Death of the Music Superstar?
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- čas přidán 13. 06. 2024
- From the 50s right through to the 2000s - every decade has given us a number of music superstars. But the concept seems to have taken a considerable dip over the last ten years or so.
In fairness there have been some big names in the 2010s such as Ed Sheeran, Drake, Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus Ariana Grande & Dua Lipa. But I’m sure you’ll agree their impact has paled in comparison to that of their predecessors. And new music superstars seem to be thin on the ground these days.
So what exactly has brought about the decline of the superstar? What part have streaming platforms such as Spotify & Apple played in all this? What have the record companies been getting wrong? Why is music struggling to compete against computer games and social media? Why have Gen-Zers lost interest in music? Has the album been eclipsed by the playlist? And which current stars are our best hope for saving the future of music stardom? This mini-documentary explores these questions and more.
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00:00 Introduction
01:25 What is a superstar?
02:31 Music Marketing
04:53 Streaming
07:00 Computer Games
07:36 Album Decline
09:31 Celebrity Changes
13:27 Tik-tok
15:15 Other Reasons
16:08 Future Superstars?
Don’t forget to check out my last video about 2000s singer/songwriter Anastacia • Whatever happened to A... - Hudba
Katy and gaga’s rise was UNFORGETTABLE. you can’t change my mind they are the yen and yang of the industry
They were one of the last ladies to be able to sell out arenas.
Katy fell off. she is a throwback artist.
@@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024 I wouldn’t go as far to say she’s a throwback yet… She still dominating on spotify. I think we will know (if she is) with her next album.
@@Promage2 Katy is currently ranked 81th artist for daily streams, and 64th all-time ranking. Although it is not something to snooze at, I wouldn't call it "dominating on Spotify".
@@jweeping I would say for not focusing on music that’s amazing compared to her peers. She’s currently Ranked 35th in the world on spotify monthly listeners and is currently receiving 9.5 million daily streams without any major releases since 2020. Not only that but she (recently) became one of only 5 women to reach 101 billion streams across every platform. I would say she is doing quite nice.
Older members of Gen Z absolutely knew of a world where you could only watch scheduled TV and couldn’t click/swipe when a song or video got boring.
Yes that’s true. I should have said ‘the majority of gen-zers.’ But CZcams & iPod emerged 04/05 & were pretty much commonplace by then so they were dealing with digital tech pretty early on.
I'm in my mid-twenties and gosh I remember the days where an hour or two a day MTV would take requests and you'd pay 20 cents to have your favourite song play on the telly. I still remember the time I finally convinced my parents to let me send in a request and have my favourite song played, such good times!!
@@jonnyharveyexactly! Google says the oldest Gen Z was born 1997 so by the time they turned 13 they had full control to content compared to 70s and 80s babies.
@@BronsonT77I remember when Single Ladies and Sasha Fierce came out. Beyoncé was RUNNING the game. 😩😍
So I stopped be a slave to the tv-schedule around 2000, first via irc then dc++ then torrents and now streaming.
Everytime I see this type of conversation I can only think about what Beyoncé said about 10 years ago on how people weren't making albums anymore and the obsession with the personal lives of artists. The internet back then wasn't even close to what we have today, and this concern was already very pertinent.
To me Madonna, Queen, MJ, Kylie Minogue, Prince, Witney, Britney, Cher, The Beetles, Elvis, Mariah, Celine, Beyonce, Rolling Stones are true superstars
U missing Beyone there.
Me too. I love Kylie & Cher but I thought ppl might not agree with me
@@lucasb9285 sorry Beyonce is great and definitely a super star. I'm sure I have missed more superstars but the ones I mentioned are usually the songs I listen on a daily basis. Beyonce is great no doubt at all! :)
@@jonnyharvey I agree, music is universal and everybody has different opinions and favorites superstars
Mariah Carey, Elvis, and Celine need to be added in there.
As someone who was born in the midst of the 2000s I've been dwelling on this topic a lot recently. Even though I don't hate popular music these days, I never really had the chance to witness singers excel in the music industry the way that the generations of my parents have seen. I try to stay somewhat connected to the more dated eras of music but it really doesn't have the same effect as seeing these artists evolve and perform in real time.
It’s a shame but I guess you have social media & you can interact with their art & other fans in a way previous generations couldn’t. I’m trying to be positive 😂😂
Aren’t we witnessing one of the purest form of those celebrities right now with Taylor Swift, tho? Like, maybe u don’t like her and that makes sense. But she’s changed genres and lasted 15+ years so far, I’d say she’s in the same league as the other greats and you get to experience that
Gaga really was the last true pop star. She gave everything and got the conversation going. Music, looks, fashion, videos, theatricality, controversy, iconic red carpet entrances and unforgettable award show performances. I'm glad to have witnessed all that because I think it's gonna be a really long time before we have another major superstar, if we ever do.
forgetting about billie eilish
@@Renegade-kf8fp nah billie is good 😅but she ain't a true pop icon
@@Renegade-kf8fp You need to get your brain checked if you seriously think that Billie Eilish is on the level of imperial phase gaga.
Not enough hits...I'd called her a big star but not a superstar. Most people can hum manybe 2 songs at most..as opposed to the beatles, queen, beyonce and her previous band, madonna, and many others. To be a superstar takes decdaes and many many albums.
@@Renegade-kf8fplike this video says, lady Gaga was a Superstar because even your grandpa would know her. Most people still don’t know who Billie is 😅
I am glad I grew up in a time to witness the true meaning of a superstar and a time where the focus was on the music and the pure talent of the superstar rather than the “accidental leaks”, one-trick pony podcast soundbites, twitter tweets or lame “exposed” antics where TMZ personnel just happen to be at. The only interview we got was at TRL, 106 and Park or Barbara Walters and the majority of the promo was commercials. MTV UNPLUGGED, DRIVEN, BEHIND THE MUSIC, MAKING THE VIDEO or ACCESS GRANTED showcased the true artistry without microwavable and recycable gimmicks that came along with the musicality of the artists.
yeah there are a lot of gimmicks these days
I’m glad I grew up in a time where I can listen to whatever I want, whenever I want, and not have radio & tv shoving musicians down my throat to force me to listen to like sheep
@@uswish.but we can do that too. But you missed the best times.
