Nickelback’s 6 Million Seller….
Posted December 13, 2007 — in Music News
Selling 6 Million Records in the 21st Century is rare. The music business is a business of ‘exceptions’ and some artists defied the odds including Nickelback. USA Today pointed out an interesting statistic that only just 15 new albums released since 2000 have sold more than Nickelback.
Nickelback enjoyed 100+ consecutive weeks in the top 30 of Billboard’s album chart and sold over 6 Million Records WITHOUT dominating the sex-celeb driven tabloids, gracing the cover of magazines, and giving away free music. Rather than digging up a phony story and kissing up to wannabe celeb Perez Hilton, Nickelback did it the right way.
So what is the right way?
Chad can write a song and the band has radio appeal. Nickelback can be heard on adult contemporary and rock stations. Five songs from the album have appeared on Nielsen BDS’ multi-format national radio airplay chart, all reaching No. 25 or higher. Also, the band never stopped touring. The band toured in 2005 all they way through 2006 - 2007 rarely taking time off.
Nickelback’s catchy rock n roll songs is the main ingredient for success. They write classic formulated rock songs that don’t stray from the big rock sounds of the 70’s and 80’s - big guitars, gritty vocals, well defined choruses, climatic bridges, and soundtrack lyrics. Of course Chris Daughtry delivered the same rock and got the same results with his mega platinum record.
Nickelback’s success fuels the anger of hungry artists and half assed critics who want to re-define rock n roll to their personal taste. As USA Today depicted,’Nickelback’s traditional path to long-term prosperity contrasts with the way other mega-sellers did it’.
Other artists that will eventually top 6 million include Carrie Underwoods ‘Some Hearts’, Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Breakaway’, and The Dixie Chicks ‘Home’.
Congratulations to Nickelback. Personally I feel that people wouldn’t have a thing to say about them if they weren’t successful. While I’m not a fan, that doesn’t mean their not a great band. They are obviously better writers and harder workers than the majority of musicians who bad mouth them. So for everything they’ve accomplished in today’s state of music… I tip my hat.
Comment by Kyle — December 13, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
they’re - not their - sorry.
Comment by Kyle — December 13, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
So true. Nickelback is a hardworking band and road turtles. They never take breaks. No emotional break - downs on the road, no vocal problems, no dehydration problems, no EXCUSES.
Nickelback can name their next record “NO EXCUSES” and stand behind it!
Comment by tom — December 13, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
very funny, re: wannabe celeb Perez Hilton. So true KOAR. Christina Aguilera and the other pop artists are slave to Perez thinking that he can actually contribute to ones career. They are so dilusional and mis-managed.
I give props to Nickelback from not being sell out and playing into the media circus. Plus, the media circus cant sell songs anyway!
Comment by lilly — December 13, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Hat’s off indeed! The last few elections have proven that this country has a great number of dumb consumers so good for Nickleback for taking advantage of that little known fact! Mediocre rock (that doesn’t actually rock) will always be bought by numerous unintelligent superficial people as the soundtrack to their stupidity. So lets call their marketing “strategy” what it really is…dumb music for dumb people.
Comment by Julia — December 13, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Chad is responsible for Nickelbacks success, nobody else. Roadrunner is the most privileged label in the music business to have such a band. I hope they dont screw it up!
All Roadrunner has to do is answer the calls!
Congrats CHAD!
Comment by rob — December 13, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Julia -
You sound a like a musical snob. Yuck! Let me guess, you have MOZART or the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies pumped in you’re car studio. Or better yet - you have the yellow iPod with wearing matching yellow boots, with a yellow scarf convincing yourself that you are more sophisticated then everybody else, yet you probably can’t even name the speaker the house.
The point of Nickelback success is that they are NOT superficial hanging out at MR CHOWS or gracing the cover of Rolling Stone and hanging out with Lohan. The only exposure Nickelback has is Radio and Touring.
As far as you’re comment elections, you must be a democrat. Well Julia, sorry to break the news, but the democrats are as corrupt as the republicans. Hillary Clinton and Obama are funded by George Soros who contributes millions to their campaign. NJ which is run by the democrats is the most corrupt state in America. Remember Julia, we have a 2 party system. Thats it. Get it? can you figure it out? the same people pull the strings for each party. Thats why all the candidates have the same pitch.
And no Julia, the world won’t end because of Global Warming either and Bush and the Clintons are great friends. Pull the blanket off your head and open you’re eyes.
Comment by jen — December 13, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
Seriously Julia.
I may not be a fan of theirs, but good for them. They may not art to you, but at least they are an actual band and write an album full of solid tunes. Now that’s a dying art.
Comment by Mike — December 13, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Nickelback just prove a point… if you can come up with a collection of strong radio songs, your chances of “making it” are very big!
Competition is not that tough these days! You’re “just” up against Daughtry, Nelly Furtado, Soulja Boy and Fergie. Not really THAT strong, huh? It’s not The Beatles, Otis Redding, or Marvin Gaye. Just some mediocre talent, compared to the acts I just named.
So with a bunch of catchy songs you will go far. VERY FAR! Just look at Fergie. She has a butterface, nowhere near the sex appeal Britney Speaks had at her height, but she is currently THE biggest female pop artist on the planet. Back in the 60s or 70s she would’ve been lucky to sing background for Marvin Gaye. Nowadays she’s a superstar.
I dont know if god stopped creating geniuses, or if young bands just spend too much time on their MySpace, instead of writing hit songs… but if you wanna make it big as a mediocre act, NOW’S THE TIME!
Comment by Jason — December 13, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
“Hillary Clinton and Obama are funded by George Soros who contributes millions to their campaign.”
