. Somehow I doubt they would be any better without the marketing but thats just me. Sure they have done well for themselves making a ton of money, but so has Justin Bieber. To each their own I guess.
Well for starters Daniel Adair is one of the best drummers out there. Also, Chad Kroeger is a very good guitarist, he can definitly shred. But again, with the direction they took, you just don't see it very often.
Chad Kroeger. Genius. Deal With it.