@@taintedlife2618 We don't care. Lol people aren't celebrity obessed anymore. I didn't miss anything.
Gimmicks definitely existed by then. Nostalgia MUST be blinding you. 💀
So sad to see from 10:57 that Madonna is the last one standing after Prince, MJ, George and Whitney have all left the planet 😢 amazing to hear that her tour seems to have great reviews already ❤
I know all of Madonna’s 80s peers are gone ☹️
@@jonnyharvey Janet is still alive. 😂😅
@@kevinrentz8773 except Janet 😀
What about Britney Spears? Since the beginning of 2023 I’ve been watching her old performances on CZcams and I realised how big and talented she was back in 2000. She was so big and so great at such a young age.
@JoaoPedroGallavotti She's a different generation from Madonna.
Taste in music is the worst it has ever been. It is truly appalling.
as a 14 year old teen, it's pretty upseting to me how my classmates only listen to what is "huge" in tik tok at the moment, and when someone hears something that it's not "huge" anymore, they make fun of you. that's pretty sick bc they don't listen to albums, they don't have favorite artists, their musical taste it's so ridiculous. sometimes i feel like a completely stranger to my generation bc i like old songs, read about legends impact, and i can only listen to music if it is full albums.. they don't really comprehend me lol. i was called "weirdo" because i like madonna like WTF IS THIS WORLD!!
+ for me, tik tok is nota main priority. i still use it but i have realized thattik tok gives me anxiety and it just isn't okay to my crazy brain to receive so much information in such little time. i hate how everything is so fast, in certain aspects
The only sad thing here is you but you'll grow out of it and cringe when looking back at this comment.
@@kevaughnramsay9846 tried to grow out of it but realized i was right😂😂😂
@@lfocto8602 What?
Nothing about u or what u said is sad. I agree with you. Music on Tik tok is for 30-60 seconds videos and doesn’t make that artist exactly popular/relevant it just help their song in those areas like for example Drake’s song “non stop” . “Non stop” had people flip the light switch on and off lol and because a lot of people was doing it using that song made the song grow in popularity on the charts due to the song playing for 30 seconds. Although Drake is and was popular before TikTok that was the best example I could give right off top. My parents and I went to the store and actually bought an artist album or single and based on who sold the most made that artist at that time popular/relevant. Listening to Albums and or singles is still the way we as adults consume music and who’s albums/singles we buy/streamed the most mad e an artist popular/relevant. Those rules have changed numerous times and I could go on and on but I just had to let u know you’re or what u said are not sad.
My opinion is on this topic is that 2010s we had our last true superstars and yes they were able to do it with social media. It's just that in the 2020s tiktok is our Napster. It's too much music and too much of people having access to things. Also algorithm keeps ppl separate. The 2010s superstars use social media to be everywhere while 2020s artists are forced to fit in categories. I just feel like algorithms are much more stronger and divided then it was back then. There is also a lack of training and laziness from artists. Tiktok made artists feel like everything should be handed to them. Another thing is that ppl find something about upcoming successful artists and what they did 10 years ago and try to ruin their careers something artists form the past didn't deal with.
some really good points there - I wish I included - 'the algorithm keeps people separate/the algorithm keeps things divided/there's a public record for all eternity (the internet)with articles/video clips which can come back to haunt artists and potentially threaten their careers.
I ask my nieces and they even say that they don’t have any superstars. They can tell you who Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Britney, Madonna, Michael, Janet are. They said that the superstars from the past had a different work ethic than the celebrities of today. They know that none of these new people can dance or have cultural impact like the superstars from the past because they just aren’t as hungry. Celebrity is much easier to obtain than it was in the past and celebrity is enough for them and they aren’t willing to put in the work to become a superstar like they used to be.
that's really interesting to hear - I was concerned it was just my nieces and nephews. It's interesting to hear other people have picked up on it also
Your nieces no (offense) aren’t really into music then. A lot of artists put in a lot of work and creativity into their craft. It’s easier to be known but to maintain being a celebrity is a lot harder to the point where you’ll have to drop music a lot more than back then where you could take 2+ years after 1 album and still be fine. Taylor y and Bts for example are really big superstars
@@youngfish1370 they don’t know a lot about music. But people who don’t know a lot about music know those people. People who never heard Michael Jackson’s music, know who he is by just a photo. That’s a superstar.
I genuinely think the 90s born, late 80s, experienced a really special time growing through the years with everything. Definitely something special. Nothings focused or personal anymore. Everyone is just doing everything and people are just a flash in the pan.
they were great eras for music. Everything must change I suppose.
There’s plenty of focused and personal music you really just don’t listen to music
Not only is Madonnas Truth or Dare amazing but Blonde Ambition is amazing and no tour can compare. At least none that aren’t Madonna Tours.
Blond Ambition was the blueprint for the modern pop tour. It changed the whole game.
As a member of Generation Z, born in 2002, I'm old enough to witness artists' growth but young enough not to have emotional attachments to the process. Here are my thoughts:
The concept of "mainstream" seems to have evolved, with everyone now having a diverse array of "content creators" to watch and listen to.
I believe it's a positive change that there are no longer iconic mega-stars like Michael Jackson. It's better for us and the artists themselves. Growing up, observing people, especially parents, idolizing artists like K-pop idols felt somewhat uncomfortable and cringe-worthy.
The entertainment industry has become more democratized. It's crucial to remember that many of the artists we admire today also had connections in the industry. While they may be talented, it doesn't justify sidelining unknown talents who didn't get their break because they didn't fit certain beauty standards, despite their immense talent.
I value the fact that my favorite artists aren't already fully polished. It allows me to see them as human beings first and witness their more organic growth, which feels different from the past generations of artists.
I do believe that’s good, but we really do need more mega stars like MJ, Beyoncè, Mariah, Whitney, Riri, back. It’s more useful than you think and they help A LOT of social conversations come into the mainstream and public thought.
@@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024
I used to think that prior to the blm protest, until then it showed that we no longer be stars/celebrities like prior to initiate or address controversial issues, in fact they stood beside us as equals and that has not been seen in a long time
Rest assured we have more power as a collective than previous generations which will come with difficulties but it’s for the better.
@@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024 why?