Wow. Really? They receive money from a person who gives them money? The scandal!
I love it when people know juuuuuust enough to drop a name, but have no idea how to complete the argument.
Okay, enough political talk.
Nickelback is kind of the Michael Bolton of the 2000s — they’ve sold millions of albums, but most people don’t want to admit they own one (primarily because Kroeger writes some of the cheesiest lyrics in modern rock).
I’m not a fan, but again, it’s all personal taste. Unlike the ‘blip pop’ band on the other thread, there’s no hype here — just millions in record sales. That doesn’t necessarily make them “exciting” or “original” (personally, I’d argure that they’re neither), but it does make them a global success. Congrats to them.
Comment by jalan — December 13, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
As far as I’m concerned, Nickelback is like popular people in High School. Nobody will care about them in the end. Sure they have topped the charts, but I just find them to be “lacking in special interest, liveliness, individuality”, which is the definition of BLAND. Or tasteless if you prefer. Nickelback should go ahead and get sponsored by McDonalds.
Jen, You put a lot of words in Julia’s mouth. She didn’t even say she was a Democrat.
RON PAUL is the only REAL PERSON with REAL PLANS for our country.
Comment by Rick — December 13, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Nickelback is like popular people in High School. Nobody will care about them in the end.
Who says anyone will remember the unpopular in High School?
Comment by lisa — December 13, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Wow, jen… chip on your shoulder?
Soundtrack for their stupidity, that’s perfect. Maybe the best comment that’s ever been posted on this website.
Let’s be honest with ourselves here. Nickelback is undeniably the lowest common denominator. If you want to pat them on the back for sticking to that middle road come hell or high water, go for it. Honestly it blows my mind how he can strip so much character from his music that it becomes completely unoffensive to such a large portion of the masses. Commercially, Nickelback is a gigantic success. Artistically, they’re a complete failure. I have a hard time believing Chad would argue that point.
I’m not going to pretend I’m anyone I’m not, I was into Nickelback’s first two records. I was young & ignorant & full of angst. The reason they lost me with Silver Side Up is that it was a completely watered down & overproduced version of what was on the State. And with each subsequent release, the songs became more & more watered down & they appealed to a larger audience, a lower common denominator, until they finally land on these ridiculous, contrived, soulless bullshit ballads like Photograph & If Everyone Cared. I’m convinced that by album fifteen they’ll be touring with Barry Manilow & Barbara Streisand. If this was ever a rock band, they were neutered before Silver Side Up.
There are two ways to be wildly successful. Write incredible songs (Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, etc) or write incredibly unoffensive songs (Nickelback, Hoobastank, Hootie & the Blowfish, etc). Anyone who’s above this lowest common denominator & wants to pat the latter group on the back are factoring in the dollar signs, there’s no two ways about it.
They put food on the table for a lot of people, but I could never convince myself that Nickelback is a good thing for the music industry. The HUGE problem that they create is that labels no longer go for incredible songs because there’s so much less risk in an unoffensive song. This is horrible for the industry & for culture in general. Jason is the PERFECT example of this.
People see this happening & Nickelback becomes the scapegoat. Nickelback isn’t doing anything particularly wrong other than writing really really shitty songs (that would otherwise be ignored.) But there’s no A&R guy or record exec in the public eye. People would turn their disdain to Jason if they knew he was accessible, I’m sure. Andy Nickelback is grinning all the way to the bank… they don’t need anyone to defend them.
But if not for Napster & the “digital music revolution,” things would have kept going this way & it’s possible that we would’ve never seen another Bob Dylan. Thankfully, this is not the case. Fucking sucks for the labels & their bottom line, but fucking awesome for fans of music who exist above the LCD.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 13, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Lisa, the point is that popularity or billboard success is an unreliable source when judging an act nowadays, unless your totally dedicated to making money.
Comment by Rick — December 13, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
you’re*
Comment by Rick — December 13, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Oh yeah, & horray for Ron Paul. I can’t wait to send in my donation on Saturday.
http://www.teaparty07.com/
Comment by Jon Cole — December 13, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Rick - that statement is ridiculous. You just can’t wipe the charts away because they still exist. Carrie Underwoods ‘Some Hearts’, Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Breakaway’, and The Dixie Chicks ‘Home’, and Nickelback will have sold over 6 million records.
Regardless of the future, you will always have popular artists who will enjoy the benefits of touring and music sales.
I never met an artist who got into to the music biz dedicated to making money. If so, they are financially retarded thinkers.
as far as Jon - you are entitled to you’re opinion. But, 98.% artists cant touch Chads writing. Its easy to strum a couple of chords but its hard to write songs for the masses. Thats why so few do it.
Comment by lisa — December 13, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
how about the full-assed critics that think that Nickleback programmed software to create music? They already have their next 149 CDs written.
Comment by Scott — December 13, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
It’s hard to write music for the masses… but it’s easy to strum a couple of chords? What? I don’t get what you’re saying.
I’ll tell you what’s hard, selling yourself to the masses. Being unique, being Bob Dylan or Pink Floyd or the Clash or the Cure. And making it on your own terms. Not sacrificing the art. Nirvana. Changing a culture, changing people’s lives.
You know what Chad is doing? He’s writing songs with the average, uninteresting Joe Blow in mind. He’s writing songs about the lives of the most boring people in the entire country. That’s his formula. Cat’s out of the bag. Do you really appreciate that he does that well? Does that REALLY get you off?
God, I hope not.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 13, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
98% eh? where’d you get that fact? The sleeve of the last nickelback cover? I could say 80% of artist wouldn’t want to touch his writing.
Comment by Rick — December 13, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Nickelback is to the Music Business as McDonalds is to the Food Business.