True, even as a millenial in his late 30s can see and agree with this state. I've met a lot of people who didn't went further their garage performances spite their talent, until now decades later with Spotify and Apple music, when they are now as old if not older than I am... That been said, the superstar icon gave also some sense of something that was intended to achieve, like a compass if you will, on ow to improve as a music artist.
Yes, is nice to see not fully polished artist and see their growth from there... but the truth is, specialy in Spotify and CZcams Music, there's a lot of crap that's getting traction to celebrity status. So things my generation (me included) uploaded as mere self entertaiment and silly playfulness, now new generations uses it as "serious content" pretend to be "unpolished artists" and have this monster numbers of replays, when haven't even try to take a single singing lesson, because their goal is not to give a good track, but a viral tiktok audio. So as we can see a noticible difference in music between the 90s and the 2000s... we're not hearing that difference between the 2010s and this first half of 2020s, because there is no deep innovation, since there is no compass to follow.
Amazingly explained sire
In rock and alternative music, Linkin Park was pretty much the last band to welcome newer fans of not only those genres I’ve mentioned, but also punk, metal, electronic, and rap/hip-hop all at once as a gateway with their very own diverse musical styles and not conforming the old antiquated dogmas of rockism. They were at the right time before the internet became officially prevalent, and sold over a hundred million copies worldwide. Those guys are worth mentioning. Though you could argue about Imagine Dragons being the last band to go big on an international scale, but not like LP in my mind.
Yep. Linkin Park had a very unique and accessible formula that made bank in the pop market. While most of their contemporaries from the nu metal era dissipated in popularity, those guys reached new heights of global phenomenon throughout the ‘00s. Honestly miss them (R.I.P. Chester).
Thanks for this. I don't know much about Linkin Park but I think it's sad there is so little rock/punk/metal in the mainstream. It was great seeing different genres and creativity and now there's hardly any of it.
I feel like they were watered down compared to what came in the decade before them.
@@jonnyharvey They’re the band you should know a lot about other than listening to all of their catalog. I think you would make a really good video about them and their massive success at their place in the pop/mainstream market.
Linkin park was the last band that was able to cross over. 😢 rip Chester.
The younger generation often lacks artistic vision, as they are more focused on attempting to create viral moments and are preoccupied with their presence on social media, rather than their artistic vision, concepts, references, and experimentation. What I've observed is that the new generation of artists, like O. Rodrigo, tend to heavily rely on aesthetics that aren't entirely their own. They essentially sample and interpolate much of their music, catering to a particular nostalgic sound, while neglecting their personal exploration of themes. In the past, pop stars possessed a strong vision and a deep understanding of their identity and representation. Consequently, only a few of the current pop acts feel authentic and compelling, while the rest are primarily concerned with churning out a slew of disposable quick singles and viral reels or TikToks.
I think to find a sense of artist identity, one needs to have influences to guide them to that point…almost like a mentor.
So where do you think the line should be drawn between being influenced and exploring those influences/ideas and flat out imitating or relying on an aesthetic.
Being inspired and incorporating your influences to your art isn’t a bad thing, at least I don’t think so.
@@AvaAdore-wx5ggcompletely well said!!!! And so darn true! They also had to perform basically in strip malls and parking lots around the world day after day during their artists development which made them more hardworking and attentive of the craft rather than the rewards of it.
@@AvaAdore-wx5ggWhy did you say “Not only Black Performers” then proceed to name some extremely privileged mediocre yt ladies?💀 No amount of other races or Artist had to put in the work on par with Black Entertainers AT ALL or even gone through a quarter of what they’ve gone through. Especially back then, today as well. Like no.
@@AvaAdore-wx5gg a lot of great singers came from the church.
This is false there’s plenty of artists who put effort into their music with the criteria you listed.
Examples are people like J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Lil Yachty, Denzel Curry, Jid, Baby Keem, Tyler The Creator, Teezo Touchdown, The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Dc The don, Juice Wrld, XXX Tentacion, Travis Scott, Aaron May, Young Thug, Sza, Joey Badass, A$AP Rocky, Lucki, Childish Gambino, Daniel Cesar, etc
Perfectly explained. I know I'm missing out on great artists because of the algorithmic bubbles. I used to be a huge audiophile and loved discovering the most obscure bands, and now I act like I don't have the time for it 😳.
Thank you 😀😀
Madonna was so damn famous in the 80s it was crazy!
It was Madonna-mania
I think the future superstars could go one of two ways:
1. They’re gone for good after the generation of Gaga, Taylor, and Beyoncé start to fade. They’re superstars now because ppl know them because they got big before the social media boom that killed the mainstream. After the mainstream’s death, it’s harder to make a name for yourself and get a lot of people know who you are.
2. Superstars will not have their biggest eras during their debuts and seeing how long they can keep that press attention on them. They will pop up the longer they’re in their careers and the longer they’re on the scene, the more ppl know about them and the bigger their back catalog gets for ppl to discover and blow them up. We kinda see that happening with Taylor rn. She was never a small star but it’s undeniable that she got significantly bigger during the pandemic and climbed higher and higher with her rereleases and midnights. This could happen with the new names today.
"Mainstream doesn't exist anymore"
that was a good point
Not really. It does and it’s obvious it does. It’s just she music isn’t in the mainstream anymore if we’re being honest. It’ll enter back, but at the moment, music is not apart of the mainstream at the moment. Superstars to be more specific.
It’s crazy that the new gen won’t be able to experience a REAL popstars like madonna, Gaga, Katy, taylor, ete…
it's looking that way
Gaga is more than a popstar
Very true and very sad as well I guess. As a former member of a band who never got signed, I know first hand how unjust, and even corrupt to certain extent the music industry was. I was also a record store owner, so I also know how lucrative it was! It's a good thing that almost anyone can get their music out there for the world to hear. No need for any record label to sign you and put money behind you! All you need is social media platforms and hope the algorithms pick you up or somehow go viral. No chance whatsoever for something like that back in my days! That said, it's also very sad that music no longer has the social impact it had in decades past! Music WAS EVERYTHING! It pretty much defined your life! Your group of friends, the places you hung out at, the clothes you wore. Everything was directly tied to the music you liked and listened to! The bond you created with others was incredible! Music literally defined us! It was a beautiful thing! And as much as you might think that almost worshipping these artists was cringe worthy, the truth is that those superstars were extremely talented and gifted individuals! They became superstars because they really were extraordinary! Will we ever see another MJ? Of course not! Will another female artist ever come close to influencing an entire generation like Madonna did! Absolutely not! And let's go further. Will another band ever change the entire landscape of the music world like Nirvana did??? Hell no!!!!!!!!!! The industry may now be "democratized", but that is not necessarily a good thing. The end product of that "democratization" has been the horrible quality of music we get these days, the lack of truly exceptionally talented and gifted artists that transend cultural and geographical lines, language, social status, ethnic backgrounds and everything else like those Superstars from yesteryear did!!! It's all very "tribal" now. I think Bad Bunny is the closest thing to a real superstar, and that's not really a good thing! I'll leave it at that!
thank you so much for that- that was so well articulated 😀😀 I heard some of Bad Bunny's music the other day - I wasn't impressed ☹
Taylor Swift is already doing that as a female artist currently in influencing Gen Z & Millennials especially Gen z....she literally influenced young people to vote & guess what after her tweet..new voting registration spiked high people who turned 18 decided to register to vote... Taylor may not be a sex symbol like Madonna...but had huge influence in their respective generations in different ways.
Having grown up through the 80s (51 in 2023), I've always attributed the ascendancy of popular music to "monocultural touchstone" status to one factor which originated in the 80s: The portability of on-demand music. In a way that was impossible with other forms of media (television, movies, video games) music became a form of entertainment one could carry with you no matter where you went. The Walkman, The Discman, and briefly the I-Pod, allowed music to be the go-to form of entertainment anytime, anywhere. Now, however, with the advent of the smartphone, one has streaming TV or movies, CZcams and TikTok videos, video games, social media doom-scrolling, anything and everything can be accessed, no matter where you are, through your phone. With that kind of paradigm shift, little wonder that music (and by extension, music artists) have slid a few rungs down the cultural relevancy ladder.
Yeah.your right also the barrier of entry is no longer there . You can make and record music on your phone now as well. I was born in the 90s but I grew up in an entertainment household so I was able to hijack and rig technology to record myself but it was still a PROCESS. you had to really want it if you wanted to record yourself at home. In generations past you had to come up with a months wage to record your music for a couple hours at a studio to achieve a high fidelity recording . That is no longer the case you can achieve a market ready sound with literally a phone and a few clicks of the mouse . The intrigue and mystery of the recording process itself is no longer there. And the knowledge curve to learn how to use recording equipment is non existent. Making an instrumental track used to seem like an intricate hidden science...
I definitely feel there was a lack of mention for Nicki Minaj when she completely dominates the criteria given. For example:
A long series of hits: Super Bass, Starships, Anaconda, Super Freaky Girl, Moment 4 Life etc are some of the biggest hits of the 2010’s and so far 2020’s, even her deep album and mixtape cuts from over a decade ago continue to resurface and go viral on platforms such as TikTok. Pink Friday and The Pink Print are often credited as “female rap bibles” along side Lil Kim’s ‘Hardcore’ and in 2017 she broke Aretha Franklin’s record for the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and (if im not mistaken) is the woman with the second most just behind Taylor Swift. She was also the first woman in music history to have 7 songs charting simultaneously on the BB Hot 100 and lastly was the first Female Rapper since Lauryn Hill in over 20 yrs to debut #1 on the BB Hot 100 Solo
Helps to define an era: Nicki Minaj is classified as a pillar of 2010’s music and has inspired many of todays star’s female rap and otherwise such as Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Cupcakke, Asian Doll, City Girls, Doja Cat etc. Her feature verses (such as Kanye West’s Monster) are classified as some of the most iconic pieces of music in the last decade. She also was the reason Vevo’s record for the most music video views in 24 hours was created
Cross generational appeal: While of course her main impact was on people who grew up in the 2010’s there are many videos of people from the ages 40+ who are die hard fans of Minaj and she is someone who can surely pass the “Parent test”
Sells out arenas/stadiums: Nicki Minaj was the first female rapper to headline her own solo World Tours and all 3 of her solo tours have sold out on Pre Sale day.
Infiltrating pop culture: Nicki Minaj is a house hold name whether it be for her music, acting, controversy, business ventures (such as Myx) etc. she has almost made a difference in Music as an entirety as she was one of the main reasons why Artists are paid for their music streams on platforms.
I hope this doesnt come across as an attack more than it was to be educational if you didnt know just how much impact she has had.
Great video! I've had a feeling you've been building up to a video like this for a while so I'm glad you were able to make it.
It's been mentioned before, I'm sure, but I'm of the mindset that, since pop culture isn't so singular anymore, it's a lot more difficult to get a firm standing in the public conscious, for better or worse. So many more avenues to receive news and music and entertainment have, in a sense, diminished the impact someone can have. It's the trade-off of having access to so much more stuff, I guess.
thank you 😀 😀 Yes I've been thinking about it for a while now.
Andy Warhol once predicted that everyone would have their 15 minutes of fame.
He was ahead of his time
I remember hearing that 20yrs ago thinking he was crazy. But he was completely right.
This is so true. The local nightclub I go to, the djs mostly now play songs from the 00's and mid 10's cos everybody knows them. They will play a few modern songs here and there but many people will leave the dancefloor when they come on because, like you said, modern music is served in such fragmented spaces that not everyone is exposed to it/knows it. There are very few contemporary hits nowadays that reach everyone. You probably get one global smash every 2 or 3 months, whereas in the past there would be hit after hit after hit
that's really interesting - thanks for sharing this. So long since I've been in a nightclub that I wouldn't know
So glad to have been born in the 90’s to have been able to experience true artist. Unlike now the artist that are out there only care about TikTok and going viral.
Same - so much brilliant music in the 90s 😀
I agree that the music of the 90s was generally much better than now, yet there is still heaps of brilliant music still being made, just not breaking into the mainstream
@@zaneatkins1908 yeah, which is really unfortunate. There’s a bunch of underground artists that have potential and yet they’re barely given any attention.