Comment by Rick — December 13, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
Let me say this. Listening to Nickel back is like eating McDonalds. You always know what your going to get and you walk away satisfied.
Comment by Rick — December 13, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
and by “you” is the average consumer. BTW Sorry about the one sentence entries.
Comment by Rick — December 13, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
For clarification…this is a different “Jason” than the previous post on this thread. That said…
The condescension in some of these posts is unbelievable!!! Stupid??? Folks on here complain that someone makes assumptions about Julia for her comments, but those same folks don’t seem to take issue with the fact that she’s calling people stupid for liking Nickelback. It’s no wonder we can’t get anything done in this country. Geez…
Agreed, Nickelback isn’t exactly reinventing anything, but writing off their success as stupid music for stupid people is…well, in a word, stupid. It seems like so many in this industry ignore reality. Most people who buy music don’t care whether or not you think something is “artistic.” They listen to a song and they either like it or they don’t. That doesn’t make them stupid, it doesn’t make them anything other than someone that buys music they like. And who the hell is anyone here to tell someone what they can and cannot like? Last time I checked this is still a free country in spite of the best efforts of some of our wonderful politicians!! I am a musician and I can’t stand a lot of what some of you would call artistic. I don’t care how many notes you can cram into a bar of music. I don’t care how “different” or “creative” something is. I may appreciate the musicianship if it’s there, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to buy it. There are a lot of great musicians out there that can’t write a listenable song to save their life…I’ve played with many! I buy stuff that makes me feel something and that I can listen to over and over and not get sick of it. Whether it’s earth-shattering, original or not matters little to me.
I don’t even own a NB album, but I know many that do and I can assure you they’re not stupid. That attitude has more to do with the problems in music than anything else right now. You have so many people in the business that assume they’re dealing with stupid people and think they can cram any kind of crap they want down people’s throats and they’ll buy it ’cause some A&R guy thinks it’s the next big thing. There are tons of songs that get spun just as much as any NB song does/has, but yet only very few that find the kind of commercial success that NB has. There is one thing that seems to be a constant in this business…no matter what the latest fad, no matter what the latest twist on production is to make something sound “different,” or better yet, no matter what a band wears! A straight up rock song, with a good hook and a catchy melody from…and this is important too…a band that can actually perform it live (which is severely lacking in todays ProTools world), seems to always bring solid success in any musical environment. People in the industry can complain about that all they want, but they ignore it at their own peril.
Nickelback may not be known 50 years from now as a band that changed music. They’ll just be a band that sold MILLIONS of records, sold out THOUSANDS of shows, and connected with a whole lot of people in a way that motivated those people to buy their music. Stupid indeed! Oh to be that stupid…
Comment by Jason — December 13, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
This is the other Jason again….
To add what the previous Jason said. What I hate most about people like Jon, is the hipster elitism. The thought that art is only REAL art when it’s challenging, not easily accessible, or “underground”.
The statement Jon made about Chad not being a genuine songwriter, just because he writes songs that the average person in North America can relate to, is absolutely ridiculious and ignorant.
Not everybody can live in a Williamsburg loft, paid by his rich parents, while pretending to be an avangarde artist at day, and partying at the hip clubs at night. (Not saying that Jon is living that sort of lifestyle, but that’s the vibe I’m getting from his STATEMENTS, not him as a person.)
Some people actually live in the real world, and a lot of them have AVERAGE lives. Those people are stupid? Less intelligent than you Jon? Gimme a break. And who is to say that Chad intentionally writes music that appeals to the most common denominator? For all I know, he’s writing the music he writes, because that’s what he’s into, and what he would like to hear on the radio if he’d be a fan.
Comment by Jason — December 13, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
lets see…The Cubby Bear lounge in Chicago Nickelback, about 200 people, band signed to a KNOWN heavy metal label and from Canada. nawwww….not a chance in hell that Nickelback will be anything..
Comment by larry anderson — December 13, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
Oh I never said anyone was stupid. I thought the quote was really great. But I said the song were unoffensive. And really really shitty. Maybe you’re stupid to listen to shitty music? I don’t know. I do know that a rocket scientist can wreck an automobile. I know my mom files my taxes for me. We’re all inept in some areas, whether it’s because we haven’t put in the effort because we just don’t have the natural skills. I would never say someone is less smart than me because they listen to shitty music.
I think we’re in a time where people feel that they’re above being offended. Nickelback is like a big musical “happy holidays.” And I don’t care which winter greeting you use, but I think the fact that everyone is so anal to change things, so eager to be politically correct, has a lot to do with the success of Nickelback.
In stark contrast, my favorite artists had something to say, whether or not I agreed with it. Joe Strummer, John Lennon, Bob Dylan… they told me how things SHOULD BE. And these guys sold records. Sure, these guys lived in completely different times, but only because they themselves amplified the counterculture. And you need look no further than the Ron Paul movement to see that there are some fiery countercultures in our country today that need a spokesman. (Neil Young’s audience is burnt out on revolution.) Eddie Vedder is doing a fine job… he sells a record or two. And a concert ticket or two. Or maybe my favorite artists wanted to have sex… maybe it’s Rod Stewart or Mick Jagger. And maybe they were unashamed of it. But whatever it was, it wasn’t “Oh man, look at this photograph. I remember when Louie & I had a hot dog at the county fair.” That’s boring shit, Jason. Boring. The average joe isn’t less intelligent than me. But he’s more complacent. That’s for damn sure.