You are so adorable in the bloopers!!! Thanks for this great video! ❤
thank you 😀😀
As always great reaearch and quality in the video, Jonny! Im looking forward to Body Language 20th anniversary video from your channel!
thank you 😃😃 I love that album
I enjoy your channel so much. You only have 8k subs as of now, but I never miss a video and they are always so professional and enganging and you are always eloquent and well spoken. Feels like a channel with 100\200k subs (which I'm sure you will get there). Keep it up, because you are doing great.
thank you so much 😀😀 I'm going to screenshot this comment & look at it every time I have a confidence crisis 😀🙏
I feel we know far too much about 'Superstars' these days. Even Megastars of the past such as Madonna, whilst adapting to current trends, she's lost something about her. Maybe the word is 'Mystique' but then again, I'm not sure how an air of mystery would particular benefit current Stars. The notion of Stars whose work you consume, being relatable is interesting. I grew up in the late 90's but gravitated towards past stars such as MJ, Madonna, Tina Turner and ABBA; Not for a moment did I feel I could relate to them, it never even crossed my mind. xo
I wouldn't call Madonna a "past star" in the late 90s, she was actually on her second peak period with the Ray of Light and Music albums
@@MartinSmith156 Oh of course, I meant they had been Stars for some time, not that they were has-beens . I should have said pop Legends.
I think I preferred when they were more inaccessible & otherworldly- they felt more special
@@jonnyharvey yup
@@jonnyharveycompletely agree! Plus it made the wait for their next project that more exciting. Because they were keeping a low-profile. Plus the music should speak for itself. It takes away from the talent when there’s “leaked” photos or political tweets they put out.
Pop culture is dead. Tv killed the radio and streaming killed music. I think the last artists to organically become famous were the pop girls who debuted in the last 2000s like Gaga and Katy and Taylor. Like mentioned they really were dropped from labels and had to bounce around for years before successfully making it big. Nowadays you have Disney girls who were pushed as industry puppets in order to launch a career and you also have artist who rely on tik tok to gain a quick hit. Even then we can see that album cycles aren’t the same as they used too. Album cycles used to be every two to three years and had proper roll out, now you see artist release album and another one not even after a full two years.
Disney Girls are not really a thing anymore either in comparison to the 2000s and early 2010s with Miley Cirus, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato
it's changed dramatically
I think a big part of it is that there wasn't so much else going on to distract us/detract attention from a few really big names. So when all the focus is on those couple people it makes them seem huge...what you focus on gets bigger type of thing. Now there's tons of social media platforms with tons of channels you can watch at any time of the day, you can also use your time to learn basically anything online. There is also a myriad of streaming platforms where you can basically watch anything on demand. It's the same thing that is happening in tv and film. People have other ways to entertain themselves these days.
I'm glad the YT algorithm recommended your video today. Thanks for putting in the time to making it.
thank you 😂😂
Im so surprised Nicki wasn’t mentioned like what?? Her impact and success is wild. Her award catalog? All of her hits? All of her cross over to other genres?
Are you basing this from a U.S. or international standpoint?
@@jonnyharvey international. She’s been able to chart across the UK, Asia, and Latin America especially with her doing collaborations with artists from those regions. Going as far to even release a Japan exclusive of Pinkprint
@@tegan9243Never even heard of her, neither have many people reading this I bet.
@@stoneneilsI only heard of her from a year ago from a meme 🤷🏻♀
As a preteen, I'd spend hours going through the stacks of CDs at my local record store, HMV, or second hand shop. There used to be listening stations at clothing stores too, where you'd put on the clunky headphones to select one of 3 music choices at places like Bluenotes or Old Navy so you could hear the entire album before committing to a purchase. Must-watch TV in middle school during the early 2000s was TRL and Much Music (for non-US viewers) to see interviews with major bands and performers, or watch hours of music videos that would also show up at your school dances. Every tween could sing-rap the lyrics to Spice Girls 'Wannabe', do the dance from Backstreet Boys 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' and saw triple threat actors/singers/dancers like Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Justin Timberlake, and Usher rise to become some of the highest paid performers of their generation. Even if you didn't have access to a TV, or high speed internet, you knew vaguely who these performers were, because their presence was everywhere.
Being beholden to cable tv and radio syndications really harnessed everyone's attention to singular pop culture events in ways that I am certain cannot be captured again. There's too much immediacy and too many things demanding our undivided attention that make it nearly impossible to focus on one person or performer for too long. In a way it has democratized the ability of current listeners to curate their own tastes in film, television, and music, but it has also siloed a lot of performers and their fans instead of achieving a larger cultural presence that cuts across demographic divides. Is it necessary to have superstardom? Probably not. But it does make me a little sympathetic to younger generations who cannot find those collective touchstones that really make markers for their age group to reflect on in their futures. If you can't agree on some things, you could at least reminisce over some common moment in pop culture that defined your generation. Communicating that via memes or viral clips doesn't really have the same impact.
I think I big problem/advantage for new artist is that labels want to have lots of artists instead of honing superstars, superstars have leverage (devoted fanbase and great public reception) and even if that's good for the business also it means they can take their art anywhere and flourish regardless but with lots of smaller artists they need the label support and it doesn't matter if they are not successful, other (equally smaller) artist will replace them.
that's really well put - thanks for sharing
Honouring superstars 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. You people are delusional.
This was a top tier breakdown. Keep it going these videos are gold
thank you 😀🙏
Nicki Minaj is another superstar that has been working for nearly 20 years and made a big mark on hip hop and rap as well as pop music and culture
Didn't she debut 08/09? I see she's had some recent US no1s. I guess it's subjective to a certain point.
Studio album wise yes, but she’s been building up since 03, 04
Her breakthrough was in 2010 tho
Not really subjective. She's cemented her status as an icon. Even seniors know who she is @@jonnyharvey
Agreed w yr analysis. Insightful, entertaining and informative.
thank you 😂😂
Such a good video!!! I see so much resignation in your eyes.
Thank you 😀 About music or life in general? 😂😂
I mean about the music 😃 @@jonnyharvey
@@alessandroamori7193 😂
In my country (DRC) in Congo, the only known MJ, Beyonce, lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Rihanna. The other artist like Taylor Swift , bts etc only rich kids knows them.
- for many of us, the only way to know American music from radio or nightclub.
- not everyone uses Spotify
oh that's interesting. Do you use any other streaming platform?
@@jonnyharvey here only rich kids use streaming services. The rest of people still use old ways like radio or maybe CZcams .
In my country(India), the most known are MJ, Taylor, Rihanna, Beyonce, Madonna. There are rarely people who know Gaga, Katy etc. tbh, gaga isn't as relevant as she was back in the 2010s. I would say her last 'mainstream' hit was Shallow. Chromatica was not really a success like her previous work..
your bookshelf looks so pretty and neatly colour coded
Thank you 😀😀
Excellent video and argumentation.
Thank you 😀😀
Very interesting video as always!!
Record labels probably don't want Superstars anymore bc they have to shell out buckets like Janet Jacksons four album contract of $80 million, $100 million for Mariah Carey five albums. It's too risky, so they get quick money from low-risk talent.
Then they complain about being broke. They HAVE to take risk. But seem to hate it.
Mariah's contract went from 100 million to 28 million after the flop of Glitter
@@AngeBiampandou Yep exactly. Cuz the risk wasn't worth it
@@Mitch-Alex Yup, which is crazy bc It's freaking Mariah Carey i.e the best selling act of the 1990s but sometimes just one album is enough to derail your career
yes that seems to be the case.
"Padam Padam" is all the mention we get of Kylie Minogue? 🙂
I love Kylie but I was worried the Americans wouldn’t know her. I have done 4 videos on her already
You totally nailed it!
Thank you 😀😀
This is what y’all get for not letting the Kardashians slide into obscurity. They aren’t remotely interesting.
Super great video and I completely agree
Thank you 😀😀
For me, a superstar have to give a great (not just good) live performance. Be it dancing their asses off or singing their hearts out. Someone who can move the masses just from their performance. Stars like MJ, Beyonce, Mariah, and Celine.
Too many from the new generation can't give a decent live performance and most of their concerts feels like a sing-along. Internet hype got these record labels pushing their artists to perform for big crowds without any experience.
Most of the mainstream artists today simply don’t have the IT factor, they don’t have stage presence which explains why they’re weak when performing live.
I’ve noticed how a lot of the artists nowadays look very unprofessional when performing live compared to the older artists. It’s a lack of training I bet.
woo woo! i do love the digital album playlist though, i remember being i think, 13 with a CD player, just gotten Kylie Minogue's new greatest hits record, Ultimate, i had to skip through 17 tracks just to get to the new song. I replaced that CD once because it got worn out lol So that part i will never miss!! great videoooo
Tbh, I don’t know why ppl are nostalgic for struggle. I do NOT miss it one bit. 😂
Really miss those eras. Again, I’m not feeling this “quirky” and trying hard to be relatable music that comes out today. Those people don’t do anything for me and are just… there. That’s why I started to go back to the superstars of older ages and find deep cuts and underrated material. I have to say, I’m glad I was alive in that late ‘00s/early ‘10s era.
Yep me too. None of the current acts excite me at all. I just don't feel excited by them
Sooooo why not consider listening to my music
I am so glad Beyoncé still mantains her old school appeal she is very private doesn't really give interviews she comunicates with her music and maybe a documentary ocationally ❤
Her best music was the Writings on the Wall.
@@taintedlife2618to you
@@taintedlife2618it sure was!!! An amazing album of independence, mature straight-to-the-point lyrics and lessons taught to youth growing up and dating.
@ttban1988 yasss!!! Just like how it was back then. No theatrics, just musical artwork. No need to be in her business. Let’s enjoy her talent and move on.
Too many of these artists saturate us with everything but the music and if it is the music, it’s subpar.
I think the new formula is a mix between both and old, but it appears that these stars don’t understand that. Zendaya appears to understand that though and that’s why she’s THEE superstar.
Well if you notice that with every decade there is a decline in talent. The people from the 2010's and 2020's just dont have the talent and creativity of say MJ, Prince or Madonna. They were trendsetters. The artist of today are just a cheao imitation of MJ, Madonna, Janet and Whitney
I totally agree. The quality has taken a significant dip.
The last superstars were Miley and Gaga, after their sucess in the late 00s and early 10s there hasn't been anyone that truly dominated the world and were in everyone's mouths.... there has been stars but no one has really impacted music and left their mark in the popular culture.
No.💀
I agree with his - maybe with the exception of Adele & Taylor & Beyonce.
No way you believe on what you just said
Miley is successful but not a ‘superstar’.
@dpeon. Miley is a superstar...
She gets Millions of likes on her Instagram post.
And Flowers was a hit...
After the 2000s, that was the death of the musical superstar...
The internet & social media definitely destroyed the music landscape. It helped us to discover new artist just made everyone really lazy
it's definitely changed the game
I think that too, but on the other hand the internet helped me discover artists I had never heard of and that sound amazing.
“Not that I remember any of that, I’m far too young” Ommmg 😅😅😅 I can’t with you.
Interesting that the rap category is missing from this assessment. Regarding music "superstars" and the industry in general, rap culture has been dominant for *50* years. In the context of this subject, I thought Cardi B would get a mention. I'm not a fan of hers, can't name any of her songs, but every time I turn around, I hear her name. She definitely passes the "parent test"
Really😂Cardi B, It would have made more sense if you said Nicki Minaj
@@khamrhod8360They’re both superstars. You underestimate Cardi B, but it’s obvious she’s THEE superstar and breaks the internet Every time she performs and becomes the topic of conversation 24/7.
@@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024 I don’t really care about rap like that but you implying that Cardi B is still relevant is funny, doesn’t she only have 1 album and hasn’t toured🤨every time I hear about her is because of her rants on the internet, I see Nicki Minaj trending all the time about her MUSIC
@@khamrhod8360point proven! Antics over artwork.
I did mention Eminem. It's not a definitive ranking or anything. IMHO to be a true superstar you need to have success over at least two decades. That's probably why I didn't include her. I don't know any of her songs at all. Maybe I should have mentioned her? I don't know.
Love how you've colour co-ordinated your books
thanks 😀
I can't say it's a bad thing.
Whitney Houston, Aaron Carter, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson.
Fame broke them.
Let's make good music in small intimate settings and stay humble.
that's an interesting take on it - yes that's one way of looking at it.
Yes, the fame paradigm was changed by the social media. Any plain Jane or just any shmuck has a shot to stardom at the tip of their fingers. But being accessible to fame comes with a cost - the quality is compromised. Reason why influencers like CZcamsrs, TikTokers do the most silly, stupid ass things just to remain relevant and as to why the Kardashians became famous despite the serious lack of any skill or talent. It all boils down to marketing, the same way corporation market the most useless products with colorful packaging, aggressive promotion and hype.