And let me restate that Nickelback isn’t doing anything wrong. They’re just not doing anything right. They’re just a shitty band that, in a perfect world, would be ignored by those looking for substance in their musical diet. They have their place, it’s just not for me. And it’s not necessarily for “stupid” people, just complacent people, generally. I mean, I’ve seen the videos… and I’ve seen Kroeger’s blank face the whole time. The problem is that the music industry is focused on the unoffensive & ignores the great stuff… the Dylans, the Lennons, the Strummers… You can point to Nickelbacks and Daughtrys & Hindereds all day long & I would say “You’re totally right & there’s a place for that,” but you can’t ignore the sales & the longevity of genuine artists. You just can’t.
And if you’re going to say “Oh these are different times,” it’s only because greedy assholes made it a different time. People are looking for genuine music again, the internet is teeming with folks just like me & the political climate is very similar to that of the late 60’s & early 70’s. You can catch the wave or you can miss it, but it will come all the same. And the old ways will be washed away. For a while, at least.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 13, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
I think the article pretty much states the only meaningful fact in all of this. Life does not revolve around the thoughts of stupid or smart people. Unless your Sharon Osbourne, Russell Simmons, Jason Flom, Bill McGathy, Jimmy Lovine or any other name of stature your opinion is just that. Using arrogance to try and defame a undeniable artist is just simple minded. The point made is over 6 millions albums sold!! End of story. As a working consumer your product, for whatever intents and purposes, must be of solid appeal to me in order for me to spend my wages on. You can call them performers, entertainers, musicians, rockstars, or any other labels you can think of; but the only truth in all this is Nickelback is composed of 4 songwriters.
Noone can say they can predict the next era of music nor brainwash the public, outside of our major conglomerates do, into what they believe is it. Out of 100 song released per week only 4 make it into the average radio playlist. Britnry Spear’s last video costed $1 million dollars, Korn’s last video costed $150,000. Theres your difference between rockstars and songwriters. Chad Kroger did not go to BMI or ASCAP and hire other songwriters to write Nickelback albums, when SO many others did. He did not call Puff Daddy or Jay Z in order to establish his name in the music business. He stuggled as a songwriter, he was accepted as a songwriter and now makes a living as a songwriter. The indisputable fact is Nickelback, for whatever you see them as, have immortalized themselves in the music profession. 20yrs from now when people are discussing music, Nickelback will be one of the names they mention for this era.
Comment by RoAcH — December 13, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
I think mainstream rock of this period will rank right up there with disco. If Nickelback is remembered, it will be as the figurehead of cheesy, formulaic, soulless corporate rock. Right up there with Creed. lol Who unwittingly wrote the formula that Nickelback would go on to quantize.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 13, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
Guys bashing Nickleback is getting old. They proved time and time again that they can write a hit, the guy writes good simple pop songs. Anyone who says they haven’t ever had any of them stuck in their head or hummed one back is lying to themselves,
As much as some don’t like to admit Nickleback has changed music. When they became popular not much was sounding like them and now they have plenty of spin offs, just like The Strokes have plenty of spin offs too. It is ok not to like them we all have our own taste but lets be honest here for the style of music they make they write better songs then all the other bands that sound like them. They know and understand who their fans are. For me I’m happy that they are doing what they want to do how they want to do it, I wish more bands could do this. This is the reason for their success.
If you read my other posts you’ll know I’m not for the current system of Major Labels and I prefer different music then what Nickleback has to offer. I do think that if Nickleback where to be an ice cream flavor…lets say chocolate… then for someone who wants chocolate Nickleback would be the best chocolate they can get compared to what the other people are offering as chocolate. You see some people want a different flavor of music so they’d go with something else and thats ok too.
The one thing I don’t believe in is faulting people for liking what they like. I like The Beatles, David Bowie, Nirvana, System Of a Down, Radiohead, Daft Punk, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Duran Duran , Nine Inch Nails..If someone ever called me dumb for liking what i like I would nicely say ” F*** you don’t listen to them then ”
back to Nickleback 6 million album sales is not an easy thing too do.
Comment by Phill — December 14, 2007 @ 12:46 am
“And you need look no further than the Ron Paul movement to see that there are some fiery countercultures in our country today that need a spokesman.”
True. Unfortunately, time has shown that socialism is catchy. But I’m working on it.
Comment by Keith — December 14, 2007 @ 2:52 am
In an effort to be as clear as possible, I’ll open this can of worms. The discussion of Nickleback really isn’t about taste ans much as it is about commerce. 6 million album sales isn’t as difficult a thing to do if you hit on a formula that radio will push and stick to it. Nickleback hasn’t proven that they can write hit song(s). They’ve proven that they can craft a bland template for a radio driven commercial for a populist message then swap out one set of poorly written everyman style lyrics for another and call it a different song. They keep releasing very close to the same song over and over. Listen to their main singles carefully and look at their chord progressions. Even the tempo and arrangement is the same.
And, no, I’m not a Democrat. I’m just not a sucker for substanceless music and dark-age minded politicians. There are those on both the Republican ticket and the Democratic ticket that I respect but they won’t get the nomination. It’s true that for the most part, Clinton, Obama, Bush & Giuliani etc get their money from the same companies for a reason. They are ultimately ineffectual when it comes to any actual positive change, allowing corporate interests to do what ever is on their own agenda. Nickleback drains funding and radio play from the next potential Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, David Bowie, James Brown etc, for the same reason. Record companies aren’t trying to grow the potential of creative meaningful artists. Obviously, they want their profits now. This will work for Maroon 5, Nickleback and a hand full of crappy Rock, R&B, Pop and Country acts but is also killing our future, long lasting, substantive artists just as promoting the business as usual candidates (Clinton/Bush/Obama/Romney/Huckabee/Giuliani/Edwards), keep talented, forward thinking (and, gasp, QUALIFIED) potential leaders from getting funding and attention (Ron Paul /Bill Richardson). You either focus on long term substance or you don’t. On the basis of this argument I’ll say that every Nickleback record that is sold represents a potential great band that we’ll never hear.
Comment by Julia — December 14, 2007 @ 3:41 am
“They keep releasing very close to the same song over and over. Listen to their main singles carefully and look at their chord progressions. Even the tempo and arrangement is the same.”
Say what…? Maybe that’s Nickelback’s style. You’re familiar with that word, arent you? These guys wont release a slow piano ballad. They’re a band that mainly writes guitar driven uptempo songs. Of course a lot of their songs gonna sound ALIKE. That’s why fans love them. They have a distinctive style and stick to it. But of course, the anti commerce people will classify all of that as “selling out”. Hey, whatever floats your boat. The argumentation is just sooo predictable.
I’m out. This is a discussion you guys should have with your hipster friends, while doing coke and listening to the latest Pitchfork discovery.
Comment by Jason — December 14, 2007 @ 4:04 am
I am tired of baseless music. I am tired of jager drinking, small of the back chick tattoo, tongue pierced rock. It sucks. It may sell 6 million in a society full of people just like that, but it is like McDonalds. If you have too much of it, and all the time, you will come down with serious health issues and DIE. Just like music. Either a total wannabe groupie or a SOLD OUT HIPSTER have been signing bands for too long. Not bitter, I just remember having the PRIVILEGE of going to a record store with eager anticipation of the next kick ass album I was going to buy. I havent bought a new record from a store in at least 2 years. If corporate/overproduced/baseless rock is the future of music and this particular website, I’m out. And by the way, Pitchfork sucks. It is the haven for a bunch of pussy “rock” where they STILL WRITE ABOUT some chick in high school and play seriously weak parts on their instruments.
Comment by jake — December 14, 2007 @ 5:27 am
Maybe Chad should learn how to chant and bang trash can lids together over a nice hipster beat and then people like Julia will like it! She is obviously the enlightened one and the other 6 million people that bought the new NB record are just sheep that cant think for themselves and really don’t understand what they like. They just buy it because the radio plays it. Get the fuck out of here!! Without NB roadrunner would have shut down a LONG time ago and all those shitty Metal and indie brit sounding bands that you love so much would would never have their chance for failure. When did getting paid to make music become such a “non hip” thing. This is why the industry is going broke. Labels put out music that only the A&R guy that signed them and his 10 friends like. THAT IS TRULY STUPID MUSIC FOR STUPID PEOPLE!!
Comment by Cris — December 14, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Well, I stopped reading about half way down as people were just attacking other people and not the issue. Personally I am not a Nickelback fan and I would say their music is boring. But like many have said, you can’t argue that it sells incredibly well.
I do however want to point out, that many artists that people would define as “crappy” have sold as many or more. Shania Twain, Britney Spears, N’SYNC, Michael Jackson. In that group there is a singer/songwriter who writes music that makes her feel good, a pop diva, a all boy group, and well a Jackson.
Point is, people like what they like and if you don’t like it then shove off. Again, not defending Nickelback, as I don’t own one of their CD’s though I do like some songs of theirs.
To Jon’s comment way up there. Chad has in fact said that he doesn’t write anything special and that they found a formula that works and they follow it. Again nothing wrong with this as even Bob Dylan had a formula of sorts, albiet it was a loose formula.
Anyone want to attack me now? Please go ahead
Comment by Brian F — December 14, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
I don’t think anyone is saying if you’re not Nickelback, you have to be MIA or CSS or Hot Chip. You can write really straight forward songs that are great & that are palletable without just using the same formula over & over again, watering it down more & more each time. Look at Jackson Browne. He’s one of my absolute favorites & he appeals to pretty much anyone, but there’s still substance there. And Take It Easy isn’t Running On Empty which isn’t Somebody’s Baby. He’s got more than 1 song to rehash. A lot more, actually.
Maroon 5’s first record came out in June of 2002. Their second came out in May of 2007. That’s 5 years of playing the same 12 songs. As an artist, I can’t imagine doing that. But they’re obviously satisfied with their fame & fortune. I think Nickelback’s situation is similar… they’re content to write unoffensive songs because they sell. That doesn’t necessarily make him a great songwriter.
It’s very important that we be honest with ourselves about this sort of stuff if only to keep a balance of the unoffensive commercial music & the genuine art. That’s important for music & it’s important for culture.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 14, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Again, everyone’s entitled to their opinion and personal preferences, but I think there’s an argument to be made that something that is tremendously popular must, by necessity, lack a certain edge or uniqueness.
Look at music like a huge conversation. In order to get millions of people to agree on something, you’d have to make a pretty generic statement — like “sugar tastes good”. There’s nothing wrong with that statement, most people would agree with you, but it’s hardly exciting, inspiring or especially intelligent.
That’s Nickelback. Making a statement, musically, that no one can really ‘disagree’ with. Like it or not, it is playing to the lowest common denominator (as has already been mentioned). However, while some people just want music (or their conversations) to be simple and straightforward, that doesn’t necessarily make them dumb.
On the other side of the same analogy, people who talk a lot and enjoy a good discussion generally want more from their conversations than “sugar is good”. They may want to talk about world politics (which is overly complicated for many people) or whether or not abortion should be legal (which is an uncomfortable subject for many people). They want a conversation that makes them think and see things differently. Nickelback is intentionally not designed for these people.
Personally, with music and conversation, there are times when I want something simple and times when I want something challenging. That doesn’t mean one’s better than the other or that I’m smart or dumb. It just means, as always, that music is a matter of personal taste, opinion and even mood.