I think the marketing is a far greater factor than in the 80s/90s definitely. The image, brand and social media following plays a far greater part. Hence why so much of the variety and character in popular music is gone.
Album accounts for 22% of listening time? That's crazy, I thought it would be much lower. I haven't listened to a full album in over 2 decades.
I always official sources for the info
I feel this is the case for all media/art , like film and tv, movie stars are also a thing of the past
As a huge but young music lover, I want to like modern music and I do like some modern artists like Doja Cat and Billie Eilish, but superstars will never be the same as before. The media and the culture were just different. It disappoints me but this video is very well made
Thank you 😀🙏
Being birn in 2000, growing up, er had our fair share of superstars but I never grew an emktional connection nkr felt pressured socially to enjoy their music. I felt that pressure a little bit in middke school and it was the most miserable time to enjoy music for me. Trying to listen to what everybody else was listening to just because....really sucked. It wasn't until 2016 where I fell in lpve with music all kver again, letting loose and just listening to whatever I damn well pleased from video game music to old 70's music to jazz to 90's rap.
It helped that my friends growing up all liked different kinds of music, nor did we really feel the need to follow the crowd. I never really saw music as a way of connecting or belonging, more so as an exprssion kr extension of pneself.
I am very pleased and happy with how my music library us, the only issue I have is that most of it is not local so its subject to be altered by broken copyright and other music service BS that happens all the time
I've noticed this buzzword "glocalisation"in the business lately. I was reading up on it, it suggests English music's grip on streaming is loosening, making way for local acts singing in their native languages to conquer regional charts. With Steve Cooper's take on reducing financial dependency on superstars, we'll probably witness more regional stars ruling the roost in their local languages, over superstars focused on global domination. It's a positive shift imho; budgets previously reserved for superstars can now support more artists. This change may also encourage more cross-cultural crossovers, a trend I'm all for, loving music from Korea, India, Africa, and the Spanish and French-speaking worlds. I will miss the era of larger-than-life global megastars though. They’re beginning to become an endangered species! 😬
that's so interesting - thanks for this. I'm going to google 'glocalisation' at my lunch break & read more about it 😀
@@jonnyharvey yes Music Business Worldwide, Billboard and the FT have written about. MBW also did a podcast about it too back on July 4th, if you’re interested 👍
I'll the same thing I said about Hollywood, it's a good thing that there are so many artists. Now it seems like more ppl have a chance to be professionals. Fame comes with a price that not everyone wants
Yeah. These days African Artists who were siloed from the mainstream can upload their music on CZcams and Earn 200 million views. The world has changed
Another great video but was waiting for a mention of Ms Diana Ross😅 I just love her so much
People underestimate her. But forget just how huge The Supremes and Diana Ross were. They were the pinnacle of what a star was and personified it COMPLETELY.
maybe I should've included her? Good point. She was huge for three decades.
Very good video! 👏 The death of the music superstar has really coincided with all the other changes in the world over the past quarter century. With social media replacing radio, TV, etc. Audiences have become so fragmented. And people don't relate to stars the way they used to. I'm surprised Eminem was not mentioned here. Because I believe he was the last truly unique superstar in mainstream music. Nothing sounded like him before him. And he represented the underclass of society. Much like Nirvana did a decade before. Also, the new music superstars of the past 20 years have mostly been targeted towards female audiences. And that trend has continued. It seems half of the population has been neglected for the most part. This is why young boys/men would rather play video games than look up to Taylor Swift or Beyoncé.
thank you 😀😀 I did mention Eminem, at the very beginning. Because I know he's a true superstar (even though I'm not a fan).
I’m so greatful I’m gonna see Madonna next year in Vancouver omg
I’m so jealous - she’s not coming to Ireland
I love your videos and opinions on music, but I feel like you never mention Hip Hop musicians enough when it comes to your individual deepdive videos or your list of superstar performers. I wish you could do a deep dive on legendary hip hop and other black musical genres and musicians more.
Thanks for this feedback - I have huge respect for hip-hop artists & I appreciate the genre has had an immeasurable influence on popular music since the 80s. But I don't think I'm the right person to make videos on hip-hop music. I don't think I know enough. Sorry.
is the stuff at the end on purpose? second video like this, just wanting to help if it’s not on purpose ✌🏻 great video
Yeah I leave the bloopers in on purpose
I feel like k pop is carrying the torch for pop music, both the idol/superstar paradigm and the quality of the music
Interesting perspective.
I think famous people are way more accessible now than they ever were to the public due to social media. You no longer need to stay tuned on tv or catch them at shows, etc. They post constantly and just feel like regular people (which isn't "bad", it's just something that previous stars definitely didn't do). Not to mention, no one has a mysterious or special personality like Prince or Michael Jackson for example. There's no one I'd drop what I'm doing for today to go see (even if they were right across the street) and that speaks volumes in itself.
ONE reason only! Record company become lazy and cheap. While demanding 80% and owning all rights. They don't want to put any effort in it. No artist development. Only focussing on someone's social media views and pushing them into a very VERY short career spam. Often very young. Talent takes time. True authentic Artist and musicians don't put their stuff on social media. They'll stay independent.
Top of the Pops stopped in 2006, that was the end of the music industry. Television was always the most important medium to promote new music, think Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Today no one under the age of 50 watches TV.
Well none that I know do. And mainstream TV's market shares are falling every year.
More like most people under the age of 45 don't watch TV, unless it's streaming services like Tubi or Netflix.
@@Mspurple57-qg9eg I remember someone back in the 2000s saying that people under 30 did not own TVs.
Funny that’s how Taylor swift was born into the industry. She’s an exception
@jimbob2427 she isn't. Her music is simply bland and boring. Nothing creative
It's crazy how besides the charts and longevity Taylor Switch is not a superstar to me, I'm not gonna compare to the 90's 00' but the last superstar was Rihanna after that social media kinda killed the Superstar status , even Ariana Grande had some moments but when we talk about impact popularity and talent the last were Gaga Katy Perry and Rihanna
I think she seems like a lovely person but I've never got in her music at all. But nonetheless I do accept she is a global superstar - selling out stadiums ALL around the world, all the Grammys, one of the few artists who actually still sells albums - she's a genuine phenomenon.