While Nickelback has clearly found success, they’ve done so by musically stating the obvious — that’s why the critics despise them. They’ve earned their money by creating something millions enjoy, but they haven’t really earned any critical praise by making music more interesting or adventurous.
Okay, done rambling. Go listen to whatever floats your boat.
Comment by jalan — December 14, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
“I think there’s an argument to be made that something that is tremendously popular must, by necessity, lack a certain edge or uniqueness.”
I guess the Beatles, Elvis and Eagles also lacked any uniqueness then. What a boring discussion…. filled with irrational and ignorant arguments.
Comment by Jason — December 14, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Jalan failed to mention that the other way to become wildly successful is to write great songs. Nickelback, Hoobastank, & Hootie & the Blowfish are a case of the former, the Beatles, Elvis, & the Eagles are a case of the latter. And this has little if anything to do with my musical taste… the Beatles went from I Saw Her Standing There to Helter Skelter in the time that Nickelback went from How You Remind Me to Photograph. One band is exploring, pioneering genres, making bold statements & still having #1 hits, whereas another band is rehashing the same song over & over.
The Eagles had Life In the Fast Lane, a brutally honest commentary on mid 70’s counterculture, as well as Take It Easy. They’re not totally ignorant, they’ve released some cheesy bullshit, too. But they certainly didn’t make a career of it.
I’m starting to think you’re a little thick, Jason.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 14, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
not totally innocent*
Comment by Jon Cole — December 14, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
Touche, Jason. There are exceptions to every rule. However, The Beatles and Elvis weren’t just popular — they were part of a cultural revolution. Elvis borrowing (stealing?) from black musicians at a time when racism was the norm and The Beatles bringing a new sound from overseas and capitalizing on the new medium of television. The same could be said about Hendrix and Dylan helping to define the hippie culture.
On that rare occasion, a unique artist will collide with a change in our society and redifine the world around them — are you really ready to compare Nickelback to The Beatles or Chris Daughtry to Elvis Presely? When was the last time that you heard a truly unique, groundbreaking band on a Top 40 station?
Read the rest of my comment — not just the first sentence — and you may find something to it.
Comment by jalan — December 14, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
In this thread, I’ve witnessed an amalgamation of the stupidest pea-brained criticism of Nickelback that exists.
Jon Cole and jalan offer the best examples.
Nickelback is succesful because of its ability to consistently write hooky pop songs with catchy melodies. That’s no easy feat. Hundreds of thousands of people try to break into the pop music industry every week by doing just that. Only a few succeed. Tell me that Nickelback is bland and unoriginal, and I’ll agree, but to insinuate that what they do is somehow easy is ridiculous. Being a good songwriter is first and foremost about being able to write a good melody, not about being authentic or edgy or any other moronic adjective that hipsters flock to.
To attribute Nickelback’s success to anything other than Kroeger’s pop-songwriting talent is to betray a complete misunderstanding of what makes the music industry work (catchy pop songs) and a moronic, misplaced contempt for people who have lives that don’t revolve around indie music.
It’s a catchphrase among indie music lovers to say that Nickelback consumers are stupid, ‘the lowest common denominator,’ etc. In fact, Nickelback fans have a wide array of professions and social backgrounds. What they have in common however, is that they have lives, which is to say, they don’t listen to a new CD every week, they don’t read music websites or go to shows. For them, music is simply something enjoyable to listen to on the way to work or picking up the kids. For indie people, music IS their lives. They listen to new releases every week, they go to plenty of shows, hell, some of them even play in horrible indie bands. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that; all I’m saying is that enjoying music casually is perfectly fine.
Another point has to do with Nickelback’s lyrical content. Here again, Nickelback consumers don’t need musical artists to say anything interesting or original. Unfortunately, for easily-impressed indie people like jalan, the opposite is true. These indie boys want their artists to be ‘political’, edgy, authentic, relevant. The truth is that the vast majority of musicians don’t have anything remotely intelligent or interesting to say. Some which are heralded as intelligent or insightful, like Radiohead or the White Stripes, are in fact simple-minded morons.
Comment by Alastair — December 15, 2007 @ 12:40 am
Cash craft does not equal artistry. Neither do the hipster bands that you assume I enjoy (I don’t). I’m a classic rock girl. Supporting crap such as Nickleback perpetuates the notion that the music industry doesn’t need to nurture creativity. The proof is in the pudding. Uninventive sound alike bands gain success from sounding like popular bands of the past (Jet, Interpol etc). The Who, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop were all creating very different art at the same time. Where are this generations leaders of sound? The fact is that the selling of immediate entertainment (Britney, Nickleback etc) has pushed out the signing of lasting art. As a society on the whole, we all lose…except for Roadrunner and Nickleback and who ever else is pedeling garbage. We consume this musicjunkfood as though it had value and are left starving for something of substance.
Comment by Julia — December 15, 2007 @ 8:36 am
I’m responding to something much higher in the post. To the person who said that Nickelback will be forgotten one day. While I’m not a fan. This band could retire today and enjoy radio success for the rest of their lives. Did 70’s/80’s stations stop playing Motley Crue? Did radio stations stop playing Creed? No. They’ve earned their way into a lifetime of syndication. Anyone who doesn’t agree with that doesn’t pay attention to history. Nickelback is here to stay… Even if they never write another song. How you Remind Me - will haunt your adult rock radio dreams until the day you die.
Comment by Beau — December 15, 2007 @ 8:39 am
You’re going to have to be more specific about my “pea-brained” criticisms, Alastair, because you mostly just regurgitated my arguments.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 15, 2007 @ 9:15 am
“We consume this musicjunkfood as though it had value and are left starving for something of substance.”
Great that you can speak for the entire world. “We”, is only YOU. So dont make generalizations and assumptions.
Comment by Jason — December 15, 2007 @ 10:44 am
I think the one really interesting thing to come out of this discussion is the general consensus that these 6 million people exist largely outside of what we would generally call “music fans.” They aren’t going to shows, they aren’t reading Rolling Stone & they aren’t watching TRL (like anyone is, anyhow). They don’t buy many cds, but when they like a band they buy every record that comes out. They might go to an arena show once every year or two to see that one band they love & they’ll think it was an awesome show just because it was loud & there were flashy lights & they have nothing to compare it to. This is a market, it’s important to note that. A big market. Someone’s got to make music for the homophobes. Someone’s got to make music for the wives of NRA members. I’m not trying to be condescending or offensive (what images are conjured up by those descriptions rest on your shoulders, don’t project that onto me), it’s just that those people exist & Nickelback’s music is unoffensive & general & catchy enough to appeal to all of them.
Then again, it’s also a small market, largely because it’s quickly tapped. Outside of country music, you’ve got Nickelback, Three Doors Down, Hinder… this is a market of a few very huge artists.
This market is also very complacent… they’re only looking for someone to tell them things they already know about themselves. They don’t want someone to change their opinion on anything. They don’t want any bold statements about anything. They just want 4 major chords & familiar melodies. Doesn’t make them dumb, just complacent. It also doesn’t make the songs great. It’s a talent, sure, but I still say they’re really really shitty songs.
So anyone who IS looking for some substance, whether it’s musical or lyrical, is going to give two shits about Nickelback unless they’re interested in the business of music. I haven’t heard a single person here step up & say “I’m a big fan of Nickelback’s songs.” So people who share the opinion that Nickelback are tremendously mediocre, rehashing the same song, etc, aren’t just “hipsters” & “music snobs,” they’re people like yourselves, they just don’t have any reason to “appreciate” the songwriting because they have no interest in the business side of music. The dollar signs mean nothing to them.
The primary implication is this… there CAN’T be ten more Nickelbacks because there’s just not room in the market for it. Furthermore, that kind of regurgitation is just not healthy. It would be far worse than the tail end of “hair metal.” You might even say that this current crop of modern rock is the shiny, corporate, quantized, ballady, almost unrecognizable tail end of grunge. What’s going to save the industry isn’t MORE NICKELBACKS, it’s another Nirvana. It’s a T Rex or a David Bowie or a Led Zeppelin or Bob Dylan. The conditions are RIPE for a genuinely great artist to break through, but the labels aren’t going to give him or her or them a chance.
YOU CAN’T IGNORE THESE CYCLES, NO MATTER HOW MANY ALBUMS A WATERED DOWN BAND LIKE NICKELBACK SELLS.
We can’t forget that great artists & great songs sell records, too, even if the average joe doesn’t appreciate it. We HAVE to balance the support. Nickelback bands can only regurgitate the same song over & over for so long before even the complacent get sick & tired of it.
Also we have to also remember that without the Velvet Underground, there would be no Strokes. Without the Ramones, there would be no Blink 182. It’s essential to take chances on artists that are great or unique, even if they aren’t an immediate smash hit, if the industry hopes to survive. It may take a couple of iterations for a certain strand of art to become commercial, & while it may suck ass by then (not the case with the Strokes, the Strokes are fucking awesome), it’s still how the industry works.
Music fans ARE starving for substance, even if they don’t know it. Maybe not Nickelback fans, but MUSIC fans. Sometimes it takes an A&R guy hearing a record like Bleach & saying “this is fucking awesome” & signing a band, even if he’s the only one who likes it, before the music touches a nerve & starts a cultural revolution.
I don’t understand why you’re in the music business, Jason… you seem to be against everything that is wonderful about music. I mean, it’s not surprising… that’s why the industry is going down the toilet. But on the individual level, I still don’t understand it.
And for anyone who thinks I’m some stuck up hipster whatever, feel free to judge for yourself based on something other than your prejudices… http://www.last.fm/user/jwcole
Comment by Jon Cole — December 15, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
Music for homophobes? And nra members?
Now that seems a bit prejudiced.
Nickelback wrote songs that will be on the radio for a loooong time. Trust me, it aint going away anytime soon.
Comment by lisa — December 15, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
You’re not catching the concept of unoffensive songs, are you, lisa?
Comment by Jon Cole — December 15, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Some people will listen to almost anything as long as it’s not too loud, not too brash, not too political, not too edgy, not too much anything. Just a catchy, familiar melody & a few words that describe things they’re already familiar with. Nickelback has perfected this. That’s how they sell records.
If Everyone Cared is the same kind of contrived, baseless, feel-good bullshit as Mariah Carey’s When You Believe or Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA. They’re the ultimate unoffensive songs.
I’m not saying that Chad Kroeger writes music for homophobes or NRA members, & I’m not saying anything negative about homophobes or NRA members, only that they’re easily offended, & Chad writes songs that are plain enough & unoffensive enough to make it into their music collections.
I never hear their songs. If they go away or if they don’t, it doesn’t bother me one way or the other. I hear Lee Greenwood far more often & I’ve learned to deal with it, even though that song is the bane of my existence. It’s nothing personal, I’m just trying to identify WHY they’re successful & WHY there can’t be ten Nickelbacks & WHY support for genuine art by the major labels is also very necessary. That I think their songs are really really shitty is largely irrelevant.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 15, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
I love how bitter Jon is. It’s cracking me up. I feel like I should pay attendance to read his rants.
Comment by alex — December 15, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
What people seem to be missing in this equation is radio. Nickelback is giving radio what radio wants.
Radio wants inoffensive music, music that will keep people tuned in long enough to hear the commercials.
People seem to be placing blame on record companies. Record companies, major and indie, have been signing everything from inoffensive Nickleback types to more adventurous stuff.
The Radio plays the inoffensive Nickleback types. I thought Muse’s “Knights of Cydonia” was a rockin tune that would work on Active Rock stations. It was a hit on Alternative Rock stations, but not Active Rock stations. I’m guessing that Active Rock Radio programmers know what they’re doing and didn’t want to risk losing listeners by playing music that didn’t sound almost exactly like the songs they’ve been playing for the last year.
Comment by parocks — December 15, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
The Pet Rock fad started in the 70s as an alternative to more ‘offensive’ animals like cats and dogs. The fad only lasted about 6 months, but the guy sold more than 5 million pet rocks and it’s a fad that is still talked about today. Some look at its now millionaire creator and believe him to be genius and say ‘why didn’t I think of that?!’ Others think it’s incredibly stupid to BUY a ROCK just because it has eyes or a face painted on it and feel there is no justice in the world since it’s inventor made millions off the idea.
Comment by AJ-KOAR — December 16, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
“Tell me that Nickelback is bland and unoriginal, and I’ll agree, but to insinuate that what they do is somehow easy is ridiculous.”
I’m glad that you agree with the main point of my ‘pea-brained’ argument: that Nickelback is bland and unoriginal. But isn’t ‘bland and unoriginal’ the lowest common denominator (and if not, what is)?
Regarding the second half of your statement, I never said what they do is “easy” — I only implied that it’s easier than the alternative. Are you saying it’s easier to be completely unique and inventive than it is to be bland and original?
Re-read my post and then look at what you said. I think you’ll find we agree on more ‘pea-brained’ ideas than you’d like. If you weren’t so defensive, you might actually see we’re not all bashing you and that even the ’stupidest’ arguments ahve points that you agree with.
Comment by jalan — December 17, 2007 @ 6:49 am
“I love how bitter Jon is. It’s cracking me up. I feel like I should pay attendance to read his rants.”
That could be arranged.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 17, 2007 @ 8:35 am
“But isn’t ‘bland and unoriginal’ the lowest common denominator (and if not, what is)?”
No, because it’s still melodic and catchy, which is what music is all about.
You think it’s about being edgy or other juvenile nonsense. You sound like a rebellious 14-year old with all your talk about edgy and political. The truth is that most musicians don’t have anything intelligent to say with regards to politics, so why should people be interested in their opinions?
Comment by Alastair — December 17, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
It would seem to me that “lowest common denominator” would insinuate a catchy melody. (I used the word “familiar,” but that would indicate memorable which would, to me, demand that the melody be catchy.) I gather that jalan would say the same thing. But I mean… we’re only the ones using the term. What we mean by it isn’t nearly as important as how you misinterpret it. Right?
Comment by Jon Cole — December 18, 2007 @ 12:28 am
So Nickelback creates bland, unoriginal melodies that are ‘catchy’ (ie: memorable to the vast majority)? Great! I think we’re pretty much in total agreeance.
(by the way, trying to reach the biggest possible audience IS playing to the lowest common denominator)
So… what was your point again? I’d restate mine (for the bazillionth time) but you seem to be able to read minds, so I won’t waste your time.
Crank up the Nickelback and chill out dude.
Comment by jalan — December 18, 2007 @ 6:53 am
So.. The Beatles were original then? In their early days, with their simple, hook filled songs?
It gets even better…
“Lennon and McCartney were encouraged by manager Brian Epstein to write something intended to cater to the interests of American listeners.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Want_to_Hold_Your_Hand
Comment by alex — December 18, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
lmao. Oh it’s getting better, alright. Did you really just compare Nickelback to the Beatles? Posterity ought to have a field day with you.
You left out the fact that the Beatles sounded like nothing else around at the time. While today I Want To Hold Your Hand sounds like an ordinary pop song, it’s only because it was the blueprint for all ordinary pop songs that came after it.
Now, you might consider I Saw Her Standing There a watered down version of Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen, but Chuck Berry was a pioneer in his own right & the Beatles were still searching for a “sound.” How old were they? 21? They progressed from there quickly. And those 7th chords endure. The same can’t be said for Chad’s power chords.
You see, the Beatles grew. Six years into their career, they released the White album, one of the most creative collections of songs to ever poured to vinyl. Blackbird was on that record, you know. And they were the start of something, too (something called the British Invasion, you might’ve heard of it). It’s important to note that. A grueling 9 years into Nickelback’s career, they’re still rehashing the same song. The same chords. The same structure. The same melodies. It just becomes more polished & more cheesy as time passes. And they came in on the end of something. Just as Firehouse released their ridiculous pack of ballads upon hair metal’s death bed, so does Nickelback piss on the ashes of Nirvana with their cranked-up-to-3 pseudo grunge ballads.
Are you starting to see the difference?
I have no problem with pop songs. I love pop songs, in fact. But while Nickelback’s songs might be simple & somewhat catchy, there are other elements that are… let’s say nauseating.
Comment by Jon Cole — December 18, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Such debate and airblowing over a very obvious answer. Nickelback is country music with distorted guitars. Really. It’s not that complex to grasp. There are a lot of people that like country music. Luckily I am not one of them.
KOAR is just hunting around to manage another Nickelback sound alike. Mark it down. We all know this fellas. You don’t have to convince everyone who reads the site that it will work.
Comment by Classic — December 19, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Hi it looks like he needs a girlfriend dosent it
Comment by Rebecca Hatch — May 14, 2008 @ 4:27 pm