Saying Taylor swift isn't superstar is wild 😂 either you are in some drugs or pure delusional. She is about to have biggest grossing and attended tour in history and has no 1 movie in the world.
Not to mention she already inside top 10 best selling artist of all time.
She just attended one NFL game and it was the most viewed game since last year superbowl.
Pm and president all over the world inviting her to tour. That's super superstar and noone is even close at present
Taylor is the biggest artist of the century according to Billboard. You're just filled with hate and dont want to accept reality.
You are so correct!
Thanks 😀
MJ will always be my last great musician No one comes close to him in my opinion.
Idk about last
Facts
I think Britney was so great and she came after him
The delusion. He is far from last. 💀
@@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024MJ stans are always in nostalgia land, music didn’t end after the 80s
How old are you Jonny? I’m pretty sure you were around when going to the music stores was a thing
I’m being sarcastic!!! Born in the 80s, I was a 90s kid- I definitely remember going to music stores
KPop is taking over the world of music these past years.
I’m glad I believed in the Kpop movement since the late 00’s but even I could have never predicted the huge success of acts like BTS or Blackpink.
5:47 Was that SRP ASMR’s CD collection video?
I think so. I couldn’t find any other clip that would work. Don’t know anything about ASMR
In the 90s artists were famous and very rich, now they are just famous, judging by the fact that they appear to work 100 times harder!
Love or hate her,Taylor dominating & destroying everyone in her 3rd decade is insane
That’s the quality of most superstars. They typically have an active career lasting around 2 to 3 decades.
thank you!!!! To be a true superstar, the career needs to span more than one decade (IMHO) I don't think most people get that.
She is not "destroying" everyone 😪 She is having her moment as a superstar. athat's ir
@@thalesmatheus6011 she is actually.She is untouchable in her 10th album,she completely obliterated tour grosses and caused movies to shift just to avoid heat from her concert film.
Best selling album of decade as well.
@@adiawasthi4589 I think you didnt get what I meant but... let it be
You are also forgetting that as America PR is declining all over the world and different people from different countries embracing their cultures more coupled with globalization, people no longer view America as the holy grail anymore. Hence everything that makes America a nation of envy will also be eroded with it and unfortunately entertainers especially music stars will suffer from this. Kpop, Afrobeats, latin music etc have their stars now and they perharps dont have to look to America or the west for that anymore. Also, we may never have another MJ, Beyonce, Madona and the likes ever again. Times are changing and we just have to adapt to it.
Okay, that’s a good point.
Madonna is the last superstar, so cherish her while she's alive
yes we won't see her like again.
A valid music topic. Thanks. My two cents: the 2000’s babies, like other young generations, have their own rite of passage. “Sadly” for us older folks, they’re not accepting the baton that we’ve theoretically tried to pass on to them. They like music but they don’t love it. The attention span and the genuine interest in music isn’t there. Unless it’s a Tik Tok dance challenge. At 51, it’s been interesting seeing my age group navigate this 2023 world. They’re often bewildered by Gen Z. I’m not, largely bc we’re not peers. And it’s not my place to expect/encourage them to have them same youth experience as previous generations. ✌🏽
that's really interesting - thanks for sharing. Yes that mirrors my own experience with younger generations. I guess we'll have to accept they will be doing things very differently when it comes to music.
Nowadays, with the Internet, people have more varied tastes since they can discover songs outside the mainstream.
yes true
In the Latin music realm, recently Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro, J Balvin, Daddy Yankee, Aventura, and some others are probably up there in superstar realm. Ask anyone who speaks Spanish who they are, same with parents. Aventura is more 2000s, but these big artists are gonna be around for a while. Other than J Balvin and Daddy Yankee, most debuted in the 2015+ range.
yes the Latin music market is enormous. I should've included Shakira. I will take your word for it - I don't know much about current acts.
I still love buying physical albums and singles and digital albums and singles I prefer it to streaming
They've mentioned that artist development is at an all time low. Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Travis Scott and Bad Bunny are some current "superstars" I'd say in that they have huge followings. But yeah, "superstardom" doesn’t look quite like it did in the past.
Doja Cat is a PERFORMER! she has the stage presence of a pre-2010 pop girl, but shes the only new pop star I can think of that has half that energy
The main reason is a glut of stuff bombarding everyone 24./7 nowadays, and less talent than the past in most ways. Years ago you barely heard from or about the superstar, they went 3-4 years between albums, sometimes longer, and it was an event when they released an album. Today it's forgotten about within a news cycle, most youth today have attention span of a gnat. So to have someone like Adelle, Lady gaga and Taylor Swift today is amazing really, they could be the true last big stars similar to the past. Time will tell
they very well might be
Honestly o used to be kind of frustrated with companies and musicians but I’ve this last year I came to the conclusion “why should they” TikTok and social media has made people very short winded and I’ve seen plenty of artists put out great projects with their heart and soul that their “fans” begged for but paid it dust. Instead they stayed with the Drake esc narrow TikTok music making all the effort seem like such a waste. So why should they have a stage presence, why should they put out better projects. People don’t care anymore as much as they PRETEND to do so.
how is this video only 480 quality??
Relatability is the death of the exemplary
That’s a good quote - who is it from?
@@jonnyharvey mine 😀. You can also say “relatability is the death of the celebrity.”
Yes the music industry has changed a lot and not much is required to be a “celebrity”, “star” or to even get exposure these days. However, Jungkook of the K-pop group BTS is indeed a superstar. He has all of the things you stated are required to be considered a superstar. Every generation has had trash music, you just have to dig a lil deeper these days to find the treasure….I was born in NYC in ‘86…had someone told me back in the ‘90’s-‘00’s, that I would love the music catalog of seven Korean men as an adult, I would’ve told them they were crazy lol. It’s true tho, because they’re awesome.💜
thanks for this - yes I should give K-pop more of a try. I don't feel that drawn to it - maybe that's cause I'm getting older 😂
bro you forgot about Bad Bunny - he's technically a bigger superstar than Shawn Mendez or Ed Sheeran (in terms of sales and cultural impact). Shakira too.
yes I should've included Shakira. Bad Bunny?? I don't know much about him - he hasn't been around very long. You need longevity to be a superstar.
Taylor sneak as always, I don’t consider her a superstar.
Okay. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion